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Russia national rugby league team

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Russia
Badge of Russia team
Team information
NicknameThe Bears
Governing bodyRussian Rugby League
RegionEurope
Head coachDenis Korolev
CaptainSergey Konstantinov
Home stadiumNaro-Fominsk
IRL ranking45th
Uniforms
First colours
Team results
First international
 France 26–6 USSR Soviet Union
(Villeurbanne, France; September 1991)
Biggest win
 Lebanon 0–80 Russia 
(Moscow, Russia; 28 September 2008)
Biggest defeat
 Australia 110–4 Russia 
(Hull, England; 4 November 2000)
World Cup
Appearances1 (first time in 2000)
Best resultGroup Stages, 2000

The Russia national rugby league team, nicknamed The Bears (Russian: Медведи), represents Russia in international rugby league tournaments and other rugby league fixtures. The Bears, played their first fixtures against two British club sides: York Wasps and Fulham RLFC. In 2013, Russia became a full member of the Rugby League International Federation.

After the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the International Rugby League and European Rugby League banned Russia from all international rugby league competitions.[1]

History

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1990s

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The Russia Bears were formed in 1991 for a tour of two English teams, the York Wasps and Fulham RLFC.[citation needed] The Bears played their first overseas match in 1991 against the French national team at the Stade Georges Lyvet, Villeurbanne on Sunday, 27 October 1991. The Bears were beaten 26-6 by France. Later that year, the Bears toured South Africa to play a three-match series against South Africa.[citation needed]

2000s

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The 2000 RLWC provided the Bears with the opportunity to compete with the international heavyweights of rugby league: England and Australia. Also in their group was Fiji, who the Bears played first up in Barrow. Led by Sydney Roosters prop Ian Rubin, who was born in Odesa, Ukraine, the Bears were involved in a tight struggle and it was Fijian captain, winger Lote Tuquri, who proved to be the difference between the two sides, with Fiji winning 38-12. The next two games were against opponents who proved to be beyond the Russians, with two big defeats at the hands of the English national team and a record 110-4 defeat by the Australians.[citation needed]

The Russian side went on a four-match tour of New Zealand's south island in 2004.[2]

In 2006, Russia were involved in Europe Round One, defeating Netherlands national rugby league team and Serbia national rugby league team to finish second and keep their World Cup dream alive. They then went through to Europe Round Two in Europe Pool Two with Ireland and Lebanon. Russia lost all 4 games against them and did not qualify on those grounds.[citation needed]

2010s

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In 2010, after a year out of competition, the Bears competed in the Rugby League European Shield, topping the table after wins against Ukraine and Latvia.[citation needed] In 2011 Russia were involved in the European qualifying group that featured Russia themselves, Italy, Serbia, and Lebanon. They lost both of their games against Italy and Lebanon ultimately ending their dreams for a second world cup tournament.[citation needed] In 2012-2013, the Bears competed in the Rugby League European Shield winning five games out of six to take the shield.[citation needed]

Russia participated in the qualification for the 2017 Rugby League World Cup. In the final round of qualification, Russia took on Spain at Fili Stadium in Moscow, and Ireland in Bray, in a bid to qualify for their second World Cup appearance.[citation needed]

2020s

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After the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the International Rugby League and European Rugby League banned Russia from all international rugby league competitions.[3]

Players

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Current squad

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Squad selected for the 2021 World Cup qualifying fixtures;[4]

  • Nikolai Zagoskin
  • Iustin Petrushka
  • Kirill Bozhko
  • Sergei Muntian
  • Kirill Kosharin
  • Petr Botnarash
  • Ivan Troitskii
  • Igor Abramov
  • Vladislav Lesnikov
  • Denis Tiulenev
  • Dmitrii Leskov
  • Aleksandr Lysokon
  • Alexandr Naumov
  • Dmitry Bratko
  • Viacheslav Eremin
  • Viktor Ariutkin
  • Andrey Kuznetsov
  • Ilia Danilov
  • Pavel Mrachkovskii
  • Denis Chuprin
  • Igor Chupin
  • Boris Voloskov
  • Sergey Konstantinov
  • Sergei Zhigan
  • Anton Kuklin
  • Evgenii Orlov
  • Andrei Lavrushin
  • Andrei Perin
  • Nikita Kuznetsov
  • Dmitrii Tarasenkov
  • Aleskei Leonov
  • Egor Shustov
  • Ivan Kazantsev
  • Vsevolod Gusev

Competitive Record

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Overall

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Below is table of the official representative rugby league matches played by Russia at test level up until 6 October 2021:

Team First Played Played Win Draw Loss Last Meeting
 Australia 2000 1 0 0 1 2000
 Cook Islands 1995 1 0 0 1 1995
 England 2000 3 0 0 3 2004
 France 1991 8 0 0 8 2005
 Fiji 2000 1 0 0 1 2000
 Germany 2012 2 2 0 0 2013
 Georgia 2008 2 2 0 0 2008
 Ireland 2004 4 1 0 3 2016
 Italy 2011 6 2 0 4 2016
 Latvia 2010 1 1 0 0 2010
 Lebanon 2006 3 1 0 2 2008
 Netherlands 2006 1 1 0 0 2006
 Scotland 1995 1 0 0 1 1992
 Serbia 2006 8 6 0 2 2021
 South Africa 1992 2 2 0 0 1992
 Spain 2016 2 2 0 0 2018
 Ukraine 2010 5 4 0 1 2021
 United States 1994 5 5 0 0 2004
 Wales 2003 1 0 0 1 2003
Total 1992 41 26 0 14

IRL Rankings

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Official rankings as of 30 June 2024
Rank Change Team Pts %
1 Steady  Australia 100
2 Steady  New Zealand 82
3 Steady  England 80
4 Steady  Samoa 67
5 Steady  Tonga 49
6 Increase 1  Fiji 49
7 Decrease 1  Papua New Guinea 47
8 Steady  France 28
9 Steady  Lebanon 22
10 Steady  Cook Islands 20
11 Steady  Serbia 19
12 Steady  Netherlands 17
13 Steady  Italy 15
14 Increase 1  Greece 15
15 Decrease 1  Malta 14
16 Steady  Ireland 14
17 Steady  Wales 13
18 Steady  Jamaica 10
19 Steady  Scotland 9
20 Steady  Ukraine 7
21 Steady  Czech Republic 7
22 Steady  Germany 6
23 Increase 3  Chile 6
24 Steady  Poland 6
25 Increase 3  Norway 6
26 Increase 1  Kenya 5
27 Decrease 4  Philippines 5
28 Decrease 3  South Africa 4
29 Steady  Nigeria 4
30 Steady  Ghana 4
31 Increase 2  United States 4
32 Increase 4  Montenegro 4
33 Decrease 2  Brazil 3
34 Decrease 2  Turkey 3
35 Increase 7  North Macedonia 3
36 Decrease 2  Bulgaria 3
37 Decrease 2  Cameroon 2
38 Decrease 1  Spain 2
39 Decrease 1  Japan 1
40 Decrease 1  Albania 1
41 Increase 5  Canada 1
42 Decrease 2  Colombia 1
43 Decrease 2  El Salvador 1
44 Decrease 1  Morocco 1
45 New entry  Russia 0
46 Decrease 2  Sweden 0
47 Decrease 2  Bosnia and Herzegovina 0
48 Increase 2  Hungary 0
49 Increase 3  Argentina 0
50 New entry  Hong Kong 0
51 Decrease 3  Solomon Islands 0
52 Decrease 5  Niue 0
53 Increase 1  Latvia 0
54 Decrease 1  Denmark 0
55 Decrease 6  Belgium 0
56 Decrease 1  Estonia 0
57 Decrease 6  Vanuatu 0
Complete rankings at INTRL.SPORT

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Russia banned from international rugby league competitions".
  2. ^ AP (13 April 2004). "Russia lose to New Zealand side". Daily Times. Pakistan. Archived from the original on 22 October 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2011.
  3. ^ "Russia banned from international rugby league competitions".
  4. ^ "Russia, Serbia and Spain name squads for RLWC qualifiers | Rugby League Planet". 2018-09-13. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
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