Gene Williemse (inside centre) I believe went to Oakdale (unless there is another rugby player by the same name) played for Leopards and joined Slava. He was fired from the club for drunkenness, I was told by a Russian rugby fan.
All Black Sevens player has replaced him, Rewita Biddle.
Vodka isn't for everyone.
They say there's about 60 players from SA across the different divisions there.
Here's some learning Russian...tough language.
Yes indeed Moonrover it is difficult...it takes time to learn the Cyrillic alphabet and the sounds (pronouncing), gender context and emphasis. I still make a fool of myself...it's a lot easier if you are young and spend a long time there.
Apparently the Saffas love it there and like most westerners are totally taken back when they go there...completely different people to what the western world falsely portrays them.
Some of the nicest people I've ever met. They are good people, very sharp , deep and intelligent and exceptionally kind but a dry sense of humour.
The ones that play rugby use SA style as their favourite...they like the tough physical game.
SA players are doing Russian rugby a rebirth and it's slowly bearing some fruit.
Big things grow from small beginnings...compare Japanese rugby t6oday to what it was 20 years ago. They have a huge reserve of big, tough and athletic men and women...years back Sean Fitzp atrick was involved in a minor scale of promotion.
If we love the game of rugby we should encourage other nations to grow the game...this opens greater challenges and brings new excitement into the bigger arenas.
Seb
The first Russian I ever met was Professor Elisevata Foxcroft - the daughter of a Russian aristocrat who fled from Russia in 1918. - who taught Russian at the University of South Africa and was regarded as one of the top experts in the Russian Language in the world. After the death of Stalin she was invited often to Russia to attend conferences on the Russian language. A highly cultured person with an absolute dedication to her work.
I also met Russians when visiting East Germany in 1973 and Russia in 1993. The ep[le I met was friendly and despite dire economic conditions in 1993 was helpful and very nice and friendly, Cultured like Maria Sharapova - who refuse to become a naturalized USA citizen, because the Americans lack culture.
That is also why I admire tennis players like Medvedev and Rublkev so much - they are not only good tennis players - they are classy individuals in respect of all aspects of life. Humble and nice with a smile most of the time.
I can remember reading an article years ago where a Russian policeman arrested the whole local rugby team for riotous conduct wen he saw a rugby game the first time. I hope rugby became a more popular game in Russia - with their human resources they would dwarf other countries playing rugby at present, The sport needs to be professionalized in Russia for that to happen.
Ja Mike, they are great people...the USSR was a great disaster though but they rallied.
One thing thing for sure is that tables have turned and the majority will never opt for extreme socialism again, in fact whilst USA hovers under this threat...they know..."once bitten (no pun intended) twice shy." Come to think of it it rhymes a little with Biden, lol and therefore it might be intended...lol.
I feel rugby will develope as it is doing in an ex-state of the old Soviet Union , Georgia and although Georgia is the stronger side at present, Russia will overtake them eventually. In years to come they will compete with the best but I don't think most of us will be around then. But who knows, it took Japan about 20 years but Russia might take a bit longer...however it depends how the world goes...these things we have no idea.
I think of the old Bob Dylan song..."The Times they are A-Changin"
The line it is drawn
