MOSCOW, May 31 (R-Sport) - Northampton Saints winger Vasily Artemyev heads the Russian preliminary squad announced on Friday for rugby’s World Cup Sevens next month.
Joining him on the 20-man list is former London Wasps back-row Viktor Gresev and a string of regulars from Russia’s 15-a-side national team.
The team is coached by Andrei Sorokin, who succeeded former England forward Henry Paul last year.
The women’s provisional squad includes prop Baizat Khamidova, who was the fourth-highest scorer on the Sevens World Series this season with 60 points.
Rugby is a fast-growing sport in Russia, especially the sevens variant of the game, which has received extra government attention since being confirmed as an Olympic sport for 2016.
The World Cup Sevens will take place in Moscow from June 28 to 30 and will be the first major rugby competition to be held in Russia.
