The inclusion of Rugby Sevens in the Olympics may have claimed league’s first casualty with Russia’s premier league side, the Moscow –based Locomotive club, asking to switch back to rugby for the 2010 season.
Locomotive switched from rugby to league in 1991 because the players wanted to be paid, and as rugby was then amateur, could not remain in the code.
So they joined a newly formed six team Russian Rugby League, formed by the sports journalist, Igor Taturian.
Since 2003, Locomotive, has been virtually unbeatable and has won every year from 2003 to 2009. They have either been undefeated or lost only one game each season. The only other club which threatens them is Kazan Arrows. These two clubs are the only league clubs in Russia where players are actually paid
Because of the Olympics, Locomotive approached the Russian Rugby Union and asked to be included in the national Sevens competition. However, the Russian RU said that it could only happen if Locomotive also played in the 15- aside competition.
The CEO of Locomotive, Eugene Klebanov, said in the Russian paper, Soviet Sport, of the switch back to rugby after 18 years: “The best will play in the rugby-7. Our youth team will continue to play in in the championship of Russia of ‘Regbilig’’. Another group will play in a National Championship Rugby-15.”
The Chairman of Locomotive, Alexander Popov who is well known to Australians for his time as a swimmer at the AIS, welcomed the switch. So far, no comment has been made by the Rugby Union of Russia.
How long will it be before the Arrows switch codes and also Locomotive juniors?
Russian league withdrew earlier this year from a European competition and this switch could prove to be the beginning of the end of the league experiment in Russia.
rugbyfuture
Roar Guru
nah i wouldn't say everything is unbiased, im just saying that alot of online articles, although none from australia are written with a non existant bias as league doesnt exist where these articles are written, or are just a half column mention because of the lack of popularity. I'm saying jannerboyuk that much of this bias you speak of is a lack of knowledge of rugby league, and only a very small percentage, mainly in australia is from the militant code war. Rly, stop saying they are the same people, it makes you look like a fool, i could just as easily say that you, dogs of war and springs are the same people because you are of the same opinion. just a guess, the similar opinions of these people may be shaped by the fact they grew up outside of australia and the central north of england.
Jannerboyuk
Guest
For poly warrior/siva/south auckland its more a religous matter. Christians dont question the bible, muslims dont question the koran and he doesnt question the all knowing glory of 'Union Official History and Facts' and the glorious servants of its eternal splendour. Not quite sure what point RF is making to be honest.
Dogs Of War
Roar Guru
So you agree with South Auckland. Any article that is written about League must be discredited, as it is biased, while any Union article is just the truth, and nothing but.
Jannerboyuk
Guest
LOL thats what i love about the sport, no corporate machine for us just slowly getting little things right, haphazard but lovable. We'll do alright no worries.
Jannerboyuk
Guest
LOL thats what i love about the support, no corporate machine for us just slowly getting little things right, haphazard but lovable. We'll do alright no worries.
rugbyfuture
Roar Guru
most union articles around the internet are so because league doesn't exist in the mind of alot of these writers and mostly in australia because of eye for an eye mentality
Springs
Roar Guru
And all the Union articles are written by people who hate the sport and only give away the raw truths because the internet is just overwhelmed with neutral, fair union articles.
Springs
Roar Guru
Ha, ha, 'real stuff'! You complain about League players humping the grass, but at least we don't hump one another in the rucks. I'm sure Union players work really hard in their one foot, if that, hit-ups before lying on the ground anywhere up to 30 seconds. League maybe 5 tackle kick, but Union is either kick, kick, kick, kick, tackel, kick, kick, kick, kick etc or tackle, tackle, tackle, (times about 15), kick out on the full, 2 minute break. And there's no problem with that, just as there is no problem with six tackle sets.
Sth Auckland First XV
Guest
I'd rather watch 10 union scrums than one league scrum anyday. I've seen more power in a women's 7s union scrum than a league scrum! League is just five tackle, hump the grass, get up and and kick - really entralling stuff. Playing the ball under your legs after you're tackled is really tough too (NOT). Throw in a couple of WWF commentators and tight shorts and you've got the NRL. Every league game is the same - 5 tackle kick, 5 tackle - it's a girls form of rugby, without the real stuff like rucks and mauls. I don't even know why they call league 'rugby' because it's a disgrace to rugby. They should call it 5 tackle ball or something
Justin
Guest
Good site, love the fact they are promoting the RL World Cup....for 2008!
MyGeneration
Roar Guru
And the big fish end up blubbering on a Japanese whaling ship - nice analogy.
Jannerboyuk
Guest
How many different accounts do you have exactly poly warrior/siva? A sport gets into the olympics becuase its the sport of the people? what you smoking dude? whatever it is its giving you a identity crisis, siv me old mucker.
Jannerboyuk
Guest
Blah blah Siva, been predicted many times. You inability to determine the difference between reality and your wish fulfillment immediately makes your contributions fundamentally worthless.
Sth Auckland First XV
Guest
Matt S mate you have a chip on your shoulder that's bigger than Russia. You are going to lead a very sad existence over the next 20 years living under your rock as you watch League crumble before the power of union. It's only a matter of time before league clubs in the UK and eventually Australia will switch back to Union - it's the law of economies - the big fish always eat the little fish.
M1tch
Roar Guru
Rugby 7's is in the Olympics..Not Rugby Union Rugby League scouts show them footage of the game, Rugby Union scouts go to League players and show them a cheque ;)
M1tch
Roar Guru
http://www.sarugbyleague.co.za/
Sth Auckland First XV
Guest
Just starting out?? League's been round for 100 yrs and got nowhere!
Sth Auckland First XV
Guest
Of course they don't play league in SA - another league myth, just made up out of the blue - but that's what league supporters do - and Wikipedia - that is just about the worst place to get any information - most of those articles on Wikipeida about League are written by pro-league evangelicals without any proof of their claims whatsover - again, just made up out of the blue
Sth Auckland First XV
Guest
Matt S - it's league that has done the dirty tricks - sending development officers to union clubs all over the developing world telling them to jump ship to league after showing them a couple of State of Origina tapes and buying them a new pair of boots. Union will win in the end because League is the dishonest sport. Union has made it back to the Olympics because our sport truly is the game of the people - league is not the game of the people - it's a money-losing subsidiary of Ruperty Murdoch.
Sth Auckland First XV
Guest
Excellent story. Thank God for the Roar in bringing real truth to the League - Union divide. With News Limited so closely alighned with League you never get the truth about how poor league is on the international scale. It's only a matter of time (say 10 or 20years) before some major league clubs in the UK and Australia will switch back to Union - it's the law of economies - the largest always swallow up the smaller fish.