Russians are taking to rugby like bears to honey

[JoeyFantastic]

Deputy Prime Minister endorses Rugby as a future national sport
Russia competing at their first Rugby World Cup
Rugby growing across the country
The Rugby Union of Russia and the International Rugby Board have formally launched Rugby World Cup Sevens 2013.

Speaking at a special media event in New Plymouth ahead of Russia’s first ever Rugby World Cup match, Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Zhukov declared that the stage was set for Russians to fall in love with Rugby.

“The secret is out! There is a revolution taking place in Russian Rugby. Russians are taking to Rugby like our bears to honey. Rugby is a sport that suits the Russian character," said Zhukov.

Zhukov pledged Government support for Rugby World Cup Sevens 2013, a milestone event for a country that is experiencing growing participation burgeoning profile.

“The IRB has led the way in displaying great trust in our vast potential. It has recognised our progress and awarded us Rugby World Cup Sevens 2013. The event will open the next chapter in our great country becoming a Rugby superpower.”

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2013 will see the finest men’s and women’s teams battle for a prize that will set the scene ahead of Rugby Sevens’ Olympic Games debut in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.

The Rugby Union of Russia, the city of Moscow and the Russian Government will work together to host an event that will showcase the best of Russia and the very best of Rugby Sevens.

“We are committed to delivering an exceptional event. We understand that Rugby Sevens is much more than what happens on the pitch. It is the fans from around the world coming together in a celebration of sport," added Zhukov.

International Rugby Board Chairman Bernard Lapasset said he is expecting Moscow 2013 to be an exceptional event.

“The IRB is committed to growing the Game in emerging and new territories and the awarding of Rugby World Cup Sevens 2013 to Moscow underscores our commitment to this process," said Lapasset.

“Moscow 2013 will not just be an exceptional global showcase, with the support of the Russian Government it will provide the platform to boost participation and interest in a country that really is embracing Rugby.”

“We are excited about the potential of Rugby Sevens. We are already a long way down the road in preparation for the 2016 Olympic Games where our finest men’s and women’s Sevens athletes will have the opportunity to compete on the world’s greatest sporting stage.”

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2009 in Dubai set record attendance and broadcast figures. The historic event, which was the first to incorporate a 16-team women’s competition running alongside a 24-team men’s competition, was broadcast to 760 million people in 141 countries through 29 international broadcasters in 19 languages.

[JoeyFantastic]

I can clearly hear the voice of Ivan Drago at that press conference...

[lactose intolerant]

Doesn't sound like they're all that bothered about 15's at the moment though

[JoeyFantastic]

Doesn't sound like they're all that bothered about 15's at the moment though

It didn't sound like the were all that bothered by the Prague spring either, and then boom, tanks everywhere! They'll arrive at the 6 nations headquarters with a list of suggested fixtures soon enough.

[Thomond78]

It didn't sound like the were all that bothered by the Prague spring either, and then boom, tanks everywhere! They'll arrive at the 6 nations headquarters with a list of suggested fixtures soon enough.

If it means sending Paddy O'Brien to a gulag, how bad...

[JoeyFantastic]

If it means sending Paddy O'Brien to a gulag, how bad...

We can but dream...

Anyhow, Russia already have a fully professional league, afaik, so clearly there's some Russians out there will support and bankroll Russian rugby. There's issues getting Russian teams into ERC comps though, can't remember what though.

[Charco]

How many reposts is that?

[mr chips]

Could you say that again please Joey?

[NiallGK]

Such repetitive nonsense!

[Duffman]

Clearly 9 of the 15 Joey's all got sidetracked and put into the one thread. You really need to sort out your system Head Joey, you will never be able to keep up the massive post count if you get found out, in other news McCloud inc aka Talktalk is letting over 500 of its Forum posters go down in waterford.

[Bred Red]

Could someone tell me if Russia have a professional league? I'm sure I've read it somewhere...

[the stag]

im goin out with a russian wan, so it'll be cool to slag her when they ship a sh1tload of points against us in some comp in the future...oh wait, not far to go so lol (this is my first post since the refurb yahoo)

[JoeyFantastic]

Luckily I'm able to delete the nonsense I post!

[lactose intolerant]

Luckily I'm able to delete the nonsense I post!

18,373 posts would suggest otherwise

[Kevin77]

Funny stuff in this thread!

[Clubman]

If it means sending Paddy O'Brien to a gulag, how bad...

Sainthood for Thomond78 if this is quoted on GAGR.

[blackadder]

They've a professional league and they have a lot of money to throw at the game. Plus I think Rugby does suit their character, it will be interesting to revisit this topic in time for say the 2023 WC to see where they stand in the global game. I think Russia v Georgia matches attract huge crowds anyway so that's a start.

[Butters]

They've a professional league and they have a lot of money to throw at the game. Plus I think Rugby does suit their character, it will be interesting to revisit this topic in time for say the 2023 WC to see where they stand in the global game. I think Russia v Georgia matches attract huge crowds anyway so that's a start.

I think it's a stretch to call their league professional. Only a couple teams are legit professionals. I gather that the others are really amateurs. I agree they could improve though. I read somewhere recently that they want to host RWC 2023.

[cemec]

I think it's a stretch to call their league professional. Only a couple teams are legit professionals. I gather that the others are really amateurs. I agree they could improve though. I read somewhere recently that they want to host RWC 2023.

Yeah, pretty much. There's massive gaps in their league. It's called a professional league but only the top sides are. Some of the teams in the league are mostly amateur. The same teams win every year. Even those that are professional, aren't paid much. Their professionals would be akin to the LOI footballers in this country. With that said, the strides that Russia have made in the game since the advent of professionalism are massive.

[ormond lad]

Russia ripe for rugby revolution
Tuesday, 8 November 2011 19:16
By Tadhg Peavoy
Following Russia's first Rugby World Cup appearance, rugby eyes have turned to how to bolster the sport in the country and
develop it beyond being a second-tier rugby nation.
Lúcás Ó'Ceallacháin is a man that has plenty of first-hand knowledge of the game in the Russian region.
The Irishman studied Russian in Trinity College, before moving to Kazakhstan to further his career.
Playing for a Kazakh club led to to some coaching work, which in turn, through the IRB residency rules, led to Ó'Ceallacháin playing for the Kazakhstan international team.
From those beginnings, Ó'Ceallacháin went on to work as a development manager for the Rugby Union of Russia, the Kazakhstan Rugby Union and the Asian Rugby Football Union.
Now living back in Ireland and working as general manager at the Irish Olympic Handball Association, Ó'Ceallacháin believes Russia is fertile for the growth of rugby in the coming years.
"Rugby is quite strong there at the moment, there are a lot of sevens clubs in particular," he said. "In Russia, Olympic sport is king.
The Olympic slot has opened up a lot of doors for rugby in terms of funding and in terms of getting into schools; schools won't take you seriously if you're not an Olympic sport. The Olympic status was a major coup for Russian rugby.
"It came as part of a perfect wave for Russia: they had won the rights to hold the Junior World Rugby Trophy and Rugby World Cup Sevens; their women and men also qualified for the sevens' World Cup back in 2009. It's still a minority sport, but one that's beginning to get a bit of momentum."

However, press interest in the Rugby World Cup was limited in Russia.
"It [the RWC] wouldn't have been picked up as much by the papers - because Russians like a winner.
"It would have been difficult for Russian fans to look at a Russian team going to a world championships not to place in the medals; it's unusual for a Russian team in that regard.
"It's also hard for the non-rugby Russian public to understand why the level is the way it is. That said, they did get a lot of interest through TV and a lot of the games were broadcast on Russian television."
Ó'Ceallacháin believes weather is the biggest obstacle to Russia being brought into an expanded RBS 6 Nations competition.
"You can't really stage a Six Nations game in the current calendar in Moscow. That's never going to change unless global warming speeds up at a rate of knots.

"The clear path [for Russia] is sevens. They can be quite successful at that quite quickly, because it's on the Olympic stage they can capture the public's attentions, and 15s is always going to be a secondary sport in Russia. Sevens is easier to pick up for the public, in terms of understanding the rules, whereas 15s can be quite technical.
"What I would really like to see is a Russian club side challenge for an Amlin Challenge Cup spot. It's very unlikely that there
will be a relegation play-off in the Six Nations - that's just the reality of it. There's just too much to lose in terms of structure
commercially for the Six Nations.
"I think sevens is going to paint an interesting picture for rugby over the next 20 years. It could become the number one sport of rugby.
"I think a series of friendly fixtures [for the 15s team] in the autumn would be the way to go for Russia really. It would help to
convince people they would be ready to come into the Six Nations."
Ó'Ceallacháin also points to the fact fixtures against tier-two nations would allow tier-one teams a chance to experiment at Test level.
"I think it makes sense for the home nations as well. If they've got games against two Southern Hemisphere teams sandwiched in against an easier opposition team - Russia or Georgia - that's going to give you a chance to experiment. That would be a good fixture for anybody.
Bringing a club game to Russia might be another way to raise the profile as well."
One of the big worries now that the Churchill Cup has been stopped is who Russia will play on a regular basis.
"Who do they play regularly? Do you put them in against the Pacific Islanders? If you put them in against USA and Canada is that really going
to improve either of those teams?"

Talk of a European Cup every four years between World Cups has also been raised as a possibility in recent years, but again the calendar would prove an issue for Russia.
"The biggest challenge is the calendar - the seasons are so out of sync. We could see a situation as rugby grows that people will want to see summer rugby. If that could be scheduled in the calendar that could be good. If you offer Russia [a game with] Ireland A or England A it's not going to have the same draw."
With all the difficulties posed by international scheduling, a professional Russian club taking a European Rugby Cup spot seems the next step in terms of integration.
"It's very doable. The average budget for a professional club in Russia is a million US dollars, the reason it's that big is because of the distances they have to travel in Russia. We have players out there earning 5,000 to 6,000 dollars a month, which doesn't sound too bad for a lot of the Irish players I'd say.
"Enisei are the Munster of Russian rugby. They're the country boys from middle Russia and they would have surprised the Irish teams when they came over.
"They're big bruisers but they can also throw the ball around. They beat Connacht A in April. They ran Munster A close two years ago. I think they could do better than the Romanian or Spanish teams that have been in the Amlin Challenge.

"There's a possibility you could have a really good indoor stadium in Moscow that could be used by a regional selection; like an Aironi or a Treviso side. As it grows you could have two clubs in there."
Russia are also hoping to bid for the RWC 2023. Ó'Ceallacháin feels they are unlikely to host the tournament, but that the bid displays the intention to grow the sport in the country.
"[The Rugby World Cup bid] is an outside bet. But I wouldn't be surprised if Russia get their first World Cup victory in 2015. You look at the young teams coming through and they are starting to do really well in the Junior World Trophy.
"It's a bit worrying from the outside how quickly they're developing these players, because they're getting more and more access to players in schools. It means the game is going to swell in terms of numbers. Russia don't do sport by halves."
Tadhg Peavoy was in conversation with Lúcás Ó'Ceallacháin on 7 November 2011.
http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2011/1...llachainl.html
I highlighted several points, you can clearly see that there is a lot of interest in rugby in russia and now that 7s is in the Olympics the russians could do very very well. It would be great to see a strong russian 15 a side team down the line but 7s looks to be their immediate focus

[99_oK?]

......

"Enisei are the Munster of Russian rugby. They're the country boys from middle Russia and they would have surprised the Irish teams when they came over.
"They're big bruisers but they can also throw the ball around. They beat Connacht A in April. They ran Munster A close two years ago. I think they could do better than the Romanian or Spanish teams that have been in the Amlin Challenge.


....

I watched the Munster A/Russia game (in Nayna - end of season 2 years ago). Russians had a few big, fit and a few very fast guys. Scored a few trys too.
We had a strong enough team out and that was a breakthrough night for Donnacha Ryan. He played most of an hour and dominated at lock. Coughlan, Mikey Prendergast and a few of the academy guys played OK too. 'Twas also the night we realised Nick Williams wasn't going to make it. While he got involved in a lot he was huffin and puffin all over the place; just wasn't anywhere near fit.

A good night for Ormond too (+ decent crowd), met a few old mates afterwards.....

[ormond lad]

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/201220...sia-coach.html
Rugby-Former Wales captain Jones appointed Russia coach
Tue, 20 Dec 15:35:00 2011
Former Wales captain Kingsley Jones was named as coach of Russia on Tuesday in succession to Nikolay Nerush.
"He'll be our head coach for the next four years until the 2015 World Cup,"
Russian Rugby Union (RRU) chief Vyacheslav Kopyev told Reuters.
Jones, 42, had been a member of the backroom staff under Nerush who resigned after the team's debut appearance at this year's World Cup in New Zealand where they lost all four of their group matches.
The Welshman won 10 caps for his country between 1996-98 and was skipper for one game.
A flanker, Jones played his club rugby for Ebbw Vale, Pontypridd, Worcester and Gloucester.
He had a brief spell as player-coach of Doncaster Knights before moving to Sale Sharks as the forwards coach.
Jones was later promoted to head coach at Sale before leaving in February after spending seven years at the club.
The RRU also announced that former England dual-code international Henry Paul, 37, would become the coach of Russia's rugby sevens squad after working as the backs coach for the Bears under Nerush.
Russia will host the Rugby World Cup Sevens tournament in 2013.

[ormond lad]

Good to hear of more russians getting to play top class rugby. Wasps sign 2 of the russians who played against us in the world cup
http://en.rian.ru/sports/20120125/170949252.html

[JoeyFantastic]

Kingsley Jones wants a new Russian selected

Posted by admin on February 2, 2012 | Leave a Comment
Russia.

British coach of Russia, Kingsley Jones, said in an interview with Russian media as preparing a generational shift in national.Jones is very pleased with the recent transfer of two Russian international, and Gresev Korsunov, which was identified at London Wasps, considering that they come from national experience with another.Also, the band selector that will meet in Sochi still rely on star Adam Burns, evolving from Melbourne.
However, Jones does not like the version naturalization players, being aware that progress must come from rugbystilor of Russian origin.Kingsley Jones wants to use return CEN to decide on players that will attack the next World Cup preliminaries. Kingsley said he would have liked to have been coach of the USSR, because it would have been able to call the batch and Georgian players.Russian short-term objective is to beat Georgia, but Jones is aware that this will be hard this year in Tbilisi.The Englishman is very pleased with the training conditions in Sochi and believes that ERC will respond favorably to the request to send two selected Russian regional Amlin Challenge Cup.

[ormond lad]

Looks like the Enesei side that came over to play in Nenagh a few years ago are back for another game or two. According to the refs website a munster development XV plays Enesei in dooradoyle monday at 3pm