Why a Putin backed Russian Rugby World Cup in 2027 isn't as far fetched as it sounds
It isn’t until May 2022, when the hosts of the 2027 and 2031 Rugby World Cups will be decided.
Russia’s bid for the global rugby showpiece, launched in 2019, came as a massive surprise to many in established rugby nations. While Australia is still the odds-on favourite to be awarded the hosting rights for 2027, the oval ball game has gained significant traction in the biggest country on earth. There’s no doubting the ambition behind Russia’s bid, which now boasts the explicit support of President Vladimir Putin.
Signing a high profile rugby coach from “hot Africa“ for the Saint Petersburg club Narvskaya Zastava was seen in Russia as a “veritable sensation“. At least in the words of NTV sports correspondent Alexander Shcherba, who was standing right next to the famous Russian cruiser Aurora in the Saint Petersburg harbour, when he filed his report for Russia’s third most popular TV network back in November 2020.
Sports reporter Shcherba faced the camera only a stone’s throw away from where the famed historic battleship, now rededicated as a museum, fired the first shot in the Russian October revolution on the Czar’s winter palace, a little over a hundred years ago, in what was then known as Petrograd.
That revolution brought the Russian monarchy tumbling down and changed the political landscape of the world forever. Admittedly, the consequences of the ongoing Russian rugby revolution are not nearly as consequential, yet they increasingly have an impact on the global game.
That new coach from “hot Africa“ is Vuyo Zangqa. He was previously the attack coach at the South African Southern Kings, up until the PRO14 franchise folded in September of 2020, due to ongoing financial issues exacerbated by the COVID crisis. At the start of the tumultuous year, he could not have foreseen being in the world’s northernmost metropolis towards the end of it.
The former Blitzbok, a veteran of 21 Sevens World Series tournaments and a Sevens World Cup, is one of many South Africans taking up the increasing number of rugby opportunities Russia has to offer – despite the cold climate and sizable language barrier . “Coaching gigs in South Africa were drying up at a fast pace and then I got the call from Russia. When I came here, I was really surprised about the level of professionalism. We have an entirely professional squad, perfect training conditions and a very ambitious vision for our club.”
Jeepers, watch out Aussies ? https://t.co/9OykvSa58A
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) July 28, 2020
Narvskaya Zastava aims to become the most successful sevens club in Russia. The fully professional sevens league includes twelve teams, most of whom also feature in the professional fifteens competition Liga Stavok. Many of its clubs have used the COVID crisis to sign experienced players that have appeared on the HSBC World Series. Three Aussie internationals form the foreign player contingent of the Petersburg outfit, with Sam Myers, the veteran of 170 World Series games and a commonwealth games medal winner, being the most prominent name on the team sheet.
Zangqa’s new employer is the beneficiary of a prominent Russian business owner named Dmitry Morozov, who is also the club’s chairman. The former judoka made his fortunes, which are estimated to be in the hundreds of millions of US Dollars, in just over a decade’s time with the biotechnology company Biocad and some high-profile business partners like former Chelsea FC boss Roman Abramovich.
Morozov’s spawning business empire is set for another huge growth spur, given it is one of only two producers of the Russian COVID vaccine Sputnik V. The vaccine carries the name of the first Soviet satellite launched into space in 1957. The space programme of the 1950s reflected the unbridled Soviet ambition of the age, an ambition now echoed in Russian rugby, and not just at club level, where wealthy benefactors are increasingly omnipresent.
When the Russian union first hinted at tendering for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, that intention was met with baffled reactions across the rugby world. Yet there can be little doubt, whether Russia would be capable of staging such a high profile event, given its legacy of having hosted the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi and the 2018 FIFA World Cup in recent memory.
“Our chairman Igor Yurevich Artemyev has the unwavering support of the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin. That for us is a very important factor – also we do have the necessary infrastructure after the Football World Cup“, insists Anton Romanovich Khalisov, the spokesperson of the Russian Rugby Federation. The former flanker for Torpedo and Slava Moscow has witnessed the rise of Russian rugby over the last decade first hand.
The influx of South African players – more than 50 are currently plying their trade in the top two Russian divisions, many of whom with Currie Cup or Super Rugby experience – have added to the standard of play. Petersburg coach Vuyo Zangqa explains that players with top-level experience can expect to earn as much as they would in England or elsewhere.
That has lured players such as former Springbok winger Bjorn Basson, who boasts eleven appearances and three tries for the Boks, into the Russian league. Former Bulls and Stormers player Basson, now 33 years of age, was lured in 2019 from the Southern Kings to Enisei-STM, one of the two leading clubs from the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk that has frequently featured in the European Challenge Cup.
While Basson has moved on to the American MLR last autumn, his former club Enisei has nevertheless expanded its South African contingent to five players, all of whom with Currie Cup experience.
That doesn’t mean you should expect to find a load of naturalised South Africans in the Russian Sbornaya any time soon. The 2019 Russian World Cup squad contained no foreign-born players, compared to 16 out of the 31 men selected by Jamie Joseph for Japan at their home World Cup, many of whom contributed significantly to the Brave Blossoms 30 – 10 triumph over the Russian Bears in the showpiece opener at Tokyo Stadium.
World Rugby took a massive gamble by awarding its most valuable event to Japan, a gamble that more than payed off commercially and in terms of reaching new audiences. Giving the hosting rights to Russia, admittedly, would be an even more daring move.
Some hesitancy might stem from the fact that the 2013 Sevens World Cup in Moscow was at best a moderate success.
The massive 83,000 seater Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, which has also been earmarked for the potential final of the 2027 event, was mostly empty over the course of the three-day tournament – a nightmare scenario for World Rugby with regards to 2027.
Russia’s union has made some significant strides since though. The national team’s home games still have to be played in Russia’s deep south, at or near the black sea coast with its mild climate. Elsewhere in the country that spans eleven time zones, conditions are simply too inhospitable during the international window in winter and early spring.
Whereas Russia’s matches in the black sea resort of Sochi used to be played at the decaying and outdated Central Stadium dating from the Soviet era, the most recent fixtures were staged at the shiny new Fisht Olympic Stadium. A venue that has hosted the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2014 Olympics, as well as six FIFA World Cup games. Before the COVID crisis, the two 2020 home matches in the Rugby Europe Championship in Sochi and Kaliningrad, drew a combined 21,000 paying spectators.
The construction of a multifunctional rugby complex for Krasny Yar is continuing apace in Krasnoyarsk. Planned completion date is Q4 2021. ????? pic.twitter.com/G7NSdQnqWL
— Russian Rugby (@russiarugby) January 22, 2021
The domestic league has also become ever more competitive, thanks to wealthy benefactors and in part to a 6 million US Dollar sponsoring deal in 2019 with a sports betting company that bought the league’s naming rights. Major Russian corporations, like the country’s biggest employer Russian Railways, feature prominently on team shirts. Russia’s biggest sports apparel brand, Bosco Sports, is now producing the jerseys for the national team.
All that points to the oval ball game slowly but surely becoming more mainstream in the country of 145 million inhabitants. Thirty years back, just before the Soviet Union dissolved, athletics was the most followed sport in the country. Dominating the medal table at the Olympic Games was somewhat of an obsession for both political leaders and fans alike.
Only since the end of the Union of socialist republics in 1991 has football become the most dominant sport in Russia, reaching its peak during the 2018 world cup. Following the footsteps of football’s meteoric rise is a big ask for Rugby, but one that would surely require the national team to become more successful and the World Cup coming to Russia.
Staging a Rugby World Cup could spur interest in millions of Russians, who are yet to be familiarised with the oval ball game. For now NTV correspondent Shcherba, who reported on the arrival of South African coach Vuyo Zangqa, deemed it necessary to explain to his audience that South Africa in Rugby is what Brazil is for football and Canada is in hockey. Maybe just maybe tens of thousands of Russians will be seeing the world-famous Springboks in just six years time on their own doorstep.
Comments on RugbyPass
The Hurricanes are good, especially with a decent coach now. However, let’s be real, the Crusaders and Chiefs are clearly a good degree weaker without the players they’ve lost overseas now. The Canes lost one player. It’s also why the aussie teams ‘seem’ to be stronger.
9 Go to commentsOr you could develop your own players instead of constantly taking from the SH competition and weakening it in the process? With all the player and financial resources these unions have compared to SH countries you’d think they could manage that, or is weakening the SH comps and their national sides an added bonus? Probably.
3 Go to commentsNot so fast Aaron, we might need you in black yet lol. God knows he’d be a lot less nerve-racking than hot and (very) cold players like Perofeta. It’s really a shame Reuben Love isn’t playing 10, we’ve got enough 15 options.
4 Go to commentsAnd those from the NH still seem to be puzzled (and delighted) why NZ’s depth isn’t what it once was. Over 600 NZ players overseas, that’s insane. This sort of deal is why Super Rugby coaches have admitted they struggle now to find enough quality to fill out their squads.
6 Go to commentsArticle intéressant ! La question devrait régulièrement se poser pour les jeunes français originaires de Nouvelle-Calédonie, Wallis-et-Futuna et de Polynésie entre la Nouvelle-Zélande et la Métropole… Difficile pour la fédération française de rugby de se positionner : soit le choix est fait de dénicher les jeunes talents et de les faire venir très tôt en Métropole, au risque de les déraciner, soit on prend le risque de se les faire “piller” par les All Blacks qui, telle une araignée, essaye de récupérer tous les talents des îles du Pacifique… À la France de se défendre en développant l’aura du XV de France et des clubs français dans ses collectivités d’Outre-mer !
3 Go to commentsWrong bay. He needs to come to the REAL BAY which is Bay Of Plenty and have a crack at making the Chiefs.
3 Go to commentsIs Barrett going play full back??? They already have all the centers…
15 Go to commentsForgive my ignorance, I might not fully understand so would appreciate clarification: Didn’t the Bulls have to fly with three different carriers, paid for by the South African Rugby Union, whilst Edinburgh got a chartered flight sponsored by EPCR? Also, as far as I understand it South African teams don’t yet share in the revenue from the competition and are not allowed to host Semi-finals or Finals at home. Surely if everyone wants South Africans to “take the competition seriously” then they must make South Africans feel welcome, allow them to share in the revenue, and give them the same levels of access as the teams from the other countries. Just a reminder that South Africa has a large and passionate Rugby audience. Just by virtue of our teams being a part of these competitions means that more of us are likely to watch the knockout games, even if our teams haven’t qualified. It would be silly to alienate such a large audience by making them feel unwelcome.
18 Go to commentsFirst of all. This guy is very much behind the curve. All the bleating, whingeing, whining and moaning took place days ago already. Not adding anything to the topic other than more bleating, whingeing, whining and moaning. 🍼 Second of all, not one mention of the fact that South African teams can’t get home semi finals or finals. The tournament was undermined and devalued by the administrators. 🤡 Thirdly, football teams often have to juggle selections in mid week games, premier games, champions league games etc. and will from time to time prioritize certain titles over others. 🐒 And lastly FEK Neil, and anyone else for that matter, for insisting on telling teams how to manage themselves. If they make what is largely a business decision that suits them and doesn’t suit you - tough shite. 💩 It’s not rocket science as to why the Bulls did what they did. If this guy is too slow to figure it out (and is deliberately not mentioning one of the key reasons why) then he isn’t a journalist. He should join the rest of us pundit plebs in comments section. 🥴
18 Go to commentsSo the first door to knock on Rob is Parliament followed by HMRC. The Irish Revenue deliver a 40% tax relief rebate on the HIGHEST EARNING TEN YEARS of every pro Irish rugby players contract earnings at retirement. That goes a long way to both retaining their best talent and freeing up wages for marquee players. Who knows, if that had been in place in the UK, you might not have been able to poach Hoggy and Jonny Gray from Glasgow…!!!
3 Go to comments1. True, if that “free” ticket means access to all but the prized exhibit - EVIP only. SA cannot host semis, even if they’ve earned it (see Sharks vs ASM Clermont Auvergne at… Twickenham Stoop). 2. Why no selective outrage over Lyon doing the exact same thing a week earlier? Out of all the countries France send the most “B teams”, why nobody talking about “disrespect” and “prioritising domestic leagues” and “kicking them out”? 3. Why no mention of the Sharks fielding all of their Springboks for the second rate Challenge cup QF? No commitment? 4. Why no mention of all the SA teams qualifying for respective euro knock out comps in the two seasons they’ve been in it? How many euro teams have qualified for KO’s in their history? Can’t compete? 5. Why no mention of SA teams beating French and English giants La Rochelle and Saracens? How many euro teams have done that in their history? Add no quality? The fact is that SA teams are only in their second season in europe, with no status and a fraction of the resources. Since joining the URC, SA has seen a repatriation of a number of players, and this will only grow once SA start sharing in the profits of competing in these comps, meaning bigger squads with greater depth and quality, meaning they don’t have to prioritise comps as they have to now - they don’t have imports from Pacifica and South America and everywhere else in between like “European” teams have - also less “Saffas” in Prem and T14, that’s what we want right? 'If the South Africans are in, they need to be all in' True, and we have to ensure we give them the same status and resources as we give everyone else to do just that. A small compromise on scheduling will go a long way in avoiding these situations, but guess what, France and England wont compromise on scheduling because they ironically… prioritise their domestic comps, go figure!
18 Go to commentsthe success of the premiership can be summarized by : only 10 teams. It makes a huge difference with the overcrowded top 14 (let us not talk about Leinster and URC…)
1 Go to commentsGood for him. The ABs were fooling around again with converted fullbacks that had a penetration of a marshmallow. Laumape or as Aki has shown for Ireland, go forward is important in the centres. If it had been DMac - Aki- Aumua - Ioane- Telea- Jordan in France the final result would have been different.
4 Go to commentsDan Carter a apporté son professionnalisme, des méthodes de travail, un esprit qui manquaient à l’USAP. Son influence, même une fois blessé a été énorme. Et pour citer une anecdote, certains soirs il venait de lui-même à l’entraînement des jeunes pour dispenser ses conseils. On ne peut pas compter ce qu’il a apporté au club en heures de jeu sur le terrain. Est-ce que le club en a eu pour son argent ? Avec la publicité sur son nom et le titre, je suppose que oui.
1 Go to commentsThe SA sides are suffering from a bum rap here. There isn’t a side anywhere in the world that would do things differently in their shoes. They’ve been set up to fail in the EPCR comps by vested interests, with last minute intercontinental travel requirements that costs an arm and a leg to book in advance just on the possibility they might be required. And the total nonsense that denies any chance of home venues is entirely biased and absolutely unsporting. Either EPCR, the Top14 & the Gallagher Premiership get it sorted on a fair and equitable sporting basis for ALL participants or expect the ridicule to continue. Right now, these comps are a joke!
18 Go to commentsSA sides should do the right thing and leave the champions cup, they are lowering the standard with completely one sided games, not up to the right level. The greatest club tournament in the world is being banjaxed by the weak SA sides.
18 Go to commentsCouldnt agree more. SA sides need to show more committment and really have a go at the Champions Cup. Its quite possibly the most prestigious title in Europe and SA sides need to respect that prestige and serve up their best. EPCR needs to do more to ensure that sides from South Africa and sides travelling to and from SA have a better chance in this competition. The Bulls were put in a really difficult position of having to travel there and back in one week. One could argue that this is what the SA sides signed up for and that La Rochelle didnt complain or send out weakened sides despite having to travel to SA and back and play on successive weekends but surely the situation is also unfair on La Rochelle as well and so EPCR needs to think about successive gameweeks and the travel effect of the competition
18 Go to commentsI hadn’t watched much Canes this season but sat through a replay of that Chiefs game with no distractions. That pack is beastly. I really like the look of Iose. He loves the tough stuff. The first Quins clip may be the best I have even seen for a TH driving his opposite into oblivion. i need to take your word for the contribution of Walker, but Collier there with a straight back pushing up from under was a lovely thing to see. Have you fallen in love with Baxter also, Nick? I think Stuart Barnes may have written his column about him recently, naked. He positively frothed.
15 Go to commentsSmart guy. I wish he was running the RFU or something!
3 Go to commentsWhy Barrett, when Leinster already have at least 4 top centres.?
15 Go to comments