Russia
Badge of Russia team
Team information
NicknameThe Bears
Governing bodyRussian Rugby League
RegionEurope
Head coachDenis Korolev
CaptainSergey Konstantinov
Home stadiumNaro-Fominsk
IRL ranking20th
Uniforms
First colours
Team results
First international
 France 26–6 USSR Soviet Union
(Villeurbanne, France; September 1991)
Biggest win
 Lebanon 0–80 Russia 
(Moscow, Russia; 28 September 2008)
Biggest defeat
 Australia 110–4 Russia 
(Hull, England; 4 November 2000)
World Cup
Appearances1 (first time in 2000)
Best resultGroup Stages, 2000

The Russia national rugby league team (Russian: сборная России по регбилиг), nicknamed The Bears (Russian: Медведи), represents Russia in international rugby league tournaments and other rugby league fixtures. The Bears, played their first fixtures against two British club sides: York Wasps and Fulham RLFC. In 2013, Russia became a full member of the Rugby League International Federation.

After the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the International Rugby League and European Rugby League banned Russia from all international rugby league competitions.[1]

History

1990s

The Russia Bears were formed in 1991 for a tour of two English teams, the York Wasps and Fulham RLFC. The Bears played their first overseas match in 1991 against the French national team at the Stade Georges Lyvet, Villeurbanne on Sunday, 27 October 1991. The Bears were beaten 26-6 by France. Later that year, the Bears toured South Africa to play a three-match series against South Africa.

2000s

The 2000 RLWC provided the Bears with the opportunity to compete with the international heavyweights of rugby league: England and Australia. Also in their group was Fiji, who the Bears played first up in Barrow. Led by Sydney Roosters prop Ian Rubin, who was born in Odesa, Ukraine, the Bears were involved in a tight struggle and it was Fijian captain, winger Lote Tuquri, who proved to be the difference between the two sides, with Fiji winning 38-12. The next two games were against opponents who proved to be beyond the Russians, with two big defeats at the hands of the English national team and a record 110-4 defeat by the Australians.

The Russian side went on a four-match tour of New Zealand's south island in 2004.[2]

In 2006, Russia were involved in Europe Round One, defeating Netherlands national rugby league team and Serbia national rugby league team to finish second and keep their World Cup dream alive. They then went through to Europe Round Two in Europe Pool Two with Ireland and Lebanon. Russia lost all 4 games against them and did not qualify on those grounds.

2010s

In 2010, after a year out of competition, the Bears competed in the Rugby League European Shield, topping the table after wins against Ukraine and Latvia. In 2011 Russia were involved in the European qualifying group that featured Russia themselves, Italy, Serbia, and Lebanon. They lost both of their games against Italy and Lebanon ultimately ending their dreams for a second world cup tournament. In 2012-2013, the Bears competed in the Rugby League European Shield winning five games out of six to take the shield.

Russia participated in the qualification for the 2017 Rugby League World Cup. In the final round of qualification, Russia took on Spain at Fili Stadium in Moscow, and Ireland in Bray, in a bid to qualify for their second World Cup appearance.

2020s

After the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the International Rugby League and European Rugby League banned Russia from all international rugby league competitions.[3]

IRL Men's World Rankings
Official rankings as of 21 December 2023
RankChangeTeamPts %
1 Steady Australia100.00
2 Steady New Zealand91.00
3 Increase 1 England74.00
4 Decrease 1 Samoa70.00
5 Steady Tonga54.00
6 Steady Papua New Guinea50.00
7 Steady Fiji49.00
8 Increase 1 France24.00
9 Decrease 1 Lebanon24.00
10 Increase 3 Cook Islands22.00
11 Decrease 1 Serbia19.00
12 Increase 6 Netherlands17.00
13 Increase 1 Italy15.00
14 Increase 5 Malta15.00
15 Increase 1 Greece14.00
16 Decrease 4 Ireland14.00
17 Decrease 6 Wales13.00
18 Decrease 3 Jamaica10.00
19 Decrease 2 Scotland9.00
20 Increase 8 Ukraine7.00
21 Increase 6 Czech Republic7.00
22 Decrease 1 Germany6.00
23 Increase 10 Philippines6.00
24 Increase 5 Poland6.00
25 Increase 1 South Africa5.00
26 Decrease 4 Chile5.00
27 Increase 4 Kenya0.00
28 Increase 6 Norway4.00
29 Decrease 6 Nigeria4.00
30 Decrease 6 Ghana4.00
31 Decrease 6 Brazil4.00
32 Decrease 12 Turkey3.00
33 Increase 4 United States3.00
34 Increase 1 Bulgaria3.00
35 Decrease 5 Cameroon2.00
36 Increase 2 Montenegro2.00
37 Decrease 5 Spain2.00
38 Increase 6 Japan1.00
39 New entry Albania1.00
40 Decrease 4 Colombia1.00
41 Increase 6 El Salvador1.00
42 New entry North Macedonia1.00
43 Decrease 1 Morocco1.00
44 Decrease 3 Sweden0.00
45 Steady Bosnia and Herzegovina0.00
46 Decrease 3 Canada0.00
47 New entry Niue0.00
48 Decrease 9 Solomon Islands0.00
49 Decrease 1 Belgium0.00
50 Decrease 10 Hungary0.00
51 Decrease 5 Vanuatu0.00
52 Decrease 3 Argentina0.00
53 Decrease 3 Denmark0.00
54 Decrease 3 Latvia0.00
55 New entry Estonia0.00
Complete rankings at INTRL.SPORT

Players

Current squad

Squad selected for the 2021 World Cup qualifying fixtures;[4]

  • Nikolai Zagoskin
  • Iustin Petrushka
  • Kirill Bozhko
  • Sergei Muntian
  • Kirill Kosharin
  • Petr Botnarash
  • Ivan Troitskii
  • Igor Abramov
  • Vladislav Lesnikov
  • Denis Tiulenev
  • Dmitrii Leskov
  • Aleksandr Lysokon
  • Alexandr Naumov
  • Dmitry Bratko
  • Viacheslav Eremin
  • Viktor Ariutkin
  • Andrey Kuznetsov
  • Ilia Danilov
  • Pavel Mrachkovskii
  • Denis Chuprin
  • Igor Chupin
  • Boris Voloskov
  • Sergey Konstantinov
  • Sergei Zhigan
  • Anton Kuklin
  • Evgenii Orlov
  • Andrei Lavrushin
  • Andrei Perin
  • Nikita Kuznetsov
  • Dmitrii Tarasenkov
  • Aleskei Leonov
  • Egor Shustov
  • Ivan Kazantsev
  • Vsevolod Gusev

Tournament history

Russia has participated in:

Record

Below is table of the official representative rugby league matches played by Russia at test level up until 6 October 2021:

TeamFirst PlayedPlayedWinDrawLossLast Meeting
 Australia200010012000
 Cook Islands199510011995
 England200030032004
 France199180082005
 Fiji200010012000
 Germany201222002013
 Georgia200822002008
 Ireland200441032016
 Italy201162042016
 Latvia201011002010
 Lebanon200631022008
 Netherlands200611002006
 Scotland199510011992
 Serbia200686022021
 South Africa199222001992
 Spain201622002018
 Ukraine201054012021
 United States199455002004
 Wales200310012003
Total19924126014

Results and fixtures

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Russia banned from international rugby league competitions".
  2. ↑ AP (13 April 2004). "Russia lose to New Zealand side". Daily Times. Pakistan. Archived from the original on 22 October 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2011.
  3. ↑ "Russia banned from international rugby league competitions".
  4. ↑ https://www.rugbyleagueplanet.com/2021-rlwc/russia-serbia-and-spain-name-squads-for-rlwc-qualifiers Russia Squad
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