VVA Saracens

The VVA Saracens, formally known as VVA-Podmoskovye, is a Russian rugby union team currently playing in the Professional Rugby League, under the Saracens global network after joining the Network in 2013.^[1] The team plays at Gagarin Air Force Academy stadium in Monino, a garrison town just outside Moscow. VVA-Podmoskovye have strong links to the air force and also supply the bulk of Russia, with which they share a head coach, Nikolai Nerush. The team has ambitious plans for the future - it is lobbying hard for inclusion in the European Challenge Cup and is close to completing a 12,500-seat purpose-built rugby stadium.^[2]

VVA Saracens have won the title eight times, in 1993, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010. They were also nine-time winners of the Soviet Championship.

March 2011 saw two stars depart for Aviva Premiership clubs, with Moldovan international Vadim Cobîlaş joining former Russia coach Steve Diamond at Sale Sharks and Russian international Vasily Artemiev joining Northampton Saints.

Championships

• Soviet Champions: 1969, 1976, 1977, 1980, 1981, 1984, 1985, 1986.
• Superleague Champions: 1993, 2003, 2004.
• Professional Rugby League Champions: 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010.

Squad

Current squad

Note: Flags indicate national union as has been defined under WR eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-WR nationality.

Player Position Union Alexander Khrokin Prop Russia Alexey Travkin Prop Russia Maxim Cobîlaş Prop Moldova Alexey Volkov Prop Russia Sergeï Cornievec Prop Russia Vladislav Korshunov Hooker Russia Vladimir Marchenko Hooker Russia Artem Fatakhov Lock Russia Victor Kobzev Lock Russia Andrei Romanov Lock Moldova Alexander Voytov Lock Russia Alexander Ivanov Flanker Russia Kirill Kushnarev Flanker Russia Yevgeny Matveyev Flanker Russia Svyatoslav Petukhov Flanker Russia Andreï Sorokin Flanker Russia Alexander Zorin Flanker Russia Viktor Gresev Number 8 Russia Alexeï Panasenko Number 8 Russia

Player Position Union Alexander Gudok Scrum-half Russia Alexander Shakirov Scrum-half Russia Alexander Yanyushkin Scrum-half Russia Denis Kukishev Fly-half Russia Yuriy Kushnarev Fly-half Russia Ilya Babaev Centre Russia Mikhail Babaev Centre Russia Sergeï Gavrushin Centre Russia Sergeï Shishkov Centre Russia Sergeï Trishin Centre Russia Alexeï Andreev Wing Russia Alexei Cotruţă Wing Moldova Iles Kaminsky Wing Russia Oleg Kobzev Wing Russia Semen Lavrentiev Wing Russia Igor Klyuchnikov Fullback Russia Andreï Kuzin Fullback Russia

Former players now in a professional overseas league

Note: Flags indicate national union as has been defined under WR eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-WR nationality.

Player Position Union Vadim Cobilas Prop Moldova -> Sale Sharks Vladislav Korshunov Hooker Russia -> London Wasps Karolis Navickas Lock Lithuania -> Sale Sharks & Union Bordeaux Bègles Viktor Gresev Flanker Russia -> London Wasps Vasily Artemiev Wing Russia -> Northampton Saints

International honours

References

External links

• http://www.heavensgame.com/russian-pro-league/russian-league-expands-for-2010