Russia features a multinational coaching contingent with Welshman Kingsley Jones as head coach, countryman Darren Morris running the forwards, Tongan Siua Taumalolo in charge of the backs and defense, and New Zealand born English international Henry Paul helping out as well. The 33-man November touring squad is almost entirely home-based with two Georgians in the front row and star players Kirill Kulemin and Vasili Artemiev playing in the Aviva Premiership.

After spending time with London Wasps last season hooker Vladislav Korshunov and Viktor Gresev add their quality to a mobile forward pack, while the danger men out wide are wingers Vladimir Ostroushko and Denis Simplikevich. Sale Sharks lock Andrei Ostrikov is absent due to injury, while Australian-born Adam Byrnes is left out. First choice flyhalf Yuri Kushnarev is also out injured so Sergey Sugrobov continues after filling in during the Nations Cup. Veteran second row Alexander Voytov retains the captaincy despite the return of World Cup leader Korshunov.

RECENT RESULTS

19 May – 41-37 win vs Spain (Moscow)
08 June – 17-33 loss vs Italy A (Bucharest)
12 June – 19-13 win vs Uruguay (Bucharest)
17 June – 9-33 loss vs Argentina A (Bucharest)
04 November – 29-15 win vs Oxford University (Oxford)

FIXTURES

04 November – Oxford University (Oxford) 29-15 win
09 November – United States (Colwyn Bay)
17 November – Canada (Colwyn Bay)