| ||||||
| Team information | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname | The Bears | |||||
| Governing body | Russian Rugby League | |||||
| Region | Europe | |||||
| Head coach | Denis Korolev | |||||
| Captain | Sergey Konstantinov | |||||
| Home stadium | Naro-Fominsk | |||||
| IRL ranking | 45th | |||||
| Uniforms | ||||||
| ||||||
| Team results | ||||||
| First international | ||||||
 France 26–6 USSR  (Villeurbanne, France; September 1991) | ||||||
| Biggest win | ||||||
 Lebanon 0–80 Russia  (Moscow, Russia; 28 September 2008) | ||||||
| Biggest defeat | ||||||
 Australia 110–4 Russia (Hull, England; 4 November 2000) | ||||||
| World Cup | ||||||
| Appearances | 1 (first time in 2000) | |||||
| Best result | Group Stages, 2000 | |||||
The Russia national rugby league team, nicknamed The Bears (Russian: Медведи), represents Russia in international rugby league tournaments and other rugby league fixtures.
The national team formed in 1991, with their first international against France a few months later.[1] The team, under the governance of the Russian Rugby League Federation gained observer status with the Rugby League International Federation in 1993, before being promoted to affiliate member ahead of the 2000 Rugby League World Cup and gaining full membership a three years later.
In 2010, Russia was expelled for a series of rule breaches and readmitted under the Association of Rugby League Clubs, they regained full member status three years later.[2] After the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the International Rugby League and European Rugby League suspended Russia's membership thus preventing them from competing in all international rugby league competitions.[3] They were later downgrade to affiliate status.[4]
- ^ https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/matches/dates/27-october-1991/france-vs-russia.html
- ^ "Rugby League's international body RLIF has welcomed Russia, Ukraine and Jamaica to full membership". SBS. 26 October 2013. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
- ^ "Russia banned from international rugby league competitions".
- ^ "IRL Membership: Ireland, Italy, Lebanon, Scotland Reclassified". IRL. 15 March 2024. Archived from the original on 2024-04-16. Retrieved 15 March 2024.