Russia lean on Continental Shield for Nations Cup

Russian coach Alexander Pervukhin has not cast his net far for the World Rugby Nations Cup, with 20 of his 28 players selected from European Continental Shield finalists Enisei STM and Krasny Yar. Five players are set to make their debuts amidst some of Russia’s most celebrated international players. Loose forward Viktor Gresev and flyhalf Yuri Kushnarev set the pace with 89 caps apiece, while captain Vasili Artemiev and flanker Andrei Temnov each boast more than 50 appearances for their country.

The baby of the group is 19-year-old fullback Alexander Budychenko, one of two call-ups from the national u20 side along with loosehead prop Evgeni Mishechkin. Second row Vladimir Suslov, scrumhalf Mikhail Kudinov, and midfielder Kirill Gubin are also ready to begin their test careers.

FORWARDS
Azamat Bitiev (Krasny Yar), Evgeni Mishechkin (Slava), Valeri Morozov (Enisei STM), Vladimir Podrezov (VVA), Andrei Polivalov (Enisei STM), Sergei Chernyshev (Slava), Stanislav Selskiy (Enisei STM), Bogdan Fedotko (Krasny Yar), Dmitri Gritsenko (Kuban Krasnodar), Vladimir Suslov (Enisei STM), Tagir Gadzhiev (Kuban Krasnodar), Viktor Gresev (Krasny Yar), Dmitri Krotov (Enisei STM), Anton Rudoi (Enisei STM), Andrei Temnov (Enisei STM)

BACKS
Mikhail Kudinov (Kuban Krasnodar), Alexei Shcherban (Enisei STM), Konstantin Uzunov (Enisei STM), Ramil Gaisin (Enisei STM), Yuri Kushnarev (Enisei STM), Dmitri Gerasimov (Enisei STM), Kirill Gubin (Kuban Krasnodar), Vladimir Rudenko (Krasny Yar), Vasili Artemiev (capt., Krasny Yar), Alexei Mikhaltsov (Enisei STM), Evgeni Nepeivoda (Kuban Krasnodar), Denis Simplikevich (Enisei STM), Alexander Budychenko (Enisei STM)