Connacht in first European rugby fixture in Russia

Tomorrow’s historic first European rugby fixture in Russia is a new development in what might have appeared a one-sided relationship between Connacht and Enisei-STM.

The Siberian club has visited Galway on five occasions in the recent past, but Connacht had never returned the gesture until now, and that is only due to the roll of a dice when the European Challenge Cup fixtures were drawn.

The director of rugby for Enisei, Alexander Pervukhin, says it was meant to be that Connacht were drawn first out of the hat to play this fixture in Krasnoyarsk.

“God has sent Connacht because we have been there for five times in the last seven years, and we are delighted that we have now the opportunity to invite them to Krasnoyarsk.”

It might well have something to do with Enisei’s bankers that they have been the team to travel to Ireland on a regular basis. When STM (Stroyetal Tijoli Machina) — one of the largest heavy machinery makers — was split up and sold off four years ago, the club kept its name out of tradition, and the funding continued. One of Putin’s policies has been to invest in sport, and the state sporting ministry now owns the club, while arch rivals Krasny Yar are supported by the city council.

These two clubs have dominated the Russian game — Krasny, being the more successful — and Irish followers may well remember the former Blackrock, Leinster, and Dublin University wing Vasily Artemyev, who left Northampton to take up the reins at Krasny.

At a specially-arranged media conference to mark this first, and only, European fixture in Russia this season, Pervukhin admitted the “Russian attitude to rugby is not as important as it is in Ireland”.

“Our main goal was to bring a top team here for our fans and our supporters to see a top level game, to test ourselves and the first match with an opponent in Europe, it is easier to play at home.”

Connacht held their first outside training session at Enisei’s home ground in conditions Lam described as the coldest he had felt. The match is likely to be played in -8C to -14C temperatures.

The squad is hoping the Central Stadium, a soccer and Olympic venue expected to be at its 23,000 capacity, fulfils its promise of having a heated pitch — particularly with players being prevented from wearing leg warmers.

While the squad lined out with beanies, thermals and gloves at the ground, where the canteen’s staff took pity on a couple of shivering spectators and dispensed unsolicited sweet ‘chai’, Saturday’s bench warmers will be better supported. Head of fitness Paul Bunce, who designed a jetlag programme that included adapting to the Krasnoyarsk time zone two days before travel, will have the replacements tucked up in everything to maintain body heat, including survival blankets, handwarmers, hot water bottles, and more frequent sideline warm-up sessions than normal.

Although the weather remains a challenge, Lam insists this is not about conditions.

“I think both teams who have a history of playing in friendly games are now coming together in the first European game in a competition, and to play in such a big match, we feel honoured to be here and to be part of this historic occasion.”

“I think it is important for Enisei to play a game in their home town. For us to play in Socchi would not have been fair.