Russia prepares bid to host 2019/20 European Champions Cup Final
Russia is preparing a bid to host the finals of the European Champions Cup & Challenge Cup for the 2019/20 season according to a local news website Rugger Info
With Enisei-STM already competing in the European Challenge Cup & 22,000 registered players nationally, European Rugby could use this as an opportunity to grow the game in a relatively new market.
The 2018 final, which is set to be played in Spain, shows that there is an appetite to move the competition into new countries. Having said this, Bilbao is just over 100km from the French border, making it an easy commute for the huge rugby audience in the South of France. It's also a short flight down from the UK or Ireland. Moscow, on the other hand, is over 2,800kms from any of the potential finalists, so it would require a bit more planning and much deeper pockets.
It may be a few years too early for Moscow, but it's encouraging to see new countries putting their hand up to be represented at the top table as Russia, Georgia, Romania and Germany, all look to shift the great game east of the traditional European hotbeds.
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Sorry to say, but sadly the sadas were just ordinary and havilli at 10 as an abs selection just won’t cut it. He’s better suited in the centre’s and is a victim of past charge down kicks, he’s too slow under pressure. There’s better talent further north and I don’t mean dmac however I believe razor will sort him out. A feature of his presents on the park is the fact that the guys will follow him.
Go to commentsMarler was brilliant throughout both in the scrum and open play. His slap made virtually no contact with Ramos who milked it for a penalty when he could have been a decent sportsman and laughed it off, it was non-violent and shouldn't have been penalised. Smith failed repeatedly to kick when necessary and put up a couple of bombs into the TLS 22 that just handed back possession at key moments to the other side.
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