Russia wrestle with Olympic champions
Russia’s preparations for their debut on the Rugby World Cup stage in New Zealand took on a new dimension recently when they held a joint training session with the country’s wrestling stars in Sochi.
The Russian Bears are currently based at the Black Sea resort for an intensive three-week training programme and the wealth of top level facilities in the city means that other national sides are also in town, including the highly-decorated wrestling team.
“We knew that our wrestlers were training not far from our base and when Head of the Committee for Disabled Rugby Varis Shamsuev told us there was the possibility of a joint training session, we didn't hesitate for a minute,” explained Zorik Masandilov, General Manager of the Russian national team said.
“I don't think there is any need to list the achievements of our champions – in nearly every contest the Russian national anthem is played in honour of their victories!”
Olympic champions Khadzhimurad Magomedov and Khadzhimurad Gatsalov were among the freestyle wrestlers who met the rugby players, and they were joined by world champions Yuri Shakhmuradov and Dennis Tsargush and national team coaches.
Close links
The wrestlers wasted no time in capturing opponents from the rugby team, who gave their all against the champion grapplers. The battles were hard fought and ended with Igor Galinovsky, Mikhail Babaev and Mikhail Sidorov showing themselves to be in possession of remarkable wrestling skills.
These wrestling skills and techniques are adaptable for the rugby field, and wrestling exercises have formed an integral part of the team's training in Sochi, not least because the team's Welsh conditioning coach, Paul Pook, is a big admirer of the sport and has worked with athletes such as Andrea Minguzzi, a gold medal winner at the Beijing Olympics.
Gatsalov agreed the two sports have a lot in common. “We often use the same elements, exercises and techniques in training as those used in rugby. The fight is the ability to control the body while not losing concentration.
“Perhaps wrestling and rugby are the sports closest to one another – both need dexterity and sharpness, and who is the more coordinated, the faster, the stronger, is the one who wins.”
The champion wrestler also said he would like to see the joint training repeated and held more frequently in future. "We know that these activities will contribute to the development of rugby in Russia and this is a huge plus for rugby, and for wrestling."
Final preparations
The two teams of athletes left each other with mutual wishes for success at their respective upcoming world championships. "I'd love to wish the players the Russian national rugby team health, luck, and success at the World Cup," Gatsalov said.
Although this was the first joint training session between the two teams, it is not the first of the Rugby Union of Russia's efforts to utilise the strong wrestling culture in the country's southern regions. In April, backs coach Henry Paul led an RUR delegation to the wrestling stronghold of Dagestan, where he held a rugby clinic for local wrestlers.
That visit was arranged by Sagid Murtazaliev, an Olympic gold medallist in wrestling at the Sydney Olympics and member of the Dagestani National Assembly, who is now working hard to establish the sport in the Republic, something the RUR has pledged assistance with.
The Russian squad will remain in Sochi for another week before heading to the United Kingdom for four warm-up matches ahead of their debut at Rugby World Cup 2011, where they will face Australia, Ireland, Italy and USA in Pool C.
Russia’s tour next month will see them face two Welsh regions and two English Premiership sides in Northampton Saints (12 August), the Newport Gwent Dragons (16 August), the Ospreys (21 August) and Gloucester (26 August).