Russia national rugby league team
| Team information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Nickname | The Bears | |
| Governing body | Russian Association of Rugby League Clubs | |
| Region | Europe | |
| Head coach |  Eduard Ososkov | |
| Captain | Eduard Ososkov | |
| Home stadium | Naro-Fominsk | |
| IRL ranking | 15th | |
| Uniforms | ||
| ||
| Team results | ||
| First international | ||
 France 26–6 USSR  (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 | ||
| Appearances | 1 (first time in 2000) | |
| Best result | Group Stages, 2000 | |
The Russia national rugby league team (also known as The Bears) represent Russia in international rugby league tournaments and other rugby league fixtures. The Bears, played their first fixtures against two British club sides: York and Fulham. In 2013, Russia became a full member of the Rugby League International Federation.
History
The Russia Bears were formed in 1991 for a 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 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 have to wait until 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 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.
In 2002, Russia hosted Moscow's first rugby league international. The match was shown in full on national television, and was the first rugby league international to be played on artificial turf. Their opponents, the USA Tomahawks, were outclassed by the Bears to the tune of 54-10, in front of a crowd of 25,000.
The Russian side went on a four-match tour of New Zealand's south island in 2004.[1]
In 2006 and 2007, the Bears participated - without success - in qualifiers for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup in Australia.
In 2008, the Bears competed in the first-ever RLEF Euro Med Challenge, competing against Serbia and Lebanon. They won both games and emrged as victors of the competition.
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.
In 2011, Russia participated in the Europe division of the 2013 Rugby League World Cup qualifiers alongside Italy, Lebanon and Serbia.
In 2012-2013, the Bears competed in the Rugby League European Shield winning five games out of six to take the shield.
| Official rankings as of December 2024 | |||
| Rank | Change | Team | Pts % |
| 1 |  |
Australia |
100 |
| 2 | |
 New Zealand |
86 |
| 3 | |
 England |
84 |
| 4 |  1 |
 Tonga |
63 |
| 5 |  1 |
 Samoa |
54 |
| 6 | 1 |
 Papua New Guinea |
53 |
| 7 | 1 |
 Fiji |
44 |
| 8 | |
France |
30 |
| 9 | 2 |
 Serbia |
23 |
| 10 | |
 Cook Islands |
22 |
| 11 | 1 |
 Netherlands |
22 |
| 12 | 5 |
 Wales |
18 |
| 13 | 2 |
 Malta |
17 |
| 14 | 6 |
 Ukraine |
13 |
| 15 | 1 |
 Greece |
12 |
| 16 | 7 |
Lebanon |
12 |
| 17 | 4 |
 Italy |
11 |
| 18 | 2 |
 Ireland |
9 |
| 19 | 1 |
 Jamaica |
8 |
| 20 | 1 |
 Czech Republic |
8 |
| 21 | 2 |
 Chile |
8 |
| 22 | 3 |
 Scotland |
7 |
| 23 | 4 |
 Philippines |
7 |
| 24 | 7 |
 United States |
7 |
| 25 | 1 |
 Poland |
5 |
| 26 | 2 |
 South Africa |
5 |
| 27 | 5 |
 Germany |
5 |
| 28 | 3 |
 Norway |
5 |
| 29 | 4 |
 Brazil |
4 |
| 30 | 4 |
 Kenya |
4 |
| 31 | 10 |
 Canada |
4 |
| 32 | |
 Montenegro |
4 |
| 33 | 2 |
 North Macedonia |
3 |
| 34 | 15 |
 Argentina |
3 |
| 35 | 5 |
 Albania |
2 |
| 36 | |
 Bulgaria |
2 |
| 37 | 7 |
 Ghana |
2 |
| 38 | 9 |
 Nigeria |
2 |
| 39 | 5 |
 Turkey |
1 |
| 40 | 3 |
 Cameroon |
1 |
| 41 | 2 |
 Japan |
1 |
| 42 | 4 |
 Spain |
1 |
| 43 | 1 |
 Colombia |
1 |
| 44 | 1 |
 El Salvador |
0 |
| 45 | |
Russia |
0 |
| 46 | 1 |
 Bosnia and Herzegovina |
0 |
| 47 | 3 |
 Hong Kong |
0 |
| 48 | 3 |
 Solomon Islands |
0 |
| 49 | 8 |
 Vanuatu |
0 |
| 50 | |
 Niue |
0 |
| 51 | 1 |
 Latvia |
0 |
| 52 | 2 |
 Denmark |
0 |
| 53 | 2 |
 Belgium |
0 |
| 54 | 4 |
 Estonia |
0 |
| 55 | 9 |
 Sweden |
0 |
| 56 | 12 |
 Morocco |
0 |
| 57 | 9 |
 Hungary |
0 |
| Complete rankings at INTRL.SPORT | |||
2014 Squad
| First team squad | Coaching staff | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Head coach
Updated: 25 September 2011 | |||||||
2008 World Cup Qualifying
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. Ireland qualified as group winners to go through to the 2008 World Cup, with the runner up Lebanon entering the Repecharge round.
2013 World Cup Qualifying
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. On the flip side, Russia beat Serbia to finish third in the group, resulting in the Bears avoiding a winless qualifying campaign.
Notable Russian players
- Andrei Olari
- Sam Obst[citation needed]
- Sandor Earl[citation needed]
- Shannon McPherson[citation needed]
- Ian Rubin
- Dean Rysko
- Roman Ovchinnikov
- Joel Rullis
- Robert Campbell
Competitions
Russia has participated in:
- Emerging Nations Tournament (1995)
- World Cup (2000)
- World Sevens (1992 as the "Red Arrows", 1994-2003)
- Victory Cup (2003, 2004)
All Time record
| 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 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2012 |
| Ireland |
2004 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2007 |
| Italy |
2011 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2011 |
| Latvia |
2010 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2010 |
| Lebanon |
2006 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2008 |
| Netherlands |
2006 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2006 |
| Ukraine |
2010 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2011 |
| United States |
1994 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 2004 |
| Scotland |
1995 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1992 |
| Serbia |
2006 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2008 |
| South Africa |
1992 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1992 |
| Wales |
2003 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2003 |
Results
|
- Russia def. Germany 32-26 (19 May 2012) RLEF European Shield
- Italy def. Russia 92-6 (15 October 2011) 2013 Rugby League World Cup qualifying, Europe Division
- Russia def. Ukraine 34-6 (10 September 2011)
- Russia def. Latvia 54-4 (31 July 2010) European Shield West
- Russia def. Ukraine 64-14 (27 June 2010) European Shield West
- Russia def. Lebanon 80-0 (September 28, 2008) RLEF Euro Med Challenge
- Russia def. Serbia 30-4 (September 20, 2008) RLEF Euro Med Challenge
- Lebanon def. Russia 48-0 (27 October 2007)
- Ireland def. Russia 58-18 (20 October 2007)
- Lebanon def. Russia 22-8 (28 October 2006)
- Ireland def. Russia 50-12(22 October 2006)
- Russia def. Serbia 44-6 (4 June 2006)
- Russia def. Netherlands 40-14 (28 April 2006)
- France def. Russia 80-0 (15 October 2005)
- England A def. Russia (24 October 2004)
- France def. Russia 58-10 (16 October 2004)
- Russia def. Ireland 64-6 (16 May 2004)
- Russia def. USA 64-8 (12 May 2004)
- England A def. Russia 102-0 (2 November 2003)
- Wales def. Russia 74-4 (26 October 2003)
- France def. Russia 29-12 (9 May 2003)
- Russia def. USA 44-12 (6 May 2003)
- Russia def. USA 54-10 (13 September 2002)
- Australia def. Russia 110-4 (4 November 2000)
- England def. Russia 76-4 (1 November 2000)
- Fiji def. Russia 38-12 (29 October 2000)
- France def. Russia 82-0 (3 July 2000)
- Russia def. USA 28-26 (20 October 1995)
- Cook Islands def. Russia 58-4 (18 October 1995)
- Scotland def. Russia 34-9 (16 October 1995)
- Russia def. USA 19-12 (1994)
- France def. Russia 30-14 (1993)
COMMONWEALTH OF INDEPENDENT STATES (CIS):
- CIS def. South Africa 22-19 (1992)
- CIS def. South Africa 30-26 (1992)
- France def. CIS 38-4 (1992)
- France def. CIS 28-8 (1992)
SOVIET UNION (USSR):
- France def. USSR 26-6 (1991)
See also
- Rugby league in Russia
- Russia women's national rugby league team
- Victory Cup
- European Nations Cup
- Emerging Nations Tournament
- World Cup
References
- ^ AP (13 April 2004). "Russia lose to New Zealand side". Daily Times. Pakistan. Retrieved 1 January 2011.
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External links
| Federation | |
|---|---|
| National Team | |
| Competitions |
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| Domestic Teams | |
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