RUSSIA NATIONAL RUGBY LEAGUE TEAM


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.

Contents
History
2008 World Cup Qualifying
Competitions
Results
See also
External links

History


The '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 in Villeurbanne. 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 competed with the international heavyweights of rugby league: England and Australia. Also in their group was Fiji, who the Bears played first up in Barrow. Lead 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.

2008 World Cup Qualifying


''See also 2008 Rugby League World Cup qualifying''
In 2006 Russia was 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 will now be involved in Europe Pool Two with Ireland and Lebanon. The winner of the pool will qualify for the 2008 World Cup, with the runner up entering the Repecharge round.

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)

Results







Russian Bears 2000 RLWC Squad
Player Club
Viatcheslav ArtachineKazan Arrows
Robert CampbellRedcliffe
Rinat ChamsoutdinovKazan Arrows
Craig CyglerCairns Brothers
Matthew DonovanWestern Tigers
Andrey DumalkinLocomotiv Moscow
Aaron FindlayCanterbury Bulldogs
Igor GavrilinLocomotiv Moscow
Roustem GarifoullineKazan Arrows
Michael GiorgasLogan City
Robert IliassovKazan Arrows
Igor JiltsovLocomotiv Moscow
Pavel KalachkineKazan Arrows
Kirillin KoulemineMoscow Magicians
Andrei KuchumovMoscow Magicians
Alexandr LysenkovLocomotiv Moscow
Mikhail MitrofanovKazan Arrows
Viktor NechaevLocomotiv Moscow
Andre OlariToulouse Spacers
Vadim PostnikovLocomotiv Moscow
Maxim RomanovKazan Arrows
Ian Rubin (captain)Sydney Roosters
Joel RullisWestern Tigers
Petr SokolovLocomtiv Moscow



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

Victory Cup

European Nations Cup

Emerging Nations Tournament

World Cup

External links



Russian Rugby League Federation ''- (in English)''

Bears vs USA article

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