Russia blends youth and experience for first Rugby World Cup

Russia coach Nikolai Nerush named his 30-man squad on Tuesday for the national team's first-ever Rugby World Cup, which starts September 9 in New Zealand. The squad will be led by hooker Vladislav Korshunov and is a blend of youth and experience. Seven players have more than 50 caps, including Andrey Kuzin, who is one away from Soviet legend Igor Minorov's record 74 caps (73 for USSR, one for Russia). At the other end of the spectrum, the squad includes uncapped 20-year-old Denis Simplikevich, who showed promise at the IRB's Junior World Rugby Trophy this year. Other youngsters include Denis Antonov and Mikhail Sidorov, a pair of 24-year-old forwards who play for Moscow team Slava. Adam Byrnes of the Melbourne Rebels is the other newcomer to the squad. The Australian-born lock qualifies for Russia due to Soviet-born grandparents. Assisting Head Coach Nerush in New Zealand are Team Director and former Welsh international flanker Kingsley Jones, and former England center Henry Paul as backs coach. Russia play English side Gloucester on Friday in the last of a four-match tour of Britain in preparation for the World Cup. The Bears' opening Group C match is against the United States on September 15. They also face Italy, Ireland and Australia. Russia squad for the Rugby World Cup: Forwards: Denis Antonov, Slava-ShVSM (Moscow) Vladimir Botvinnikov, Enisey-STM (Krasnoyarsk) Adam Byrnes, Melbourne Rebels (Australia) Artem Fatakhov, VVA-Podmoskovye (Monino) Andrey Garbuzov, Krasniy Yar (Krasnoyarsk) Viatcheslav Grachev, Bizanos (France) Victor Gresev, VVA-Podmoskovye (Monino) Alexander Khrokin, VVA-Podmoskovye (Monino) Vladislav Korshunov, VVA-Podmoskovye (Monino) Evgenii Matveev, VVA-Podmoskovye (Monino) Andrey Ostrikov, Sale Sharks (England) Sergey Popov, Slava-ShVSM (Moscow) Ivan Prishchepenko, Krasniy Yar (Krasnoyarsk) Mikhail Sidorov, Slava-ShVSM (Moscow) Alexey Travkin, VVA-Podmoskovye (Monino) Valeriy Tsnobiladze, Novokuznetsk (Novokuznetsk) Alexander Voytov, VVA-Podmoskovye (Monino) Backs: Vasily Artemyev, Northampton Saints (England) Mikhail Babaev, VVA-Podmoskovye (Monino) Andrey Bykanov, Slava-ShVSM (Moscow) Igor Galinovskiy, Krasniy Yar (Krasnoyarsk) Igor Klyuchnikov, VVA-Podmoskovye (Monino) Yury Kushnarev, VVA-Podmoskovye (Monino) Andrey Kuzin, VVA-Podmoskovye (Monino) Alexey Makovetskiy, Krasniy Yar (Krasnoyarsk) Vladimir Ostroushko, Enisey-STM (Krasnoyarsk) Konstantin Rachkov, Stade Phoceen (France) Alexander Sharikov, VVA-Podmoskovye (Monino) Denis Simplikevich, Enisey-STM (Krasnoyarsk) Alexander Yanyushkin, VVA-Podmoskovye (Monino)