THE REVAMPED CHALLENGE Cup didn’t really grab the attention this year but next season’s tournament will have a bit more of a novelty factor if nothing else. Russian side Enisei-STM beat Romanian outfit Baia Mare in a playoff to book their place in the second-tier tournament next season.
No Russian team has previously competed in either European competition so it will be interesting to see how much rugby in the country benefits from the exposure. The team is based in Krasnoyarsk, which is the third largest city in Siberia.
Winter’s there can be as cold as -21 degrees so teams will dread the possibility of drawing them for the December back-to-backs.
Avoiding that icy clash should be incentive enough for Connacht to win their final two league encounters and push for Champions Cup qualification.
The Russian team will enjoy the balmy -5 degree Irish Winter. Swimsuits all around for them.
One is assuming that if Connacht don’t qualify for the Big Boys Cup!!!!
On a bad day it feels like The Sportsground is at least -21 degrees.
Eh maybe Leinster better take a look, their current form suggests we might by flying to Russia, mind you a trip to Serbia for Matt and his coaching staff night just be the trick.
No team will play on a frozen pitch at -20 , the referee would call it off as it would be highly dangerous. You might as well ask for a match to be played on concrete. Spoof article.
Ensei play the eagles yearly at this stage
Given Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and shooting down of a passenger jet, no Russian teams should be allowed in European tournaments.