Russian internationals playing in the premiership???

[Tomsey]

Injuries rock Russia's World Cup campaign
MOSCOW: Russia's national rugby squad has been rocked by a spate of injuries ahead of the upcoming Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, manager Nikolai Nerush said Tuesday.
"We face a serious problem in our preparations for September's World Cup. It's a huge spate of injuries that sidelined some of our team's leaders," Nerush told the Russian press.
"There's a set of the first-line players, who have had to withdraw from intense practices for the World Cup because of medical reasons," he added, without naming the players concerned.
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Nerush also named the absence of national side players, who are currently playing with the English clubs, as one of the reasons of his team's inferior preparations for their first World Cup.
In July, Russia's national squad are going to the Black Sea resort city of Sochi for a three-week training camp to prepare for September's rugby extravaganza.
"It could help us to prepare better for the World Cup if our players from the English sides could join us in Sochi," the coach said. "But the English sides will unlikely release them before August."
"It will be really tough for us to shine bright at the World Cup as we are debutants at the world's major rugby event," he said.
"First of all I expect mental difficulties as we lack experience of playing at such a high level."
However, Nerush said his squad were preparing hard for their opening match with the United States, adding that a success in the starting showdown could boost his squad's morale a great deal.
"We are set to perform at our best in every match at the World Cup but the win in the starting clash may become a key to success in the other matches," Nerush said in conclusion.
AFP

Source: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/u...up-campaign-20110706-1h1db.html#ixzz1RIUnXrFL​

Interesting that the Russian coach is citing players not being released from English clubs as a problem facing their World Cup preparations. I wasn't aware that there was any Russian players playing for English clubs. Does anyone know any?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

There's just two, I think:
Andrei Ostrikov with Sale Sharks and Vasily Artemiev with Northampton Saints (both just going into their first season now)


I hope this doesn't harm Russia too much as they looked like they had a lot of potential in the Churchill cup - they're obviously not going to win the WC, but a win against USA shouldn't be out of the question

 

[DuncTheDoodle]

Are there any in the Championship? He didn't specify the Premiership. Considering it's a league full of USA and Canada players, I wouldn't be suprised to see the odd Russian as well.

 

[psychic duck]

why aren't the English clubs releasing them?

I read r.e. the Wales squad Dwayne Peel couldn't train with them because he wasn't released by Sale, but Andy Powell could because his contract hasn't yet started with Sale

thus with both players being new to their respective teams why aren't they being released?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Nothing to do with the clubs, it's to do with the PRL

Also, Powells contract hasn't started with Sale yet, so he could go to the camps because he's not part of Sale yet, despite signing everything etc, his contract doesn't kick in for a while (not sure of exact dates, but he'll have sorted it so he can be involved in as much Wales stuff as possible)

 

[white bear]

But you can not say that Artemiev and Ostrikov first Russians in England. For Leicester Tigers played a guy like Alexander Obolensky in the 30s.He was the first Russian who played in the Barbarians

 

[Teh Mite]

That's Prince Obelensky to you.

And proof that the nationality has never had f-all to do with wearing an England shirt.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Andrei Ostrikov finally over the back injury he picked up pre-World Cup and will make his debut tonight in the Premiership 'A' league

 

[white bear]

Playing for England NT not to be an Englishman, as well as for Russia are foreigners. For us, Obolensky, the first Russian rugby union footballer higher level. Especially since he has like a "white immigrant" would not be able to return to Russia where ruled the red commies.

 

[no-1-rugby-fan]

This can only help the standard of Russian rugby.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Andrei Ostrikov makes his first start for Sale tomorrow, against Agen

 

[white bear]

Guys, tell me where to download the match Sale Agen.
Gresev moved to Nottingham.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I don't think there's anywhere you can get the match, they don't even have highlights on the ERC website

 

[white bear]

It is very unclear. Why can not we show the European competitions, the Anglo-Welsh Cup, too,anywhere, except Aviva. A chempinship show on TV?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

TV channels prioritise the bigger competitions - Heineken Cup gets a decent amount of coverage (highlights of every game, and most televised), Amlin gets a few televised and no highlights, because it's the lesser of the two competitions.

LV= Cup is similar as it's lower down that Europe and the Prem, a few matches are televised but no one really cares too much about the LV= and it's normally used to test out younger/new players, without having to put them straight in to the premiership.

 

[white bear]

Thanks for the clarification.It seemed to me that in England showed absolutely all games in all competitions. Well, what then will follow the site Russian "internet pirates".They sometimes make us happy like a good match as Munster-Northampton-)

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Not even all of the Aviva Premiership matches are televised, unfortunately