Russia National Rugby Union Team - Europe's Bears

Nicknamed The Bears, the Russia National Rugby Union Team have competed in several rugby world championships and European championships since forming in the wake of the USSR's break-up in the early 1990s. You can both buy and sell Russia National Rugby Union Team tickets on StubHub.

The Bears of the rugby game

Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the Russia National Rugby Union Team made their official debut against the Barbarians in 1992 and played their first ever test match shortly after, against Belgium. Since winning promotion at the turn of the century, the Bears have been a mainstay of the European Nations Cup's top tier, finishing in the runner-up spot on several occasions, and regularly being placed inside the Top 20 of the World Rugby rankings. Russia first qualified for the rugby world championship in 2011 where they achieved the highest number of tries by a debut side in the modern era and became the first since 1987 to score more than two tries against Australia Rugby. Following the disqualification of Spain, Romania and Belgium for fielding ineligible players, Russia were bumped up to automatic qualifiers for the 2019 rugby world championship where they were drawn against Japan Rugby, Ireland, Scotland and Samoa Rugby Union. Check out the Bears in action by booking your Russia National Rugby Union Team tickets on StubHub.

A team who plays across the country

With no fixed home address, Russia has given rugby fans across the country the opportunity to see them on the field. Moscow's Slava Stadium, the Sochi Central Stadium and the Krasnoyarsk Central Stadium are just a few of the venues that the Bears have played at over the years. Notable players to have pulled on the red shirt include Yuri Kushnarev, Victor Gresev and Andrei Garbuzov, all of whom have earned more than six dozen international caps each, Vasily Artemyev, Andrei Kuzin and Vladimir Ostroushko, all of whom have scored more than 20 tries for their country and Adam Byrnes, the Australian lock player who was able to compete for the Bears due to his maternal heritage. Russia also has a national rugby sevens team which compete in the World Rugby Sevens Series and a women's side who have qualified for several rugby world championships. If you haven't yet experienced watching one of Europe's leading second-tier teams then check out the range of Russia National Rugby Union Team tickets on offer at StubHub.