Russia

[jim]

A thread for all things russia.

OK so other than the 2 euro-med games, what internationals do russia have this year?

I heard somewhere, think it mat have been TRL that they have a Euro-med warm-up against USA. Know If this is true?

[Druzik]

Jun 11, 2008 23:59:45 GMT 10 jim said:

A thread for all things russia.

OK so other than the 2 euro-med games, what internationals do russia have this year?

I heard somewhere, think it mat have been TRL that they have a Euro-med warm-up against USA. Know If this is true?

I have heard the same rumour.

I am just getting the russian domestic scores up on the web site.
Surprise surprise, Lokomotive and Vereya top 2 again.

BUT

New kids on the block Legion XIII Kharkov from the Ukrain are 4th on 9 points.

[jim]

Jun 12, 2008 0:23:56 GMT 10 Druzik said:

Jun 11, 2008 23:59:45 GMT 10 jim said:

A thread for all things russia.

OK so other than the 2 euro-med games, what internationals do russia have this year?

I heard somewhere, think it mat have been TRL that they have a Euro-med warm-up against USA. Know If this is true?

I have heard the same rumour.

I am just getting the russian domestic scores up on the web site.
Surprise surprise, Lokomotive and Vereya top 2 again.

BUT

New kids on the block Legion XIII Kharkov from the Ukrain are 4th on 9 points.

Ukraine have a team in the russian league? Didn't know that, Is that their only domestic team? Still I'm suprised.

[Druzik]

I think they entered 2, the second being Frigate Elektrougli, but they failed to qualify through to the main group.

I knew they were looking at doing it, but never heard if it did happen. Good to see that it did. Makes sense I guess. In a way they are the NZ warriors and Catalans of the Russian comp.

Good to see them doing 1/2 decent.

[Spider]

Elektrougli is town in Moscow Oblast, so they only entered 1.
The other Ukrainian club is Kharkov National Agricultural University and they are still not ready to play Russian league. Maybe they wait for foundation of some more clubs and playing their own competition.

[jim]

I find this hard to believe, apparently in 2005 a russian international got 25-20k to luzhniki stadium in moscow. Now I don't remember this but have just uncovered a few reports about it, i think the union calculator may have been used a bit here, I mean the fact a RL was even played in an 85k stadium in russia seems behond belief.

By all means I hope it's true and I hope they can produce similar against USA this year (If they play them) and for the euro-med cup game.

Also I heard it was broadcast live throughout the country, would love to see the same happen for the Bear's games this year.

If this is actually true i would like to see some photos just to be sure.

[Spider]

There's a video clip of Russian metal band Aria, with sequences from Victory Cup held on Luzhniki Stadium. The most of these are from Russia (light blue jerseys) v USA (white-blue-red jerseys), but I think it was much earlier than 2005, maybe about previous World Cup time. The bit of audience is shown with Russian flags and some big hits, mostly on American players. There is a lot of super League big hits shown also in this video.

Here is the link: rc-lokomotiv.ru/video/clip1.mov
The clip is 43.6 MB weight.

[jim]

Russian Update

So by the looks of this Russia have a game home game against USA before a home euro-med cup gamne against Serbia before travelling to lebanon for the next game.

Would be nice to see them get an extra game, preferable against Ireland or Scotland for a WC Warm-up. That is 4 games for the year which is pretty good.

[Marv]

Jun 24, 2008 17:03:20 GMT 10 jim said:

Russian Update

So by the looks of this Russia have a game home game against USA before a home euro-med cup gamne against Serbia before travelling to lebanon for the next game.

Would be nice to see them get an extra game, preferable against Ireland or Scotland for a WC Warm-up. That is 4 games for the year which is pretty good.

I heard that this game was off and USA were playing wales instead

[jim]

Jun 24, 2008 18:10:44 GMT 10 Marv said:

Jun 24, 2008 17:03:20 GMT 10 jim said:

Russian Update

So by the looks of this Russia have a game home game against USA before a home euro-med cup gamne against Serbia before travelling to lebanon for the next game.

Would be nice to see them get an extra game, preferable against Ireland or Scotland for a WC Warm-up. That is 4 games for the year which is pretty good.

I heard that this game was off and USA were playing wales instead

I hope not, Don't get me wrong a game against Wales would be good but I would rather see Russia V USA TBH. Both would be great but I just think Russia and USA could create a strong and entertaining rivalry in the next few years.

[Marv]

Jun 24, 2008 18:26:05 GMT 10 jim said:

Jun 24, 2008 18:10:44 GMT 10 Marv said:

I heard that this game was off and USA were playing wales instead

I hope not, Don't get me wrong a game against Wales would be good but I would rather see Russia V USA TBH. Both would be great but I just think Russia and USA could create a strong and entertaining rivalry in the next few years.

I agree in theory but soon the USA will be further on than Russia, if Russia dont do something about the standard of the game in their country they will fall away, right now they dont deserve a match against the USA.

I would not be surprised to see Russia losing their games against Lebanon and Serbia.

[Druzik]

Biggest prob, is one guy controlling everything.

[jim]

Jun 24, 2008 23:20:18 GMT 10 Marv said:

Jun 24, 2008 18:26:05 GMT 10 jim said:

I hope not, Don't get me wrong a game against Wales would be good but I would rather see Russia V USA TBH. Both would be great but I just think Russia and USA could create a strong and entertaining rivalry in the next few years.

I agree in theory but soon the USA will be further on than Russia, if Russia dont do something about the standard of the game in their country they will fall away, right now they dont deserve a match against the USA.

I would not be surprised to see Russia losing their games against Lebanon and Serbia.

druzik said:

Biggest prob, is one guy controlling everything.

I heard that was the case, dissapointing really, it is good that RRL has $ backing but something should be done to limit his power. Surely the guy must realise as long as he runs the show RRL will not progress hence he is wasting his own money.

Maybe USA can play both Russia and Wales? Will the Wales game be in the US or Wales? If the USA are heading over to Wales for a game it wouldn't suprise me if they looking for a World Cup Warm Up aswell.

[Spider]

Few issues are wrong, as I am aware of them:
Russia will play v Serbia away and v Lebanon at home:
Strela (Arrow) Kazan did not withdraw from the competition, at least the freshest Russian RL web-site, Vereya's one, says that they play next weekend in the first round of the second stage. They had already drew v Legion XIII in the Round 1 of second stage 34-34. Tatarstani club did post-ponned some matchesin the first stage, but as they are in current schedule of the championship fixtures, I'm not believe that they are out of the league. Yet.

[jim]

Just read the article in September's RLW, a good read.

Nice to hear it isn't all doom and gloom in Russia, actually the article was quite positive and opened my eyes on a few things.

I found the comment where Khlebanov said Lokomotiv's standard was aroun that of low National League 1 teams quite interesting. At first I though no chance but in hindsight the result against the crusaders makes this statement look pretty much on the mark. It was Lokomotiv's off-season, they were 1500 miles away from home and I'm sure Celtic have put over 50 on in a few NL1 games this year.

I hope Lokomoitv make a bid for Super League in 2012 if that is possible. I knwo they are unlikely for 2012 but the fact that they are making a bid might spur on something big and they could very well be ready for Sl in 2015 or 2018.