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Join us as we follow Russia’s Rugby World Cup campaign
Welcome to the Russia Rugby World Cup 2011 homepage, the number one source for news about Russia’s greatest rugby adventure.
Expectation is high as Russia takes its place on the Rugby world stage for the very first time, and we’ll be providing all the coverage you need, every step of the way.
Take a look below for information about Russia’s fixtures, a guide to the team and its coaches, a look back at Russia’s qualifying campaign, and plenty of other information about Russian rugby.
Remember to check back regularly, as we’ll be publishing regular articles in the lead up to the World Cup. And, of course, once we get into the tournament itself, we’ll be previewing and reporting on every match as it happens.
Latest News
Table
[sws_news_table_csv width=”100%” bgcolor=”ffffff” tbcolor=”6699cc” tbwidth=”1″ tbtype=”solid” hbgcolor=”ffffff” hcolor=”003399″ hbcolor=”6699cc” hbwidth=”1″ hbtype=”dashed” bbgcolor=”ffffff” bcolor=”666699″ bbcolor=”6699cc” bbwidth=”0″ bbtype=”hidden” bzebra=”ffffff” bhover=”ffffff”]| Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|
| Ireland | 4 | 17 |
| Australia | 4 | 15 |
| Italy | 4 | 10 |
| USA | 4 | 4 |
| Russia | 4 | 1 |
Fixtures / Results
Russia have been drawn in Pool C. Russia’s matches will get progressively harder as they face first their old enemy the USA, then Italy, Ireland and Australia.
Click on the boxes below to reveal more information about each match.
[sws_toggle1 title=”USA vs Russia”]15 September 2011 Match Preview / Match Report[/sws_toggle1] [sws_toggle1 title=”Italy vs Russia”]20 September 2011 Match Preview / Match Report[/sws_toggle1] [sws_toggle1 title=”Ireland vs Russia”]25 September 2011 Match Preview / Match Report[/sws_toggle1]Russia vs Ireland match report
[sws_toggle1 title=”Australia vs Russia”]1 October 2011 Match Preview / Match Report[/sws_toggle1]Russia vs Australia Match Report
Meet the Russian Bears
The Russian team is made up mostly of players from the Russian domestic rugby leagues, with a smattering of players who play in England, France and Australia.
Click on the boxes below to find out more about the Russian rugby team.
[sws_toggle1 title=”Russia’s Star Players”]You almost certainly won’t have heard of most of the players in Russia’s squad – so here’s our guide to the key Russian players to watch this world cup.[/sws_toggle1] [sws_toggle1 title=”Squad”] The Russian squad is mostly made up of players from their domestic league, with a smattering of players from the English and French leagues.Click through to see who made it into the final Russian Rugby World Cup squad. [/sws_toggle1] [sws_toggle1 title=”Russia’s Coaching Team”]Russia has put together a top notch coaching team for the World Cup, packed with previous international experience. [/sws_toggle1]
Road to the World Cup
Russia finished second to Georgia in the 2008-2010 European Nations Cup, which doubled up as the European qualifying tournament for RWC 2011.
Click on the boxes below to find out more about Russia’s Road to the World Cup.
[sws_toggle1 title=”ENC Qualifiers”] Russia finished second in the 2008-2010 European Nations Cup tournament, to secure their berth at the 2011 Rugby World Cup.Click here to read more about Russia’s qualification campaign. [/sws_toggle1] [sws_toggle1 title=”Warmup Matches”]As a part of their preparation for the World Cup, the Russian Rugby team took part in the Churchill Cup tournament in England and travelled to Wales to play a number of club sides.
Click here for a roundup of Russia’s World Cup warm up matches[/sws_toggle1] [sws_toggle1 title=”ENC 2011-2012″]Unrelated to the World Cup, Russia are also participating in the 2011-2012 European Nations Cup. Following a disappointing start to their campaign, Russia are currently fourth in the six team tournament. [/sws_toggle1]
About Russian Rugby
Rugby in Russia has a long and varied history that dates back to before the Soviet Union. In recent years, the game has been steadily increasing in popularity.
Click the boxes below for background information about Russian rugby.
[sws_toggle1 title=”Russian Rugby History”]Russian Rugby has a rich and varied history. Read more in our comprehensive history of Russian rugby.[/sws_toggle1] [sws_toggle1 title=”Russian Domestic Rugby”]Russia’s domestic leagues are surprisingly strong. Find out more. [/sws_toggle1] [sws_toggle1 title=”Russian Rugby Resources”]Links to useful sites about Russian rugby[/sws_toggle1]Georgia at RWC2011
Russia aren’t the only other Former Soviet team to qualify for this year’s World Cup. Russia’s neighbours and close rivals Georgia also hope to make an impact in New Zealand, after they came so close to defeating Ireland at the last World Cup.
For more information visit our Georgia Rugby World Cup 2011 microsite.
About this site
The Russia Rugby World Cup 2011 microsite is a part of the Siberian Light Russia Blog.
I saw the Russia vs. USA game tonight in New Plymouth, New Zealand. The Russian team played a good game and were a credit to their country in a game that could have gone to either side. Well done guys and it is great to have you visiting our country, hope you enjoy your time here.
By One Journalist ……..Russia v Australia
While flanker David Pocock and hooker Stephen Moore were on the field, Australia dominated the first half 47-5. But their substitution during the halftime interval saw the momentum of the game swing dramatically, as the Bears kept the Wallabies scoreless from the 48th to the 80th, when Berrick Barnes scored right at the death off a chargedown.
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Related Coverage
Rugby World Cup
AUS v RUS
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Had it not been for his try, the Wallabies would have suffered the embarrassment of being outscored in the second half. As it was they only won the stanza 21-17 as Russian super-sub Konstantin Rashkov made a dramatic impact off the bench, scoring his side’s third and final try to push his personal tally for the match to 12 points.