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Russia national rugby league team
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The Russia national rugby league team (also known as The Bears) represent Russia in and other rugby league fixtures. The Bears, played their first fixtures against two British club sides: York and Fulham. In 2004, Russia became a full member of the Rugby League International Federation.
HistoryThe Russia Bears were formed in 1991 for the tour of two English teams, the York Wasps and Fulham F.C.
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 and to play a three match series against South Africa.
France continued to assist the game in the former Soviet Union by touring in 1993, winning 30-14 in Moscow against the Bears and 34-14 against Moldova.
1994 was the most important year to date for The Bears, marking their first international victory against the USA Tomahawks, in San Francisco. In 1995 Russia competed in the Rugby League Emerging Nations Tournament but only managed to win one game during the tournament, defeating the Americans 28-26.
Overseas teams would not return to Russia until 1998, when a youth tournament was held in Moscow. The Bears would had to wait 2000 to play another international, when they played France in the lead-up to the 2000 Rugby League World Cup (RLWC).
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 Odessa, Ukraine, the Bears were involved in a tight struggle and it was Fiji Captain winger Lote Tuquri who proved to be the difference between the two sides, Fiji winning 38-12. The next two games were beyond the Russians, with two big defeats at the hands of the English national team and a record defeat by the Australians.
In 2002 Russia hosted Moscow's first rugby league international. The match was shown in full on national television, and was the first league international to be played on artificial turf in front of American football posts. Their opponents, the USA Tomahawks, were outclassed 54-10, in front of a crowd of 25,000.
In 2006 and 2007 The Bears participated in Qualifiers for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup in Australia.
In 2008 The Bears will compete in the first ever Euro Med Cup competing against Serbia and Lebanon. The Euro Med Cup is the 2nd tier competition for European Rugby League Teams, the top tier consists of England, France, Scotland, Ireland and Wales.
2008 World Cup QualifyingIn 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. Ireland qualified as group winners to go through to the 2008 World Cup, with the runner up Lebanon entering the Repecharge round.
2008 Fixtures- Russia V USA - September 12th - Moscow
- Russia V Serbia - September 21st - Moscow - Euro Med Cup
- Russia V Lebanon - September 28th - Lebanon - Euro Med Cup
CompetitionsRussia has participated in:
Results
|+ Russian Bears 2000 RLWC Squad
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! Player
! Club
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|Viatcheslav Artachine
|Kazan Arrows
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|Robert Campbell
|Redcliffe
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|Rinat Chamsoutdinov
|Kazan Arrows
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|Craig Cygler
|Cairns Brothers
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|Matthew Donovan
|Western Tigers
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|Andrey Dumalkin
|Locomotiv Moscow
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|Aaron Findlay
|Canterbury Bulldogs
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|Igor Gavrilin
|Locomotiv Moscow
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|Roustem Garifoulline
|Kazan Arrows
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|Michael Giorgas
|Logan City
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|Robert Iliassov
|Kazan Arrows
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|Igor Jiltsov
|Locomotiv Moscow
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|Pavel Kalachkine
|Kazan Arrows
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|Kirillin Koulemine
|Moscow Magicians
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|Andrei Kuchumov
|Moscow Magicians
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|Alexandr Lysenkov
|Locomotiv Moscow
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|Mikhail Mitrofanov
|Kazan Arrows
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|Viktor Nechaev
|Locomotiv Moscow
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|Andre Olari
|Toulouse Spacers
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|Vadim Postnikov
|Locomotiv Moscow
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|Maxim Romanov
|Kazan Arrows
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|Ian Rubin (captain)
|Sydney Roosters
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|Joel Rullis
|Western Tigers
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|Petr Sokolov
|Locomtiv Moscow
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>* Lebanon def. Russia 48-0
COMMONWEALTH OF INDEPENDENT STATES (CIS):
SOVIET UNION (USSR):
See also
External links
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