Wally
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<meta charset="utf-8"><meta charset="utf-8">7/17/2011
Byrnes mounting a Russian Rebelution
By Rebels Media Unit
The number of RaboDirect Rebels named in extended pre-World Cup training squads has risen to four after the Rugby Union of Russia named Adam Byrnes amongst its preliminary 50-man list for this year's tournament. Byrnes joins Wallabies, Nick Phipps and Mark Gerrard, and Welshman Gareth Delve in line for a trip to New Zealand in September.
Whereas the other three were all high-profile contenders for their shots at the game's biggest prize, Byrnes' Russian heritage has been much less well known - until now.
"My mum's side of the family is Russian," Byrnes explained to www.melbournerebels.com.au. "Both her parents were born in Russia and they came to Australia after World War II. My grandparents came here to survive what was happening in Europe at that time and the rest of the family that remained behind didn't. I've always had that background as part of my upbringing, for example, I was christened Russian Orthodox as a child."
"Growing up I actually spoke Russian before I spoke English," he added. "I started to lose it once I went to school and didn't pay as much attention to it as I would have liked. My brother speaks fluently and my mum speaks to all her aunties and cousins and so on in Russian, so I've always had an understanding of the language. My mum has always tried to pass down the traditions through the family so this is going to be a proud moment for everyone."
As an Australian citizen, born in Sydney, the 29-year old lock forward's Russian odyssey has, predictably enough, not been without complication.
"I was reading a rugby magazine at the beginning of the year and it mentioned that Russia had made its first ever World Cup and that they were looking for players who had parents or grandparents that had left the Soviet Union – which included me," Byrnes explained. "There have been a lot of hurdles to jump though, so it's not been a straightforward process."
"I had to first make contact with the coaches [Kingsley Jones and Nikolay Nerush] and negotiate when I'd be available so as not to disrupt my contract with the Rebels. Then I had to be registered as an overseas player here and make sure I fit within the overseas player cap. I have to give great thanks to Steve Boland [Melbourne Rebels Chief Operating Officer] and the whole of the club for their help and enthusiasm in all of this for getting the relevant clearance to be able to play in the World Cup; they've made it very easy for me when they didn't have to. Since then we've gone through the ARU and now the last box to be ticked is the IRB," he said.
"In terms of my Australian citizenship it makes no difference, but I am now a registered Russian international and technically a foreigner when it comes to Super Rugby. The first Russian to play Super Rugby!"
Byrnes now has the opportunity to put his two-metre plus frame through the rigors of a World Cup, but participating for a comparative minnow like Russia, there is a danger he could be on the end of some ugly scorelines. The typically bullish Byrnes, however, is backing the Bears to turn some heads.
"It's Russia's first World Cup but the coaches are telling me we're not going there just to get knocked over by everyone," Byrnes said. "The first game is against the USA and obviously there's a bit of history there. Every player will be going out there believing we can win that game and get off to a good start in the competition. After that, who knows?"
Byrnes will be the only member of the Russian squad with Super Rugby experience and the step up to World Cup standard will be a challenge for a side entering the tournament ranked a lowly 19th. "There are no other guys in the squad playing in the southern hemisphere. Most of them play in local competitions and one or two in France and the UK. They've started a training camp in Sochi, which is a Black Sea resort town, and this is where the style of play will be established. I'll hopefully get over there soon - maybe as soon as next week - and I'll be able to join the final week of that camp."
Russia's rivalry with the USA is obvious but it's two of the other group stage fixtures that stand out for Byrnes. "I'm really looking forward to the Australia game and the Ireland game also. I've played alongside or against a lot of the Australian boys so that'll be really good fun. I played in Leinster for three years as well so I know the Irish squad well too."
If Byrnes manages to make it onto the field for the clash with Australia, there could potentially be as many as three Rebels involved, with Nick Phipps and Mark Gerrard good chances to be part of the Wallabies squad for New Zealand. "Wouldn't that be good," enthused Byrnes. "A fantastic testament to the club's first year, having three Rebels out there in a World Cup at the same time. Nick Phipps in his first squad, Mark Gerrard back after bit of an absence, if I could get out there to face them it would be fantastic."
While the World Cup is a major incentive, it's not just a few weeks this spring that matter for Byrnes. He hopes to contribute to the growth of rugby in his ancestral homeland and integrate Australian and Russian rugby cultures.
"I want to help increase the profile of rugby in Russia as much as I can," he explained. "It's such a massive country but the sport isn't that big. It's a tremendous effort to make the World Cup and hopefully my experience in Australia and world rugby can establish some connections with Russian players coming to Australian club rugby. Hopefully I can be part of the expansion of Russian rugby and expose some of the talented guys to rugby outside Russia, maybe here in Australia."
The RaboDirect Rebels wish Adam all the best for his World Cup adventure.
Russia's first match in the World Cup is against the USA on September 15 in New Plymouth.
Source: Melbourne Rebels
Byrnes mounting a Russian Rebelution
By Rebels Media Unit
The number of RaboDirect Rebels named in extended pre-World Cup training squads has risen to four after the Rugby Union of Russia named Adam Byrnes amongst its preliminary 50-man list for this year's tournament. Byrnes joins Wallabies, Nick Phipps and Mark Gerrard, and Welshman Gareth Delve in line for a trip to New Zealand in September.
Whereas the other three were all high-profile contenders for their shots at the game's biggest prize, Byrnes' Russian heritage has been much less well known - until now.
"My mum's side of the family is Russian," Byrnes explained to www.melbournerebels.com.au. "Both her parents were born in Russia and they came to Australia after World War II. My grandparents came here to survive what was happening in Europe at that time and the rest of the family that remained behind didn't. I've always had that background as part of my upbringing, for example, I was christened Russian Orthodox as a child."
"Growing up I actually spoke Russian before I spoke English," he added. "I started to lose it once I went to school and didn't pay as much attention to it as I would have liked. My brother speaks fluently and my mum speaks to all her aunties and cousins and so on in Russian, so I've always had an understanding of the language. My mum has always tried to pass down the traditions through the family so this is going to be a proud moment for everyone."
As an Australian citizen, born in Sydney, the 29-year old lock forward's Russian odyssey has, predictably enough, not been without complication.
"I was reading a rugby magazine at the beginning of the year and it mentioned that Russia had made its first ever World Cup and that they were looking for players who had parents or grandparents that had left the Soviet Union – which included me," Byrnes explained. "There have been a lot of hurdles to jump though, so it's not been a straightforward process."
"I had to first make contact with the coaches [Kingsley Jones and Nikolay Nerush] and negotiate when I'd be available so as not to disrupt my contract with the Rebels. Then I had to be registered as an overseas player here and make sure I fit within the overseas player cap. I have to give great thanks to Steve Boland [Melbourne Rebels Chief Operating Officer] and the whole of the club for their help and enthusiasm in all of this for getting the relevant clearance to be able to play in the World Cup; they've made it very easy for me when they didn't have to. Since then we've gone through the ARU and now the last box to be ticked is the IRB," he said.
"In terms of my Australian citizenship it makes no difference, but I am now a registered Russian international and technically a foreigner when it comes to Super Rugby. The first Russian to play Super Rugby!"
Byrnes now has the opportunity to put his two-metre plus frame through the rigors of a World Cup, but participating for a comparative minnow like Russia, there is a danger he could be on the end of some ugly scorelines. The typically bullish Byrnes, however, is backing the Bears to turn some heads.
"It's Russia's first World Cup but the coaches are telling me we're not going there just to get knocked over by everyone," Byrnes said. "The first game is against the USA and obviously there's a bit of history there. Every player will be going out there believing we can win that game and get off to a good start in the competition. After that, who knows?"
Byrnes will be the only member of the Russian squad with Super Rugby experience and the step up to World Cup standard will be a challenge for a side entering the tournament ranked a lowly 19th. "There are no other guys in the squad playing in the southern hemisphere. Most of them play in local competitions and one or two in France and the UK. They've started a training camp in Sochi, which is a Black Sea resort town, and this is where the style of play will be established. I'll hopefully get over there soon - maybe as soon as next week - and I'll be able to join the final week of that camp."
Russia's rivalry with the USA is obvious but it's two of the other group stage fixtures that stand out for Byrnes. "I'm really looking forward to the Australia game and the Ireland game also. I've played alongside or against a lot of the Australian boys so that'll be really good fun. I played in Leinster for three years as well so I know the Irish squad well too."
If Byrnes manages to make it onto the field for the clash with Australia, there could potentially be as many as three Rebels involved, with Nick Phipps and Mark Gerrard good chances to be part of the Wallabies squad for New Zealand. "Wouldn't that be good," enthused Byrnes. "A fantastic testament to the club's first year, having three Rebels out there in a World Cup at the same time. Nick Phipps in his first squad, Mark Gerrard back after bit of an absence, if I could get out there to face them it would be fantastic."
While the World Cup is a major incentive, it's not just a few weeks this spring that matter for Byrnes. He hopes to contribute to the growth of rugby in his ancestral homeland and integrate Australian and Russian rugby cultures.
"I want to help increase the profile of rugby in Russia as much as I can," he explained. "It's such a massive country but the sport isn't that big. It's a tremendous effort to make the World Cup and hopefully my experience in Australia and world rugby can establish some connections with Russian players coming to Australian club rugby. Hopefully I can be part of the expansion of Russian rugby and expose some of the talented guys to rugby outside Russia, maybe here in Australia."
The RaboDirect Rebels wish Adam all the best for his World Cup adventure.
Russia's first match in the World Cup is against the USA on September 15 in New Plymouth.
Source: Melbourne Rebels
