Russia names squad for Americas tour

Alexander Pervukhin has named a group of 30 players for the long journey from Moscow to the Americas. The team is set to depart overnight on June 12 with their first match set for June 18 in Calgary against Canada and second against the USA in Sacramento on June 25.

The side is a mix of youth and experience, with the majority having been part of the European Nations Cup earlier this year. Flanker Andrei Temnov will lead the team, with former Northampton speedster Vasili Artemiev his deputy. Viktor Gresev has Aviva Premiership experience with Wasps, and is one of three players with 75 caps or more. The others are second row Andrei Garbuzov and flyhalf Yuri Kushnarev.

New names are scrumhalf Konstantin Uzunov and winger Kirill Golosnitsky. Hooker Sergei Chernyshev returns after more than 18 months away from the team, and 33-year-old Anton Rudoi continues his impressive career breakthrough having only made his debut in February against Spain.

Several players have been made unavailable due to the Olympic qualifiers, including powerhouse wing duo Vladimir Ostroushko and Denis Simplikevich. Others absent are Sale Sharks lock Andrei Ostrikov and injured hooker Stanislav Selskiy.

FORWARDS
Azamat Bitiev (Krasny Yar), Vladimir Podrezov (VVA Saracens), Evgeni Pronenko (Enisei-STM), Sergei Sekisov (VVA Saracens), Alexei Volkov (VVA Saracens), Innokenty Zykov (Enisei-STM), Sergey Chernyshev (Slava Moscow), Nazir Gasanov (Enisei-STM), Evgeni Matveev (VVA Saracens), Denis Antonov (Slava Moscow), Andrei Garbuzov (Krasny Yar), Dimitri Krotov (Enisei-STM), Evgeni Yolgin (Enisei-STM), Pavel Butenko (Enisei-STM), Daniel Chegodaev (VVA Saracens), Viktor Gresev (Krasny Yar), Anton Rudoi (Enisei-STM), Andrei Temnov (capt., Enisei-STM)

BACKS
Alexei Shcherban (Enisei-STM), Konstantin Uzonov (Enisei-STM), Rushan Yagudin (Krasny Yar), Yuri Kushnarev (Enisei-STM), Sergei Yanyushkin (VVA Saracens), Dimitri Gerasimov (Enisei-STM), Evgeni Kolomiytsev (Krasny Yar), Vladimir Rudenko (Krasny Yar), Dimitri Simonov (Enisei-STM), Vasili Artemiev (Krasny Yar), Kirill Golosnitsky (Krasny Yar), Anton Ryabov (Krasny Yar)