Rugby union in Russia
Encyclopedia
Rugby union
in Russia
is a growing sport. Russia
is ranked 19th worldwide by the International Rugby Board
(IRB), having over one hundred clubs and close to 20,000 players nationally. Russia has a professional domestic competition.
is the governing body for rugby union
in Russia
. It was founded in 1936 originally as the Rugby Union of the Soviet Union, and a specifically Russian body was set up in 1966. The Rugby Union of Russia became affiliated to the International Rugby Board
in 1990.
in the Russian Empire
pre-dated the Russian Revolution by a number of years, but it was only played sporadically. It appears to have been the first (non-indigenous) football code to be played in Russia, around a decade before the introduction of association football. Mr Hopper, a Scotsman, who worked in Moscow arranged a match in the 1880s; the first soccer match was in 1892. In 1886, however, the Russian police clamped down on rugby because they considered it "brutal, and liable to incite demonstrations and riots" Condemnation by the tsar's police probably deterred many people from playing, and records of rugby over the next thirty years are sparse. Some rugby union
was still being played in 1908, however the first "official" match took place in Moscow in 1923.
(Александр Сергеевич Оболенский) who played for Oxford
and England
in the 1930s - he was the scorer of 2 tries on his England debut in their win over New Zealand in January 1936. His noble birth precluded him from playing in his home country and his family had fled the country when he was only a year old.
In 1934 the Moscow Championship was started, and in 1936 the first Soviet Championship took place.
The game was more or less banned for a number of years in the Soviet Union because of an incident in a final in Moscow
, when supporters of Llanelli
and a Bucharest
team were involved in a brawl.
In 1949, rugby union was forbidden in the USSR during the "fight against the cosmopolitanism
". The competitions were resumed in 1957, and the Soviet Championship in 1966. In 1975 the Soviet national team played their first match.
Although there was the Soviet Cup
and the Soviet Championship, rugby never became a major sport in the USSR. Union was the bigger of the two codes though - rugby league
only really took off in the former Soviet Union after the collapse of Communism.
, which had previously been frowned on by the Soviet authorities. The two main areas for Russian rugby were to be Moscow
and Siberia
, and to a lesser extent, Leningrad/St Petersburg
.
The most notable Russian player perhaps is Dimitri Mironov who played for the Barbarians
several times during the 1980s. Vasily Artemyev currently plays for Northampton Saints
in the English Premiership.
|1 - форвард первой линии открытой стороны (Left Prop or Loosehead Prop)
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|2 - отыгрывающий (хукер) (Hooker)
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|3 - форвард первой линии закрытой стороны (Right Prop or Tighthead Prop)
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|4 - форвард второй линии (2nd Row or Lock)
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|5 - Форвард второй линии (2nd Row or Lock)
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|6 - Левый крыльевой (Blindside Flanker)
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|8 - Стягивающий (восьмерка)(Number 8)
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|7 - Правый крыльевой (Openside Flanker)
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|9 - Полузащитник схватки (девятка)(Halfback or Scrum-half)
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|10 - Блуждающий полузащитник (десятка)(First Five-eight or Fly-half)
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|12 - Центральный трёхчетвертной (Second Five-eight or Inside Centre)
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|13 - Центральный трёхчетвертной (Center or Outside Centre)
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|11 - Левый крайний трёхчетвертной (Left Wing)
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|14 - Правый крайний трёхчетвертной (четырнадцатый)(Right Wing)
|-
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|15 - Защитник (замок)(Fullback)
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|}>
played Polyechika Alma at -23' C. Because Krasnoyarsk had travelled over 2,000 km to be there, the game was not called off. Instead, players resorted to wearing balaclavas, gloves, and several pairs of tracksuits to combat the cold. Nonetheless, the extreme climate of Russia remains a problem, with winter sometimes being a split season, or the game of snow rugby
being played.
is the most popular spectator sport in Russia, rugby has been growing in terms of player base, spectator interest and media coverage in recent years. Rugby's rise into mainstream media happened a few years ago when the Heineken Cup
, a club/province tournament in Europe
, was given television coverage on the 7TV sports channel. 7TV also broadcast the 2003 Rugby World Cup
. Subsequently, Russia's domestic championship, the Professional Rugby League
, has earned weekly coverage on the RTR-Sport channel (a number of countries also receive this channel, such as Ukraine
), though the games are not shown live. In addition to television coverage, rugby now features in mainstream news publications. In early 2006, RTR-Sport purchased the rights to cover the 2007 Rugby World Cup
. In 2007 Moscow made an unsuccessful bid to host the 2009 Rugby World Cup Sevens
. It was announced in February 2009 that the Rugby Union of Russia would again bid to host the Rugby World Cup Sevens, in 2013
. After two other bidders (Brazil and Germany) withdrew, leaving Russia the only country with an active bid, Russia was officially named as host in May 2010. Russia also hosted the IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy
, the IRB's second-tier international competition for under-20 men's teams, in 2010
.
, a fully professional competition. Crowds vary for these club matches, although 10,000 are usually present for the derby fixtures. The competing clubs are VVA-Podmoskovye from Моnino in Moscow Oblast
and Slava from Moscow
, Enisei-STM and Krasny Yar both from Krasnoyarsk
, RC Penza
, RC Novokuznetsk
, and Universitet from Chita Oblast
. There also Top League and First League below the Professional Rugby League.
The Six Nations B, also known as the European Nations Cup (ENC) is similar to the Six Nations Championship
. Russia finished third in the 2001 and 2001–02 competitions and second in the 2007–08 and 2008–10 competitions. Their second-place finish in 2008–10 also secured Russia's first appearance in the Rugby World Cup
, which will take place in 2011
in New Zealand
. The Nations Cup was introduced by the IRB in 2006, in which Russia and Portugal
along with Argentina A and Italy A
competed in Portugal
.
competition contested by national teams from Canada
, Japan
, Romania
and the United States
. It was previously known as the Super Powers Cup.
The Super Powers Cup was first launched in 2003. It was planned that China
, Japan, Russia
and the United States would play each other once. However, because of the SARS outbreak the Chinese team were forced to withdraw. Russia won the inaugural competition, defeating the USA 30-21 in Krasnoyarsk
, Russia
. For the 2004 competition Canada replaced China.
Russia previously played as part of the USSR, and in the early 1990s, as a combined CIS team
. Since 1992 however, they have been playing as Russia. The team qualified for its first Rugby World Cup
by tying Romania 21-21.
Russia competes regularly in the European Nations Cup, and more recently, in the Nations Cup.
Russia succeeded in qualifying for the 2011 Rugby World Cup
.
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
is a growing sport. Russia
Russia national rugby union team
The Russian National Rugby Union Team, is the national team representing Russia at the sport of rugby union.Rugby union in Russia is administered by the Rugby Union of Russia . The RUR is the official successor union of the Soviet Union and the combined CIS team which played in the early 1990s...
is ranked 19th worldwide by the International Rugby Board
International Rugby Board
The International Rugby Board is the governing body for the sport of rugby union. It was founded in 1886 as the International Rugby Football Board by the unions of Scotland, Wales and Ireland. England refused to join until 1890. The International Rugby Football Board changed its name to the...
(IRB), having over one hundred clubs and close to 20,000 players nationally. Russia has a professional domestic competition.
Governing body
Rugby Union of RussiaRugby Union of Russia
Rugby Union of Russia is the governing body for rugby union in Russia. It was founded in 1936 originally as the Rugby Union of the Soviet Union...
is the governing body for rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. It was founded in 1936 originally as the Rugby Union of the Soviet Union, and a specifically Russian body was set up in 1966. The Rugby Union of Russia became affiliated to the International Rugby Board
International Rugby Board
The International Rugby Board is the governing body for the sport of rugby union. It was founded in 1886 as the International Rugby Football Board by the unions of Scotland, Wales and Ireland. England refused to join until 1890. The International Rugby Football Board changed its name to the...
in 1990.
Pre-Revolutionary Russia
Rugby footballRugby football
Rugby football is a style of football named after Rugby School in the United Kingdom. It is seen most prominently in two current sports, rugby league and rugby union.-History:...
in the Russian Empire
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
pre-dated the Russian Revolution by a number of years, but it was only played sporadically. It appears to have been the first (non-indigenous) football code to be played in Russia, around a decade before the introduction of association football. Mr Hopper, a Scotsman, who worked in Moscow arranged a match in the 1880s; the first soccer match was in 1892. In 1886, however, the Russian police clamped down on rugby because they considered it "brutal, and liable to incite demonstrations and riots" Condemnation by the tsar's police probably deterred many people from playing, and records of rugby over the next thirty years are sparse. Some rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
was still being played in 1908, however the first "official" match took place in Moscow in 1923.
Soviet period
Because of the Russian Revolution, some Soviet/Russian players emigrated and/or ended up playing for foreign sides, a notable example being Prince Alexander ObolenskyAlexander Obolensky
Prince Alexander Sergeevich Obolensky was a Russian Rurikid prince and an international rugby union footballer who played for England. He was popularly known as just "The Prince" by many sports fans.-Biography:...
(Александр Сергеевич Оболенский) who played for Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
and England
England national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
in the 1930s - he was the scorer of 2 tries on his England debut in their win over New Zealand in January 1936. His noble birth precluded him from playing in his home country and his family had fled the country when he was only a year old.
In 1934 the Moscow Championship was started, and in 1936 the first Soviet Championship took place.
The game was more or less banned for a number of years in the Soviet Union because of an incident in a final in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
, when supporters of Llanelli
Llanelli RFC
Llanelli Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union club founded in 1875 and its senior team is one of the leading club sides in Wales. The club began the 2008-09 season at their historic home ground of Stradey Park in Llanelli, but moved in November 2008 to the new Parc y Scarlets in adjacent...
and a Bucharest
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
team were involved in a brawl.
In 1949, rugby union was forbidden in the USSR during the "fight against the cosmopolitanism
Cosmopolitanism
Cosmopolitanism is the ideology that all human ethnic groups belong to a single community based on a shared morality. This is contrasted with communitarian and particularistic theories, especially the ideas of patriotism and nationalism...
". The competitions were resumed in 1957, and the Soviet Championship in 1966. In 1975 the Soviet national team played their first match.
Although there was the Soviet Cup
Soviet Cup (rugby)
The Soviet Cup was a rugby union club competition between the domestic teams of the Soviet Union era. The first competition was held in 1976, and continued on an annual basis until 1990.-Results:-See also:* Soviet Championship* Professional Rugby League...
and the Soviet Championship, rugby never became a major sport in the USSR. Union was the bigger of the two codes though - rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
only really took off in the former Soviet Union after the collapse of Communism.
Post-Soviet Russia
When the Soviet Union broke up, there were two main consequences - firstly the loss of a much larger pool of players and fans, and secondly, the defection of many players to rugby leagueRugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
, which had previously been frowned on by the Soviet authorities. The two main areas for Russian rugby were to be Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
and Siberia
Siberia
Siberia is an extensive region constituting almost all of Northern Asia. Comprising the central and eastern portion of the Russian Federation, it was part of the Soviet Union from its beginning, as its predecessor states, the Tsardom of Russia and the Russian Empire, conquered it during the 16th...
, and to a lesser extent, Leningrad/St Petersburg
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
.
The most notable Russian player perhaps is Dimitri Mironov who played for the Barbarians
Barbarian F.C.
The Barbarian Football Club, usually referred to as the Barbarians and nicknamed the "Baa-Baas", is an invitational rugby union team based in Britain...
several times during the 1980s. Vasily Artemyev currently plays for Northampton Saints
Northampton Saints
Northampton Saints are a professional rugby union club from Northampton, England. The Northampton Saints were formed in 1880. They play in green, black and gold colours. They play their home games at Franklin's Gardens, which has a capacity of 13,591....
in the English Premiership.
Russian rugby terminology
Russian language terminology for Rugby union positionsRugby union positions
In the game rugby union, there are fifteen players on each team, comprising eight forwards and seven backs . Depending upon the competition, there may be up to eight replacement players. Early games consisted primarily of forwards that attacked plus a handful of "tends" that played back in defence...
|
|2 - отыгрывающий (хукер) (Hooker)
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|3 - форвард первой линии закрытой стороны (Right Prop or Tighthead Prop)
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|4 - форвард второй линии (2nd Row or Lock)
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|5 - Форвард второй линии (2nd Row or Lock)
|
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|6 - Левый крыльевой (Blindside Flanker)
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|8 - Стягивающий (восьмерка)(Number 8)
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|7 - Правый крыльевой (Openside Flanker)
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|9 - Полузащитник схватки (девятка)(Halfback or Scrum-half)
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|10 - Блуждающий полузащитник (десятка)(First Five-eight or Fly-half)
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|12 - Центральный трёхчетвертной (Second Five-eight or Inside Centre)
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|13 - Центральный трёхчетвертной (Center or Outside Centre)
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|11 - Левый крайний трёхчетвертной (Left Wing)
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|14 - Правый крайний трёхчетвертной (четырнадцатый)(Right Wing)
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|15 - Защитник (замок)(Fullback)
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|}>
Climate
In 1978, Russia set the record for one of the coldest matches ever to be played. KrasnoyarskKrasnoyarsk
Krasnoyarsk is a city and the administrative center of Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russia, located on the Yenisei River. It is the third largest city in Siberia, with the population of 973,891. Krasnoyarsk is an important junction of the Trans-Siberian Railway and one of Russia's largest producers of...
played Polyechika Alma at -23' C. Because Krasnoyarsk had travelled over 2,000 km to be there, the game was not called off. Instead, players resorted to wearing balaclavas, gloves, and several pairs of tracksuits to combat the cold. Nonetheless, the extreme climate of Russia remains a problem, with winter sometimes being a split season, or the game of snow rugby
Snow rugby
Snow rugby refers to forms of rugby union, which are especially adapted to be played in winter conditions, particularly deep snow. It is played in the Argentinian Ski Resort of Las Leñas, Canada, the Kashmir region in India, Latvia and northern USA, amongst other places.-History:Rugby union is...
being played.
Popularity
Although association footballFootball (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
is the most popular spectator sport in Russia, rugby has been growing in terms of player base, spectator interest and media coverage in recent years. Rugby's rise into mainstream media happened a few years ago when the Heineken Cup
Heineken Cup
The Heineken Cup is one of two annual rugby union competitions organised by European Rugby Cup involving leading club, regional and provincial teams from the six International Rugby Board countries in Europe whose national teams compete in the Six Nations Championship: England, France, Ireland,...
, a club/province tournament in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, was given television coverage on the 7TV sports channel. 7TV also broadcast the 2003 Rugby World Cup
2003 Rugby World Cup
The 2003 Rugby World Cup was the fifth Rugby World Cup and was won by England. Originally planned to be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, all games were shifted to Australia following a contractual dispute over ground signage rights between the New Zealand Rugby Football Union and Rugby World...
. Subsequently, Russia's domestic championship, the Professional Rugby League
Professional Rugby League
Professional Rugby League is the premier rugby union competition in Russia. The Professional League was formed in 2005 and succeeds the Superleague. The Superleague, in turn, was active from 1992 to 2004 and succeeded the Soviet Championship....
, has earned weekly coverage on the RTR-Sport channel (a number of countries also receive this channel, such as Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
), though the games are not shown live. In addition to television coverage, rugby now features in mainstream news publications. In early 2006, RTR-Sport purchased the rights to cover the 2007 Rugby World Cup
2007 Rugby World Cup
The 2007 Rugby World Cup was the sixth Rugby World Cup, a quadrennial international rugby union competition inaugurated in 1987. Twenty nations competed for the Webb Ellis Cup in the tournament, which was hosted by France from 7 September to 20 October. France won the hosting rights in 2003,...
. In 2007 Moscow made an unsuccessful bid to host the 2009 Rugby World Cup Sevens
2009 Rugby World Cup Sevens
The 2009 Rugby Sevens World Cup was the fifth edition of the Rugby sevens world cup. The International Rugby Board selected Dubai in the United Arab Emirates as the host venue for the tournament ahead of bids from four other countries. The format included nine direct qualifiers and a further...
. It was announced in February 2009 that the Rugby Union of Russia would again bid to host the Rugby World Cup Sevens, in 2013
2013 Rugby World Cup Sevens
The 2013 Rugby Sevens World Cup, to be held in Moscow, Russia, will be the sixth edition of the Rugby World Cup Sevens. The International Rugby Board has stated that the Rugby World Cup Sevens will be scrapped if rugby sevens were to be included in the Olympic programme for the 2016 Summer Olympics...
. After two other bidders (Brazil and Germany) withdrew, leaving Russia the only country with an active bid, Russia was officially named as host in May 2010. Russia also hosted the IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy
IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy
The IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy is a second tier international rugby union competition. The event is organised by the sport's governing body, the International Rugby Board , and is contested by 8 men's junior national teams, with an under-20 age requirement. The inaugural tournament was held in...
, the IRB's second-tier international competition for under-20 men's teams, in 2010
2010 IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy
The 2010 IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy was the third time that the event run in this second-tier world championship for Under 20 national teams. The event was organised by rugby's governing body, the International Rugby Board...
.
Competitions
The main club competition in Russia is the Professional Rugby LeagueProfessional Rugby League
Professional Rugby League is the premier rugby union competition in Russia. The Professional League was formed in 2005 and succeeds the Superleague. The Superleague, in turn, was active from 1992 to 2004 and succeeded the Soviet Championship....
, a fully professional competition. Crowds vary for these club matches, although 10,000 are usually present for the derby fixtures. The competing clubs are VVA-Podmoskovye from Моnino in Moscow Oblast
Moscow Oblast
Moscow Oblast , or Podmoskovye , is a federal subject of Russia . Its area, at , is relatively small compared to other federal subjects, but it is one of the most densely populated regions in the country and, with the 2010 population of 7,092,941, is the second most populous federal subject...
and Slava from Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
, Enisei-STM and Krasny Yar both from Krasnoyarsk
Krasnoyarsk
Krasnoyarsk is a city and the administrative center of Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russia, located on the Yenisei River. It is the third largest city in Siberia, with the population of 973,891. Krasnoyarsk is an important junction of the Trans-Siberian Railway and one of Russia's largest producers of...
, RC Penza
Penza
-Honors:A minor planet, 3189 Penza, discovered by Soviet astronomer Nikolai Stepanovich Chernykh in 1978, is named after the city.-Notable residents:...
, RC Novokuznetsk
Novokuznetsk
Novokuznetsk is a city in Kemerovo Oblast, Russia. It serves as the administrative center of Novokuznetsky District, but it is not administratively a part of it...
, and Universitet from Chita Oblast
Chita Oblast
Chita Oblast was a federal subject of Russia in southeast Siberia, Russia. Its administrative center was the city of Chita. It had extensive international borders with China and Mongolia and internal borders with Irkutsk and Amur Oblasts, as well as with the Buryat and the Sakha Republics. Its...
. There also Top League and First League below the Professional Rugby League.
The Six Nations B, also known as the European Nations Cup (ENC) is similar to the Six Nations Championship
Six Nations Championship
The Six Nations Championship is an annual international rugby union competition involving six European sides: England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales....
. Russia finished third in the 2001 and 2001–02 competitions and second in the 2007–08 and 2008–10 competitions. Their second-place finish in 2008–10 also secured Russia's first appearance in the Rugby World Cup
Rugby World Cup
The Rugby World Cup is an international rugby union competition organised by the International Rugby Board and held every four years since 1987....
, which will take place in 2011
2011 Rugby World Cup
The 2011 Rugby World Cup was the seventh Rugby World Cup, a quadrennial international rugby union competition inaugurated in 1987. The International Rugby Board selected New Zealand as the host country in preference to Japan and South Africa at a meeting in Dublin on 17 November 2005...
in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. The Nations Cup was introduced by the IRB in 2006, in which Russia and Portugal
Portugal national rugby union team
The Portugal national rugby union team is a third tier rugby union side representing Portugal. They first played in 1935 and now compete in the European Nations Cup. Rugby union in Portugal is administered by the Federação Portuguesa de Rugby. Portugal qualified for their first Rugby World Cup in...
along with Argentina A and Italy A
Italy A national rugby union team
The Italy A national rugby union team are the second national rugby union team in Italy after the national side. They compete every year in the IRB Nations Cup.-Fixtures:IRB Nations Cup 2010...
competed in Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
.
Super Powers Cup
The Super Cup was an annual international rugby unionRugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
competition contested by national teams from Canada
Canada national rugby union team
The Canada national rugby union team represents Canada in international rugby union. They are governed by Rugby Canada, and play in red and black. Canada is classified by the International Rugby Board as a tier two rugby nation. There are ten tier one nations, and seven tier two nations, the...
, Japan
Japan national rugby union team
The Japan national rugby union team represent Japan in international rugby union competitions. Japan is traditionally the strongest rugby union power in Asia but has both enjoyed and endured mixed results against non-Asian teams over the years...
, Romania
Romania national rugby union team
The Romania national rugby union team , nicknamed The Oaks , is the representative side of Romania in rugby union. Long considered one of the stronger European teams outside the Six Nations, they have participated in all six Rugby World Cups, and currently compete in the first division of the...
and the United States
United States national rugby union team
USA Rugby's men's national rugby union team, nicknamed the Eagles, represents the United States in the sport of rugby union. The Eagles are currently ranked 17th by the IRB World Rankings. Their highest ranking was from November 2, 2006 – September 10, 2007 at the 14th position...
. It was previously known as the Super Powers Cup.
The Super Powers Cup was first launched in 2003. It was planned that China
China national rugby union team
The China national rugby union team represents the People's Republic of China in international rugby union. China have yet to make their debut at the Rugby World Cup, but attempted to qualify in both 2003 and 2007.They are currently ranked 66th in the world....
, Japan, Russia
Russia national rugby union team
The Russian National Rugby Union Team, is the national team representing Russia at the sport of rugby union.Rugby union in Russia is administered by the Rugby Union of Russia . The RUR is the official successor union of the Soviet Union and the combined CIS team which played in the early 1990s...
and the United States would play each other once. However, because of the SARS outbreak the Chinese team were forced to withdraw. Russia won the inaugural competition, defeating the USA 30-21 in Krasnoyarsk
Krasnoyarsk
Krasnoyarsk is a city and the administrative center of Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russia, located on the Yenisei River. It is the third largest city in Siberia, with the population of 973,891. Krasnoyarsk is an important junction of the Trans-Siberian Railway and one of Russia's largest producers of...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. For the 2004 competition Canada replaced China.
National champions
| Year | Team | Year | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Krasny Yar | 2002 | Enisei-STM |
| 1993 | VVA-Podmoskovye VVA-Podmoskovye Monino The VVA-Podmoskovje is a Russian rugby union team currently playing in the Professional Rugby League. The team plays at Gagarin Air Force Academy stadium in Monino, a garrison town just outside Moscow. VVA-Podmoskovye have strong links to the air force and also supply the bulk of Russia, with which... |
2003 | VVA-Podmoskovye VVA-Podmoskovye Monino The VVA-Podmoskovje is a Russian rugby union team currently playing in the Professional Rugby League. The team plays at Gagarin Air Force Academy stadium in Monino, a garrison town just outside Moscow. VVA-Podmoskovye have strong links to the air force and also supply the bulk of Russia, with which... |
| 1994 | Krasny Yar | 2004 | VVA-Podmoskovye VVA-Podmoskovye Monino The VVA-Podmoskovje is a Russian rugby union team currently playing in the Professional Rugby League. The team plays at Gagarin Air Force Academy stadium in Monino, a garrison town just outside Moscow. VVA-Podmoskovye have strong links to the air force and also supply the bulk of Russia, with which... |
| 1995 | Krasny Yar | 2005 | Enisei-STM |
| 1996 | Krasny Yar | 2006 | VVA-Podmoskovye VVA-Podmoskovye Monino The VVA-Podmoskovje is a Russian rugby union team currently playing in the Professional Rugby League. The team plays at Gagarin Air Force Academy stadium in Monino, a garrison town just outside Moscow. VVA-Podmoskovye have strong links to the air force and also supply the bulk of Russia, with which... |
| 1997 | Krasny Yar | 2007 | VVA-Podmoskovye VVA-Podmoskovye Monino The VVA-Podmoskovje is a Russian rugby union team currently playing in the Professional Rugby League. The team plays at Gagarin Air Force Academy stadium in Monino, a garrison town just outside Moscow. VVA-Podmoskovye have strong links to the air force and also supply the bulk of Russia, with which... |
| 1998 | Krasny Yar | 2008 | VVA-Podmoskovye VVA-Podmoskovye Monino The VVA-Podmoskovje is a Russian rugby union team currently playing in the Professional Rugby League. The team plays at Gagarin Air Force Academy stadium in Monino, a garrison town just outside Moscow. VVA-Podmoskovye have strong links to the air force and also supply the bulk of Russia, with which... |
| 1999 | Enisei-STM | 2009 | VVA-Podmoskovye VVA-Podmoskovye Monino The VVA-Podmoskovje is a Russian rugby union team currently playing in the Professional Rugby League. The team plays at Gagarin Air Force Academy stadium in Monino, a garrison town just outside Moscow. VVA-Podmoskovye have strong links to the air force and also supply the bulk of Russia, with which... |
| 2000 | Krasny Yar | 2010 | |
| 2001 | Krasny Yar | 2011 |
National team
CIS (rugby)
CIS was a rugby union side that played matches during 1991 and 1992. The side consisted of members of the Commonwealth of Independent States. The team played four matches, losing all four fixtures...
. Since 1992 however, they have been playing as Russia. The team qualified for its first Rugby World Cup
Rugby World Cup
The Rugby World Cup is an international rugby union competition organised by the International Rugby Board and held every four years since 1987....
by tying Romania 21-21.
Russia competes regularly in the European Nations Cup, and more recently, in the Nations Cup.
Russia succeeded in qualifying for the 2011 Rugby World Cup
2011 Rugby World Cup
The 2011 Rugby World Cup was the seventh Rugby World Cup, a quadrennial international rugby union competition inaugurated in 1987. The International Rugby Board selected New Zealand as the host country in preference to Japan and South Africa at a meeting in Dublin on 17 November 2005...
.
See also
- Russia national rugby union teamRussia national rugby union teamThe Russian National Rugby Union Team, is the national team representing Russia at the sport of rugby union.Rugby union in Russia is administered by the Rugby Union of Russia . The RUR is the official successor union of the Soviet Union and the combined CIS team which played in the early 1990s...
- USSR national rugby union team
- Rugby Union of RussiaRugby Union of RussiaRugby Union of Russia is the governing body for rugby union in Russia. It was founded in 1936 originally as the Rugby Union of the Soviet Union...
- Professional Rugby LeagueProfessional Rugby LeagueProfessional Rugby League is the premier rugby union competition in Russia. The Professional League was formed in 2005 and succeeds the Superleague. The Superleague, in turn, was active from 1992 to 2004 and succeeded the Soviet Championship....
- Rugby league in RussiaRugby league in RussiaRugby league is a team sport in Russia. The Russian Rugby League Federation is the governing body of rugby league in Russia.-Olympic Status of Rugby Union Sevens and the expulsion of Rugby League from the State Register of Sports of Russia:...
- Sport in RussiaSport in RussiaRussia is a keen sporting country, successful at a number of sports and continuously finishing in the top rankings at the Olympic games. During the Soviet era the team placed first in the total number of medals won at 14 of its 18 appearances; with these performances, the USSR was the dominant...
- Marcel BurgunMarcel BurgunMarcel Henry Burgun was a French rugby union player. He was born on 30 January 1890, in St Petersburg, Russia and died on 2 September 1916 during the First World War...
, , born in St Petersburg.
External links
- Rugby.ru
- Russia on IRB.com
- Rugby media coverage grows in Russia, eyes set on RWC 2007
- rprl.ru
- No Hanging Up the Boots
- "Islam and Rugby" on the Rugby Readers review (Russia has a considerable Muslim minority) Archives du Rugby: Russie