Only just noticed this thread - good to see the presence of Rugby in Russia rising. I've always wondered why Rugby didn't take off in Russia given the sport seems like it would be an ideal expression for Russian masculinity much more than soccer. I some how see Russian teams playing a grinding physical style, but bet they'd be Springbok class if the game ever got truly big there.
The problem is that Russia and the football is not very good, but I think will beat New Zealand)))
In Europe, all countries in my view football popular rugby .
In Russia develop varieties and types of sports that are represented at the Summer and Winter Olympics.
It since Soviet times and now has begun continues.
Therefore, the state funding of rugby 7 s, just because of the fact that the seven represented in the Olympic Games.
So the development of rugby in Russia 15 no deals, no money in the Federation, the club was never enough money.
Rugby team in the USSR organized in institutes and universities, factories.
"Krasny Yar" - Krasnoyarsk Polytechnic Institute, "Slava" - Plant for the production of watches in Moscow, VVA - Military Aviation Academy ...
Clubs and received funding from the Sport Committee of the USSR.
After the Soviet collapse the entire system of the Rugby crumbled to dust.
Now all clubs playing in the Premier League receive subsidies from the budget of cities and regions, except "Slava" their bank finances.
If funding is removed, then in Russia in general will only 7s.
Georgia rescues the teams to each other on the bus ride to the game, a warm climate, a good field.
And we have a team located thousands of kilometers from each other and the bad of the field due to the cold climate.
The potential we have of course great, but it's all we have)))
When I see in the yard playing rugby boys, I'll worry about the rugby in Russia.
While I have never seen ...
