Russia
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s)медведи (Medvedi, The Bears)
EmblemRussian Bear
UnionRugby Union of Russia
Head coachAleksandr Pervukhin
CaptainVictor Gresev
Most capsYuri Kushnarev (120)
Top scorerYuri Kushnarev (797)
Top try scorerVasily Artemyev (29)
Home stadiumVarious
First colours
Second colours
World Rugby ranking
Current25 (as of 3 July 2022)
Highest16 (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010)
Lowest26 (2005)
First international
 Soviet Union 28–0 Czechoslovakia 
(Soviet Union; 31 August 1975)
as Russian Federation
Unofficial
 Russia 27–23 Barbarians
(Moscow, Russia; 6 June 1992)
Official
 Belgium 11–17 Russia 
(Brussels, Belgium; 11 October 1992)
Biggest win
 Denmark 7–104 Russia 
(Copenhagen, Denmark; 13 May 2000)
Biggest defeat
 Japan 75–3 Russia 
(Tokyo, Japan; 6 November 2010)
World Cup
Appearances2 (First in 2011)
Best resultPool stage (2011, 2019)
Websiterugby.ru

The Russia national rugby union team (Russian: Сборная России по регби), nicknamed Medvedi (The Bears), represented Russia in men's international rugby union international competitions. The team is administered by the Rugby Union of Russia (RUR). The RUR is considered the official successor union of the Soviet Union by World Rugby and the combined CIS team which played in the early 1990s. Since 1992, the team has played as Russia. Its first test match as Russia was against the Barbarians in Moscow in June 1992 and the country's first test against an official Test nation was against Belgium later that same year.

Russia is seen as a Tier 2 union by World Rugby.[1] The team's regular international competition was in the Rugby Europe Championship – often referred to as the Six Nations B. In addition, the team participated in World Rugby-run summer tournaments including the Nations Cup, the dormant Churchill Cup, and other international fixtures.

Russia competed in their first Rugby World Cup (RWC) in New Zealand in 2011 after qualifying as Europe 2 through their second-place finish in the 2009–10 ENC. Russia played in Pool C and finished fifth, scoring one point. Previous qualification campaigns saw elimination to Portugal ahead of the 2007 tournament, and expulsion from 2003 qualifying for Russia's breaches of eligibility rules. The team also unsuccessfully attempted to qualify for the 1995 and 1999 Rugby World Cups. They competed in the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan by qualifying as Europe 1 as a result of Spain, Romania and Belgium being eliminated.

After the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, World Rugby and Rugby Europe suspended Russia from international and European continental rugby union competition. In addition, the Rugby Union of Russia was suspended from World Rugby and Rugby Europe.[2][3]

History

Georgia v. Russia, 24 March 2007

The Rugby Union of the Soviet Union was founded in 1936, although the national side did not play its first official international until 1974.

The Soviet Union took time to establish itself, but by the mid-1980s was regularly beating the likes of Italy and Romania. The team was invited to the inaugural 1987 Rugby World Cup, but declined on political grounds, not least the continued IRB membership of apartheid South Africa.[4] Following the breakup of the USSR, Russian players played for the interim Commonwealth of Independent States team, which played four matches during 1991 and 1992.

The first game played by the new Russian national team took place on June 6, 1992, when Russia beat the Barbarians 27–23. Russia's first game against a full IRB member was versus Belgium four months later in the 1992/4 FIRA-AER European Trophy. That edition of the tournament saw Russia secure its first, and to-date only, win over Georgia. Russia continued to participate until realignment of FIRA-AER competitions in 2000.

The Russian national side has since played its regular competitive rugby in FIRA-AER's European Nations Cup, the second level mirror tournament to the Six Nations. Russia replaced Morocco in the top tier in 2001 and have stayed there ever since. The Russian side has yet to win the title. The team has played in the now-defunct Superpowers Cup, winning the tournament once, the Nations Cup, the Churchill Cup, and most recently the IRB's International Rugby Series. The RUR attempted to gain greater participation in the autumn test window, and was being integrated into World Rugby's global test match schedule.[1]

After the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, World Rugby and Rugby Europe suspended Russia from international and European continental rugby union competition. In addition, the Rugby Union of Russia was suspended from World Rugby and Rugby Europe.[5][6]

Rugby World Cup

World Cup record

World Cup record World Cup Qualification record
Year Round P W D L F A P W D L F A
AustraliaNew Zealand 1987Declined invitation-
United KingdomIrelandFrance 1991did not enterdid not enter
South Africa 1995did not qualify430112549
Wales 199941038592
Australia 2003Banned6501176114
France 2007did not qualify14617382323
New Zealand 2011Pool Stage40045719610712291175
England 2015did not qualify12705269300
Japan 2019Pool Stage40041916010406249201
France 2023DisqualifiedDisqualified
Total 2/9 8 0 0 8 76 356 50 29 2 19 1328 1053

Early qualifying attempts (1987 – 2007)

The Soviet Union declined to take up its invite to take part in the inaugural 1987 Rugby World Cup on the basis of the IRB membership by apartheid South Africa.[7] The Soviet Rugby Union was not an IRB member in time for 1991 Rugby World Cup qualifying.

In qualifying for the 1995 Rugby World Cup, the first in which the national side was involved, Russia came through preliminary qualifying with wins over Poland and Georgia, before beating Germany but losing to Romania for the Eastern Europe spot. In European qualifying for the 1999 Rugby World Cup, Russia finished fourth in Pool 1 in Round B, which was not enough to progress from a group also including Italy, Georgia, Croatia, and Denmark.

The Russian national side was expelled from qualifying for the 2003 Rugby World Cup, due to eligibility issues. Spain, who Russia had beaten in qualifying, protested the fielding of three South African-born players (Johan Hendriks, Reiner Volschenck and Werner Pieterse), whom the RUR claimed had qualified through ancestry. However, the RUR did not produce documentation deemed acceptable by the IRB, and Spain were re-instated in qualification in Russia's place.[8]

In 2007 Rugby World Cup qualifying, Russia came through European qualifying to a mini-group stage where they were pooled with Italy and Portugal. The winner would qualify directly and the second place team would continue the qualification process, with the third-placed team eliminated. After both losing heavily to Italy, Portugal and Russia met to determine progression to qualifying round 5. Russia lost the match, played in Lisbon, 26–23 and dropped out.

2011

Russia qualified for the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand as Europe 2 after finishing second in the 2008–10 European Nations Cup. This marked the team's World Cup debut, with Russia becoming the 25th side to play at the tournament, where they faced Australia, Ireland, Italy and the United States in Group C of the tournament.[9]

Match Results
Date Opponent Score Venue
15 Sep 2011  United States 6–13 Stadium Taranaki, New Plymouth
20 Sep 2011  Italy 17–53 Trafalgar Park, Nelson
25 Sep 2011  Ireland 12–62 International Stadium, Rotorua
1 Oct 2011  Australia 22–68 Trafalgar Park, Nelson

2015

The Russian national rugby union team finished third in European qualifying for the 2015 Rugby World Cup. The top two teams in the final group— Georgia and Romania — immediately qualified for the 2015 tournament. Russia, as third-place finisher in the final group, faced Uruguay in a home-and-away two-game playoff. Uruguay won on aggregate and secured the 20th and final qualifying spot for the 2015 tournament, with Russia failing to qualify.

2019

The Russian national rugby union team once again finished third in European qualifying for the 2019 Rugby World Cup. However, after a controversial game played by Belgium and Spain (which was originally intended to be replayed), the issue of three teams in the group stage fielding ineligible players (Belgium, Romania, and Spain) was investigated by World Rugby and Rugby Europe. It was determined that all three teams had violated eligibility rules and gained an unfair advantage (both Romania and Spain defeated Russia) and were sanctioned, and thus, Russia advanced as the automatic qualifier, with Germany headed to the repechage against Portugal.

European Nations Cup

As the Soviet Union, the side secured four straight silvers (all behind France and ahead of Italy and Romania) during the 1980s, and three bronzes. Russia first played the FIRA Trophy in the 1992–94 season. Since 2000, Russia's primary international competition is the European Nations Cup, administered by Rugby Europe and played, by-and-large, during the Six Nations international release window in February and March. Russia won the inaugural Division 2 competition, winning promotion to the top tier in 2000, where they have remained ever since. Since realignment, Russia has secured two runners-up spots and three third-place finishes.

In the 2011-12 season, Russia finished fourth with five wins and five losses. In the 2013-14 season, the team finished third with six wins and four losses. In the 2015-16 season, the Bears again claimed six wins and four losses to finish third. In the 2017 season, Russia finished fourth with two wins and three losses.

Players

Current squad

On the 23rd of January 2022, the following 26 players were called up for the 2022 Rugby Europe Championship.[10]

On the 24th of January, Vasily Artemyev was called up to the squad.[11] On the 26th and 27th of January, Vladimir Podrezov and Alexei Golov as well as Victor Kononov and Alexander Gudok were called up to the squad.[12]

On 30 January, Victor Arhip was called up to the squad.[13] On the 1st of February, Ramil Gaisin was called up to the squad.[14]

On 7 February, Evgeny Mishechkin, Alexei Skobiola, Gleb Farkov, Kirill Golosnitsky, Vladislav Sozonov and Maxim Shevtsov were called up to the squad while Kirill Gotovtsev returned to his club.[15]

Head Coach: South Africa Dick Muir

  • Caps updated: 8 February 2022

Note: Flags indicate national union for the club/province as defined by World Rugby.

Player Position Date of birth (age) Caps Club/province
Shamil Davudov Hooker (1995-04-25) 25 April 1995 1 Russia Kazan
Shamil Magomedov Hooker (1987-04-17) 17 April 1987 9 Russia Enisey-STM
Dmitry Parkhomenko Hooker (1995-11-02) 2 November 1995 4 Russia VVA Podmoskovye
Azamat Bitiev Prop (1989-12-09) 9 December 1989 25 Russia Enisey-STM
Nikoloz Kazalikashvili Prop (1992-08-06) 6 August 1992 1 Russia Kazan
Tamerlan Khubaev Prop (1998-04-25) 25 April 1998 0 Russia Dinamo Moscow
Evgeny Mishechkin Prop (1997-06-27) 27 June 1997 22 Russia Slava Moscow
Nikoloz Narmania Prop (2000-09-13) 13 September 2000 0 France Carcassonne
Vladimir Podrezov Prop (1994-01-27) 27 January 1994 40 Russia VVA Podmoskovye
Stepan Seryakov Prop (1997-09-26) 26 September 1997 1 Russia Enisey-STM
Alexei Skobiola Prop (1991-08-08) 8 August 1991 2 Russia Slava Moscow
Nikita Bekov Lock (1996-03-04) 4 March 1996 3 France Blagnac
Maxim Gargalîc Lock (1989-03-07) 7 March 1989 1 Russia Enisey-STM
Anton Makarenko Lock (1991-12-07) 7 December 1991 1 Russia Enisey-STM
German Silenko Lock (1995-08-09) 9 August 1995 7 Russia Lokomotiv Penza
Victor Arhip Back row (1990-02-24) 24 February 1990 1 Russia Krasny Yar
Artémy Gallo Back row (2000-10-07) 7 October 2000 2 France Suresnes
Vladimir Geraskin Back row (2000-05-21) 21 May 2000 1 Russia Lokomotiv Penza
Victor Gresev (c) Back row (1986-03-31) 31 March 1986 106 Russia Lokomotiv Penza
Nikita Vavilin Back row (1994-05-13) 13 May 1994 24 Russia Slava Moscow
Vitaly Zhivatov Back row (1992-02-16) 16 February 1992 19 Russia VVA Podmoskovye
Stepan Khokhlov Scrum-half (1998-05-09) 9 May 1998 6 Russia Slava Moscow
Efim Ryabishchuk Scrum-half (1999-03-16) 16 March 1999 1 Russia Enisey-STM
Alexey Shcherban Scrum-half (1990-11-17) 17 November 1990 49 Russia Enisey-STM
Gleb Farkov Fly-half (1997-05-14) 14 May 1997 1 Russia Dinamo Moscow
Ramil Gaisin Fly-half (1991-07-26) 26 July 1991 60 Russia Enisey-STM
Alexei Golov Fly-half (1992-01-24) 24 January 1992 3 Russia Kazan
Daniil Semenov Fly-half (2000-06-27) 27 June 2000 1 Russia CSKA Moscow
German Davydov Centre (1994-03-10) 10 March 1994 31 Russia VVA Podmoskovye
Dmitry Gerasimov Centre (1988-04-16) 16 April 1988 72 Russia Enisey-STM
Kirill Golosnitsky Centre (1994-05-30) 30 May 1994 23 Russia VVA Podmoskovye
Victor Kononov Centre (1996-05-26) 26 May 1996 6 Russia Enisey-STM
Vladislav Sozonov Centre (1993-10-09) 9 October 1993 13 Russia Lokomotiv Penza
Alexander Gudok Wing (1991-06-03) 3 June 1991 0 Russia Lokomotiv Penza
Andrei Karzanov Wing (1990-11-25) 25 November 1990 8 Russia Lokomotiv Penza
Alexey Mikhaltsov Wing (1991-07-24) 24 July 1991 11 Russia Enisey-STM
Daniil Potikhanov Wing (1999-11-30) 30 November 1999 8 Russia Lokomotiv Penza
Vasily Artemyev Fullback (1987-07-24) 24 July 1987 97 Russia CSKA Moscow
Maxim Shevtsov Fullback (2001-03-09) 9 March 2001 0 Russia Dinamo Moscow
Dmitry Sukhin Fullback (1995-01-15) 15 January 1995 1 Russia Krasny Yar

Current coaching staff

The current coaching staff of the Russian national team:[16]

Name Nationality Role
Aleksandr Pervukhin RUSManager
Alexander Yanyushkin
VAkil Valeev
 RUSHead coach
Yuri Kushnarev RUSAssistant coach
VacantStrength & conditioning coach
Dr. Evgeny Trofimov RUSTeam doctor
VacantPhysiotherapist

Past Coaches

Since 1992

Years Coach
–1992Russia Petr Etko
1992–2000Russia Vladimir Grachev
2001–2002South Africa James Stoffberg
2003–2004Russia Aleksandr Pervukhin
2004–2005RussiaFrance Igor Mironov
2006South Africa Blikkies Groenewald
2007–2008France Claude Saurel
2008-2010England Steve Diamond (Director of Rugby)
2008–2011Russia Nikolay Nerush
2011–2014Wales Kingsley Jones
2014France Raphaël Saint-André (Interim)
2015–2018Russia Aleksandr Pervukhin
2018Ireland Mark McDermott (Interim)
2018–2021Wales Lyn Jones
2021–2022South Africa Dick Muir
2023–Russia Aleksandr Pervukhin

Stadiums and attendance

The national team does not have a permanent home stadium and play their matches at various locations across Russia. After 2018 FIFA World Cup was held in Russia, the country received new large stadiums as a heritage. The Russian rugby union was given the opportunity to use these stadiums for the home games of the national team. The first big match took place in Moscow at VTB Arena as part of the warm-up to 2019 Rugby World Cup. In February 2020, Russia will host Portugal to the Kaliningrad Stadium.

The highest attended matches in Russia involving the Russian national team were:

RankAttendanceOpponentDateVenueLocation
115,000 Italy1998-04-18Central StadiumKrasnoyarsk
215,000 Ireland2002-09-21Central StadiumKrasnoyarsk
312,000 Namibia2018-11-10Kuban StadiumKrasnodar
412,000 Portugal2020-02-22Kaliningrad StadiumKaliningrad
511,500 Spain2018-02-10Kuban StadiumKrasnodar
610,000United States USA Selects2003-07-19Central StadiumKrasnoyarsk
79,500 Georgia2021-03-20Kaliningrad StadiumKaliningrad
88,237 Spain2020-02-01Fisht StadiumSochi
98,000 Georgia2008-04-12Central StadiumKrasnoyarsk
108,000 Zimbabwe2014-08-04Central StadiumKrasnoyarsk
116,500Ireland Connacht2019-09-07VTB ArenaMoscow
126,000 Belgium2018-02-17Kuban StadiumKrasnodar
135,850 Georgia2019-03-17Kuban StadiumKrasnodar
145,100Barbarian F.C.1992-06-06RZD ArenaMoscow

Recent and upcoming fixtures

The following table shows the fixtures of the Russian national team in official test matches during the previous 12 months.

Date Opponent Opp Rank Result Venue Event
2023-06-25 Russia Russian Barbarians n/a L 14-57 Russia Luzhniki Sports Village, Moscow Test match
2023-10-21 Russia Russian Barbarians n/a L 21-25 Russia Solidarnost Samara Arena, Samara Test match

World Rugby Rankings

Top 30 as of 25 December 2023[17]
RankChange*TeamPoints
1 Steady South Africa094.54
2 Steady Ireland090.57
3 Steady New Zealand089.80
4 Steady France087.81
5 Steady England085.46
6 Steady Scotland083.43
7 Steady Argentina080.68
8 Steady Wales080.64
9 Steady Australia077.48
10 Steady Fiji076.38
11 Steady Italy075.93
12 Steady Japan074.27
13 Steady Portugal072.78
14 Steady Georgia072.68
15 Steady Samoa072.23
16 Steady Tonga071.57
17 Steady United States067.94
18 Steady Uruguay067.39
19 Steady Romania063.28
20 Steady Spain062.86
21 Steady Canada060.90
22 Steady Namibia060.56
23 Steady Chile060.49
24 Steady Hong Kong059.80
25 Steady Russia058.06
26 Steady  Switzerland056.29
27 Steady Netherlands055.84
28 Steady Brazil055.37
29 Steady Belgium054.58
30 Steady South Korea053.46
* Change from the previous week
Russia's historical rankings
See or edit source data.
Source: World Rugby[17]
Graph updated to 25 December 2023

On introduction of the World Rugby Rankings in October 2003, Russia was ranked 23rd. As of March 2022, Russia was ranked 25th in the world.

Overall record

Below is a table of the representative rugby matches played by a Russia national XV at test level up until 06 November 2021.[18]

Opponent Played Won Lost Drawn Win % For Aga Diff
 Argentina Jaguars50500.00%58200–142
 Argentina XV2200100.00%8778+9
 Australia10100.00%2268–46
 Belgium871087.50%275148+127
 Canada514020.00%91157–66
 Chile312033.33%9883+15
 Croatia10100.00%1623–7
 Czech Republic862075.00%309104+205
 Denmark3300100.00%19128+163
 England Saxons10100.00%1749–32
 France XV20200.00%2187–66
France French Military10100.00%1233–21
 Georgia2512314.00%273621–348
 Germany111100100.00%528140+388
 Hong Kong5500100.00%14462+82
 Ireland30300.00%15132–117
Ireland Emerging Ireland10100.00%066–66
 Italy50500.00%76283–207
 Emerging Italy20200.00%3660–24
 Italy A40400.00%66129–63
 Japan716016.7%118299–161
 Kenya1100100.00%3110+21
 Morocco321066.67%4446–2
 Namibia752071.43%183141+42
 Netherlands5500100.00%24347+196
 Norway1100100.00%660+66
 Papua New Guinea1100100.00%4919+30
 Poland4400100.00%20159+142
 Portugal21146166.67%563429+134
 Romania24716129.17%347580–233
 Samoa10100.00%934–25
 Scotland10100.00%061–61
 Scotland A10100.00%749–42
 Spain23167072.72%639518+121
 Sweden10100.00%1320–7
 Tunisia2200100.00%5741+16
 Ukraine9900100.00%439115+324
 United States80800.00%110280–170
 USA Selects1100100.00%3021+9
 Uruguay945044.44%215231–16
 Zimbabwe3300100.00%9235+57
Total227113111349.78%57355514+221

Individual records

Most caps

# Player Pos Span Mat Start Sub Won Lost Draw %
1Yuri KushnarevFly-half2005–2021120101195563247.82
2Victor GresevFlanker2006–10797104660144.28
3Andrey GarbuzovLock2005–202010076244554145.50
4Vasily ArtemyevCentre2009–989444156143.68
5Andrei KuzinCentre1997–20117868103837350.64
6Alexander KhrokinProp1994–20117647293638248.68
7Dmitry GerasimovCentre2008-7363102944040.84
Vladislav KorshunovHooker2002–20157348253239245.20
Alexander VoytovLock2003–2014736762942241.09
10Viacheslav GrachevFlanker1993–2011727023337247.22

Most tries

# Player Pos Span Mat Start Sub Pts Tries
1Vasily ArtemyevCentre2009–9894414529
2Andrei KuzinCentre1997–201178681013026
3Vladimir OstroushkoWing2006–20205147412525
4Victor GresevFlanker2006–107971011022
5Viacheslav GrachevFlanker1993–2011727029519
6Igor GalinovskiyWing2006-2019504379018
7Alexander GvozdovskyWing2005-2010312837515
Denis SimplikevichWing2011-302557515
9Evgeny MatveevHooker2007-20206526396513
10Anton RudoyFlanker2016-2018201916012

Most points

# Player Pos Span Mat Pts Tries Conv Pens Drop
1Yuri KushnarevFly-half2005–2021120797111551422
2Konstantin RachkovFly-half1997–2011443161051415
3Ramil GaisinFly-half2012–60250746410
4Vladimir SimonovCentre2001-2004221681125183
5Vasily ArtemyevCentre2009–9814529000
6Andrei KuzinCentre1997–20117813026000
7Vladimir OstroushkoWing2006–20205112525000
8Alexander YanyushkinScrum-half2002–201570116109160
9Viktor MotorinScrum-half1999–200941112224180
10Victor GresevFlanker2006–10711022000

Other international teams

Sevens

Russia also has a rugby sevens team, which competes in several rounds each year on the World Rugby Sevens Series and in the FIRA-AER Grand Prix Sevens circuit, with Moscow hosting the second leg.

Women

Russia's women field national rugby union teams in both fifteens, where it appeared at the Women's Rugby World Cup in 1994 and 1998 as Russia and in 1991 as the USSR, and in sevens, which took part in the first Women's Rugby World Cup Sevens in 2009 and which contests the IRB Women's Sevens World Series.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "International Rugby Board - Integrated Tier 2 Test calendar moves closer". Archived from the original on 2012-10-15. Retrieved 2017-07-26.
  2. Gallan, Daniel (1 March 2022). "World Rugby joins other sports bodies by suspending Russia and Belarus". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
  3. "Rugby Europe Statement – Russia and Belarus Suspension". Rugby Europe. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  4. RUR Team Media Guide RWC11
  5. Gallan, Daniel (1 March 2022). "World Rugby joins other sports bodies by suspending Russia and Belarus". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
  6. "Rugby Europe Statement – Russia and Belarus Suspension". Rugby Europe. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  7. Rugby Union of Russia Official Team Media Guide for RWC11
  8. "FEDERACION ESPAÑOLA RUGBY - la DH y LIGA IBERDROLA".
  9. "Official RWC 2011 Site". RugbyWorldCup.com. Retrieved 2010-07-04.
  10. Russia`s squad for the 2022 Rugby Europe Championship
  11. Artemyev joins Russia squad.
  12. Podrezov, Golov, Kononov and Gudok join Russia squad.
  13. Arhip joins Russia squad.
  14. Gaisin joins Russia squad.
  15. Mishechkin, Skobiola, Farkov, Golosnitsky, Sozonov and Shevtsov join Russia squad.
  16. "Russia Rugby's Coaching Staff". Rugby Union of Russia.
  17. 1 2 "Men's World Rankings". World Rugby. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  18. Russia rugby statistics
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