THIS WEEKEND 3-4 NOVEMBER

The minnows of world rugby have the stage only weeks after the big nations have played for the World Cup. From Europe to Asia and to South America, the nations whose players are predominantly amateur do battle in their respective competitions.

 

In Cyprus the nations who form the base of European rugby have gathered to play for the European Nations Cup Division 3D. For the first time this competition will be played almost entirely in one venue over a week. The beautiful island of Cyprus plays host to Monaco, Slovakia and Azerbaijan from 28 October to 4 November. The winner will have to play the last placed team in Division 3C to qualify for promotion for 2008-10.

 

In Colombo, Sri Lanka, some ten Asian teams have come together for the final rugby Asiad. A new structure for competitive international Asian rugby begins next year so this tournament heralds the end of a system of tournament that began in 1969. Some of the inaugural 1969 nations have chosen not to attend this tournament, Japan, Korea and Hong Kong, plus Singapore and the Arabian Gulf.

 

In Peru four South American nations play for the South American ‘B’ championship; Peru, Venezuela, Brazil and Colombia.

 

In addition to these matches, the higher order of FIRA-AER teams will continue their respective competitions. A new-look Romania, with a new coach, take on the Russians in Bucharest, the Czech Republic will be fighting for its survival at the top level when it takes on Spain away whilst Scandinavian rivals Sweden and Denmark battle it out in a very even Division 3A.

 

IRB Weekend Preview

http://www.irb.com/newsmedia/regional/newsid=2020714.html#weekend+preview

 

04.11.2007

Russia 22, Romania 12 in Bucharest (ENC 1)

Russia won by 10 points. I predicted Russia by 3.

 

GWC Rugby Rankings: Europe Table-Romania 9th, Russia 10th

 

Last Five Encounters

10.06.2006 Russia 25-24 in Krasnoyarsk (ENC 1)

26.02.2005 Romania 33-10 in Timisoara (ENC 1)

20.03.2004 Russia 33-22 in Krasnodar (ENC 1)

22.03.2003 Romania 23-12 in Bucharest (ENC 1)

24.03.2002 Romania 27-22 in Krasnodar (ENC 1)

 

Teams

 

Russia

15 Igor Kluchnikov (VVA-Podmoskovje), 14 Andrey Kuzin (VVA-Podmoskovje), 13 Mikhail Babaev (VVA-Podmoskovje), 12 Sergeys Trishin (VVA-Podmoskovje), 11 Alexandr Gvozdovskiy (Krasny Yar), 10 Yuriy Kushanrev (VVA-Podmoskovje), 9 Alexander Shakirov (VVA-Podmoskovje), 8 Alexey Panasenko (VVA-Podmoskovje), 7 Andrey Garbuzov (Krasny Yar), 6 Kirill kushnarev (VVA-Podmoskovje), 5 Andrey Mamochka (Slava Moscow), 4 Alexandr Voytov (VVA-Podmoskovje), 3 Iivan Prishepenko (Enisey-STM), 2 Vladislav Korshunov (VVA-Podmoskovje). 1 Alexander Khrokin (VVA-Podmoskovje).

Replacements:

16 Vladimir Marchenko (VVA-Podmoskovje), 17 Sergey Novoselov (Enisey-STM), 18 Ivan Povesma (Slava Moscow), 19. Andrey Ostrikov (Agen, France), 20 Victor Motorin (VVA-Podmoskovje), 21 Oleg Kobzev (VVA-Podmoskovje), 22 Vladimir Ostroushko (RC Krasnodar).

 

The Russian pack weighs in at 840kg, and the tallest player is Ostrikov at 2.00m. At 36 Marchenko is the oldest player.

 

Missing from last season, Top players

Konstantin Rachkov      Tarbes, France

Vyacheslav Grachev      Bayonne, France

Sergey Sergeev            Agen, France

Kiril Kulemin      Agen, France

Igor Galinovskiy            Krasniy Yar

Artem Fatachov Krasniy Yar

 

http://www.rugby.ro/articol_a.asp?aid=12716

 

Romania Squad

A large number of the World Cup squad are missing. New coach possibly means a clean out?

Mihai Adascalitei (Dinamo Bucaresti)

Gheorghita Bagiu (Dinamo Bucaresti)

Radu Basalau (Steaua Bucaresti)

Razvan Bors (RC Olimpia)

Stelian Burcea (Dinamo Bucaresti)

Ionut Budusan (REMIN Baia Mare)

Ciprian Caplescu (Dinamo Bucaresti)

Daniel Carpo (Farul Constanta)

Stefan Ciuntu (Universistat Cluj)

Alin Coste (Narbonne, France)

Catalin Dascalu (Steaua Bucaresti)

Flavius Dobre (Dinamo Bucaresti)

Ionut Dimofte (Steaua Bucaresti)

Danut Dumbrava (Steaua Bucaresti)

Csaba Gal (Universistat Cluj)

Paulica Ion (Bath RFC, England))

Andrei Kiss (RC Grivita)

Cristian Lazar (REMIN Baia Mare)

Viorel Lucaci (REMIN Baia Mare)

Mihai Macovei (REMIN Baia Mare)

Alexandru Marin (Dinamo Bucaresti)

Florin Maxim (Dinamo Bucaresti)

Costica Mersoiu (Dinamo Bucaresti)

Nicolae Nere (Steaua Bucaresti)

Catalin Nicolae (Steaua Bucaresti)

Valentin Poparlan (Dinamo Bucaresti)

Andrei Radoi (REMIN Baia Mare)

Cosmin Ratiu (Dinamo Bucaresti)

Nicolae Rus (Dinamo Bucaresti)

Vasile Rus (Steaua Bucaresti)

Valentin Ursache (Steaua Bucuresti)

Dan Vlad (Steaua Bucaresti)

Bogdan Zebega (Steaua Bucaresti))

Coach: Claude Sorell

 

03.11.2007

Spain 46, Czech Republic 0 in Madrid (ENC 1)

Spain won by 46 points. I predicted Spain by 25.

 

GWC Rugby Rankings: Europe Table-Spain 7th, Czech Republic 12th

 

Last Five Encounters

O5.05.2007 Spain 42-15 in Prague (ENC 1)

30.09.2006 Spain 46-17 in Madrid (ENC 1)

16.09.2007 Spain 33-12 in Prague (WCQ Europe R4, Playoff 1st leg)

27.03.2004 Czech Republic 16-6 (ENC 1)

30.03.2003 Czech Republic 40-38 in Madrid (ENC 1)

 

Teams

 

Spain Squad

Martín Aceńa (FC Barcelona)

Rafael Álvarez (Stade Domontois, France)

Carlos Arenas (Ciencias Sevilla RC)

Guilermo Bárcena (Stade Français, France)

José María Bohórquez (Ciencias Sevilla RC)

Rafael Camacho (Car Inés Rosales)

Juan Cano (CR Cisneros)

Javier Canosa (CRC Madrid)

Iván Criado (CD El Salvador)

Pablo Feijóo (Leicester Tigers, England)

David Hernández (Getxo RT)

Ion Insausti (CD El Salvador)

Manuel Mazo (Ciencias Sevilla RC)

David Mota (CR Liceo Francés)

Manuel Olivares (CR Cisneros)

Jesús Recuerda (Ciencias Sevilla RC)

Javier Salazar (CRC Madrid)

César Sempere (CRC Madrid)

Manuel Serrano (CD El Salvador)

Sergio Souto (CD El Salvador)

Julien Tortoulou (Colomiers RC, France)

Matías Tudela (CRC Madrid)

Raúl Turrión (CD El Salvador)

Diego Zarzosa (CD El Salvador)

Coach: Ged Glynn

http://www.ferugby.com/

 

Czech Republic Squad

Jiří Skall (RC Sparta Praha)

Jan Oswald (RC Tatra Smíchov)

Pavel Hocke (RC Tatra Smíchov)

Ondřej Kutil (RC Vyškov)

Jan Benda (RC Sparta Praha)

Jiří Buryánek (RC Dragon Brno)

Martin Dlouhý (RC Slavia Praha)

Josef Bláha (RC Říčany)

Jiří Černý (RC Tatra Smíchov)

Pavel Syrový (RC Praga)

Tomáš Fyrbach (RK Petrovice)

Martin Pekárek (RC Říčany)

Václav Jursík (RC Sparta Praha)

Michal Schlanger (RK Petrovice)

Jan Rudolf (RK Petrovice)

Martin Kladiva (RC Tatra Smíchov)

Pavel Čamrda (RC Říčany)

Tomáš Heller (RC Slavia Praha)

Tomáš Veniger (RC Tatra Smíchov)

Vojtěch Mára (RC Tatra Smíchov)

Karel Kučera (RC Říčany)

Michal Průša (RC Auxierre, France)

Coach: Levan Mgeladze

http://www.rugby.cz/me-divize-a-spanelsko-ceska-republika

 

Sweden 8, Denmark 6 in Helsingborg (ENC 3A)

Sweden won by 2 points. I predicted Sweden by 8.

 

GWC Rugby Rankings: Europe Table-Sweden 23rd, Denmark 25th

 

Last Five Encounters

28.10.2006 Sweden 23-13 in Odense (ENC 3A)

05.11.2005 Sweden 16-14 in Helisborg (ENC 3A)

27.10.2001 Denmark 33-21 in Copenhagen (FIRA/WCQ Euro. R2, Pool 3)

31.10.1998 Denmark 19-9 in Copenhagen (FIRA A)

27.05.1995 Denmark 16-3 in Copenhagen

 

Teams

 

Swedish squad:

Mattias Bjorkeback (Hammarby IF Rugby)

Andreas Bruhn (Göteborg RK)

Steve Bye (Stockholm Exiles RFC)

Robert Dibell (Enköping RK)

Johan Frank (Pingvin RC)

Jan-olof Johansson (Spartacus RUFC)

Rickard Johansson (Hammarby IF Rugby)

Tim Johansson (Enköping RK)

Magnus Karlsson (Hammarby IF Rugby)

Arlo Knox (Stockholm Exiles RFC)

Tommy Meijer (Enköping RK)

Bobby Nave (Enköping RK)

Theo Njuru (Hammarby IF Rugby)

Nico Parmelund (Göteborg RK)

Andreas Persson (Pingvin RC)

Jonny Pettersson (Enköping RK)

Vicktor Pettersson (Enköping RK)

Dennis Tärnblom (Enköping RK)

Mathias Thorhard (Hammarby IF Rugby)

Olaf Waddel (Enköping RK)

Robin Walster (Göteborg RK)

Alastair Wither (Stockholm Exiles RFC)

Coach: Neil Johnson

www.danielstorch.eu

 

Danish team

Michael Bransholm (Frederiksberg RK)

Sřren Brobyskov (Dunstablians RFC, England)

Mathias Dinesen (Frederiksberg RK)

Niels Godtfredsen (Aarhus RK)

Andrew Grantham (Aarhus RK)

Jonas Haaning (Frederiksberg RK)

Jesper Jakobsen (Frederiksberg RK)

Morten Jřrgensen (Erritsř)

René T. Kristensen (Aarhus RK)

Peter Madsen (CSR/Nanok RK)

Jerome Maury (Cpoenhagen Exiles RFC)

Sylvester Michaelsen (Aalborg RK)

Rasmus S. Mortensen (Aarhus RK)

Morten Rune T. Nielsen (Frederiksberg RK)

Kasper Vad Pedersen (Aarhus RK)

Mikael Lai Rasmussen (Aarhus RK)

Johannes Soussan (CSR/Nanok RK)

Edward Stafford (Eastbourne RFC, England)

Kenneth Steel (CSR/Nanok RK)

Kevin Steel (CSR/Nanok RK)

Timothy Watkins (CSR/Nanok RK)

Dominick Wilson (Barnes RFC, England)

 

www.danielstorch.eu

 

Netherlands 49, Switzerland 12 in Amsterdam (Friendly)

Netherlands won by 37 points. I predicted Netherlands by 15.

 

Previews

Netherlands Rugby Union celebrated its 75th anniversary on 1 October.

 

GWC Rugby Rankings: Europe Table-Netherlands 22nd, Switzerland 27th

 

These two teams have never played each other before.

 

Teams

 

Switzerland Squad

Josh Bjornson

Francis Booth

Alfredo Burgerner

Cyril Coulot

Jacky Dervey

Ramiro Dip

Pedro Dubois

Alessio Giorgerini

Alessio Giuliani

Sergion Hösel

Andreas Huber

Geoffrey Johnson

Gareth Jones

Ismaël Meyer

Gavin Moloney

Patrick Pithoud

Aymeric Pont

Jean-Claude Porte

Baptiste Rabattel

Peter Shane

David Smith

Lazarus Steven

Renaud Voise

Ian Wise.

 

Coach: Patrice Philippe

http://www.fira-aer-rugby.com/forum2007/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2553

 

Monaco 41, Azerbaijan 3 in Paphos (ENC 3D)

GWC Rugby Rankings: Europe Table-Azerbaijan 41st, Monaco 42nd

 

Reviews

These Teams have never played each other before. They play for the minor placing in this tournament.

 

Prediction: Monaco by 20 points

 

Cyprus 38, Slovakia 8 in Paphos (ENC 3D)

Reviews

The local team continued on its winning way defeating Monaco 19-10 on Wednesday. Slovakia had earlier defeated Azerbaijan so the match between Slovakia and Cyprus will decide the winner of this mini-tournament. The question is where does this place the winning team in terms of promotion? Greece won the 3D division last season before Cyprus had entered the competition. Greece will presumably be promoted but where does that leave the winner of this tournament?

                                                                     

GWC Rugby Rankings: Europe Table-Cyprus 38th, Slovakia 40th

 

These Teams have never played each other before.

 

Teams

 

Cyprus Squad

George Agathocteous (Paphos Tigers)

Andrew Binikos (Currie RFC, Scotland)                             

Chris Christofi (Limassol Crusaders)                 

Costas Christou (Limassol Crusaders)                 

Anthony Crassas (Paphos Tigers)*

Warren Deane (Paphos Tigers)                                                   

Devron Deverish (Ayia Nic Stags)                   

Dinu Floredan (Paphos Tigers)                          

Christo Frixou (Worcester Lions RFC, England)*                    

Panayiotis  Ioulianou (Lincoln University RFC, England)*

Panayiotis Jacovides (Paul Lezanne Aix Marseille, France)*       

Christo Kasabi (Saracens RFC, England)*                              

Adam Kyriacou (Ormskirk RFC, England)*                    

Philippos Kyriacou (Richmond RFC, England)*                           

Panayiotis Loizidis (Iraklis Salonica, Greece)                                    

Daniel McFarlane (Limassol Crusaders)*              

Demetri Maratheftis (Paphos Tigers)                            

Michaelis Maratheftis (Burton RFC, England)

Constantine Markou (Solihuill RFC, England)*                     

Vladlimiri Mihaylon (Paphos Tigers)                           

Colm O’Clerigh (Bective Rangers RFC, Ireland)*

Jonathan Pettemerides (London Scottish, England)                       

Fredrick Pissis (SCA Sporting club Albigois, France)*

Tony Thoma (Paphos Tigers)                         

Chris Thoma (Paphos Tigers)                         

Dan Thrasivolou (Leesbrook RFC, England)*

Coach: Niall Doherty                                

 

*Denotes Possible New Caps prior to tournament. 

http://www.cyprus-rugby.com/news.htm

 

Slovakia Squad

Rastislav Beladič (RC Slovan Bratislava)

Ondřej Benčík (RC Havířov, Czech Republic)

Peter Bolla (RC Slovan Bratislava)

Martin Čmiel (RC Havířov, Czech Republic)

Ondřej Hankovski (Sokol Mariánské Hory, Czech Republic)

Richard Januš (RC Lokomotiva Olomouc, Czech Republic)

Jan Klokner (Sokol Mariánské Hory, Czech Republic)

Patrik Kovacs (RC Havířov, Czech Republic)

Pavel Kozubík (RC Havířov, Czech Republic)

Petr Kozubík (RC Havířov, Czech Republic)

Michal Kučera (RC Lokomotiva Olomouc, Czech Republic)

Tomáš Kurka (RC Lokomotiva Olomouc, Czech Republic)

Martin Majovský (RC Slovan Bratislava)

Marcel Mana (Lokomotiva Olomouc, Czech Republic)

Jan Mandičák (RK Petrovice, Czech Republic)

Štefan Murár (RC Havířov, Czech Republic)

Martin Nosko (RC Slovan Bratislava)

Roman Nosko (RC Slovan Bratislava)

Viktor Ondroušek (RC Jimi Vyškov, Czech Republic)

Jan Pfeifer (RC Tatra Smíchov, Czech Republic)

Patrik Poledna (RC Lokomotiva Olomouc, Czech Republic)

Daniel Puha (RC Slovan Bratislava)

Anthony Puverle (RC Slovan Bratislava)

Jaroslav Stoklásek (RC Zlín, Czech Republic)

Coach: Lištván Pavel