Weather will test Russian allegiance

EVER since Russia got badly burnt fielding three ineligible players from South Africa during the RWC2003 qualifying tournament – an indiscretion which cost them a place in the finals – the Russian Federation has been wary of allowing too many overseas players into their domestic game.

That though is changing. With a serious bid in for RWC2027 – which they will keep on the table for RWC2031 if they do not succeed first time around – the Russians are looking to beef up their sides with large numbers of itinerant South Africans who are finding it hard to find a rugby outlet for their talents elsewhere. Previously only Russian-speaking Georgians tended to be welcomed.

An important recent change to domestic rules in Russia means teams can now have up to ten overseas players on their rosters while clubs wishing to engage overseas U21 players can sign another two from abroad.

The clear intention with the latter is to tempt one or two to go the distance and complete the five years residency that will be required to switch to the Russian national side in the future. If Japan have been allowed by the international community to adopt such a policy over the last 10-15 years why not Russia? So the argument goes anyway.

There are currently estimated to be nearly 60 South African players in the two Russian leagues. Ambitious Slava Moscow alone have seven as well as a South African head coach in Andre Tredoux.

There are, of course, drawbacks. The daytime temperature in Russia’s rugby city – Krasnoyarsk in central Siberia – topped out at minus 35 on Christmas Day, dropping further still to minus 45 in the evening. Such extremes of climate soon sort the wheat from the chaff. Those who are in for the long haul – and those who aren’t.