Hi John, you’re from New Zealand, and you played for Southland in ITM Cup. Why playing in Russia?
I failed to secure a contract with Southland so decided to play 1 season in Ireland. I was thinking about my next playing options and heard that Russia (Krasny Yar) were looking for a NZ 10. So I forwarded through my CV and playing footage and they offered me a contract. It seemed like a good opportunity so I took it skeptical at first, but I’m glad I did.
What do you think about the Russian Super League’s level?
I think Enisey-STM, Krasny Yar, and VVA Podmoskovye are very strong. It’s always hard to compare levels around the world, because everyone plays a different style. But I’d say the big 3 clubs in Russia would be just below the bottom few ITM cup teams in New Zealand. They’d certainly compete for a lot of the game anyway I think. The rest of the teams need a lot work. It seems that those lower teams have a lot more competition through out the year among themselves, and for us it’s just a case of having 1 hard game every 2 months against either VVA-Podmoskovye or Enisey-STM. So it’s a shame, but that’s how it is.
What’s needs Russian rugby to grow up?
Coaching!! Investing in coaching through the clubs would be more beneficial than buying in players. In my experience having a really good coach is priceless and can turn an average team into a very good one. There are many coaches through out NZ, South Africa, and Europe that would love the opportunity to coach in a professional environment.I also think expanding the competition from 8 teams to 10 didn’t increase the playing standard at all. In fact it made the other teams worse. I think it’s great that rugby is becoming more popular in Russia, and more city’s are wanting a professional team, but when the general standard of the competition isn’t that strong anyway, and there aren’t enough good players with 8 teams, expanding that to 10 teams the standard is just going to drop. There’s just simply not enough good players and coaches to sustain a 10 team competition where every team can compete with each other. And that should be the goal of the Russian Super League. Because unless players aren’t playing hard games every week where they have to be at their best to win, no one will improve.
So yeah, the major two things I would say is: better coaching, and compacting the competition to less teams so every team will have 15-20 decent players, not 2 or 5. I could also put in there refereeing. That could also improve a lot. I also think the finals should be 2 or 3 weeks earlier so it is played in nice weather, not snow.
In approximatively one year, you will be eligible to play for Russia. Do you wanna play for Russian national team?
Yes I would love to play for Russia. If that opportunity came along I would take it with both hands. I am proud that I play my Rugby in Russia and I have friends there now, and a girlfriend. So to play for Russia I would be very proud.
Your club, Krasny Yar, was finalist last year. Do you think you can win Super League’s final in 2013?
Yes, I definitely do. It’s a shame we have lost Glen Gregory, he played a very big role in our team; on and off the field. But we have a new coach (Josh Taumalolo) and have signed a very good prop (Maxim Cobilas) which is exactly what we needed so I think we will have the right tools to be successful. Once again it will come down to the big 3 clubs. VVA will be stronger this year with Yuri (Ksuhnarev) back healthy, and with less injuries. But if we can keep improving from the last 2 seasons there is no reason we can’t win it. Remember the first final last year was 12-12, so we definitely can, but it wont be easy.
