The Latvian rugby team will continue the tradition of focusing its game more on the fight, Kristaps Staņa, the head coach of the national team, said at a press conference before the match with Luxembourg on Saturday.
On Saturday, the Latvian national rugby team will host the Luxembourg national team in the first match of the first division of the Nordic Division of the European Championship in Baldone. The national team started preparing for this cycle at the end of February and during this time also played a test game with Lithuania, mainly to give rugby players a taste of the game.
“Luxembourg has already played matches in this cycle and is a more played team. We have found a very good team of leaders with both experience and young talented players. Let’s use the best resources available in Latvia, there are convincing and playful guys in the team, ”stressed Staņa.
Sweden will also be admitted to Latvia on April 23, and a match against the Czech Republic is scheduled for May 7. Due to Covid-19, several games could not take place in the autumn and after the transfer of the matches, the fight between Latvia and Hungary is not planned. “From the next cycle, the order of play and the layout of the groups will change, as a result of which one team from our group will rise higher and the divisions will unite. If we win the next three games, there will be a fight with Rugby Europe for a game with Hungary that is not counted at all, with no team winning. Therefore, even if we win three matches, we would not be able to rise above the level, ”explained Staņa.
Frenchman Dimitri Fundou-Mulele, who is in France’s third league or Federale 1 Graulhet team, will make his debut in the national team. Also in sight of the Latvian national team is the Welsh Jean Batiste Brugulley, who plays in the second strength of England after the “RFU Championship” in “Hartpury College”. One of the grandparents of both rugbyists is Latvians.
Bruzulje used to play for the Welsh rugby-7 national team at the age of 20, but according to the new rules of World Rugby, he can change his nationality and represent Latvia. “We worked on this issue last year so that he could be included in our team. Brugesier is very interested in playing for the Latvian national team and actively helped to solve this issue. Unfortunately, he has been injured in a club game and will probably not be able to help in this cycle. But we want to involve him in the coaching corps as well, to help rugby develop, ”said Staņa.
“Both have applied themselves through the team’s former head coach, now consultant Gary Volker. But first of all, we want to develop local players, but if someone is an order higher than the local ones, then we look at the possibility of attracting from the sidelines, ”the coach continued. In preparation for the spring games, fitness coach Aigars Kotāns was attracted to the team. “Despite their full-time work, the players took part in the whole process of physical fitness, which is a great contribution from them. Will there be game readiness? I hope we drink the cups of victory, ”said Staņa.
The Latvian team has studied the game of Luxembourg, paying attention to its match with Hungary. “It’s a very playful team where everyone can get involved in the ball, not just the ball. We see points where we can put pressure. Latvian rugby is more focused on wrestling and fighting players. We continue this tradition and add a little free play. The main emphasis will be on trusting the process and enjoying the game, ”said Staņa.
The captain of the national team Miķelis Jurēvičs thanked the European Rugby Federation that the national team has the opportunity to climb the international stage in rugby-15 again. We haven’t played in the national team for a while. We are preparing with the team diligently and have a good attendance for training. We are in a positive mood and we listen to the coach’s instructions. It is a great challenge for me to be a captain, and it will be in my first rugby-15 game. I hope the team will support me during this cycle. In the test match with Lithuania, we were able to draw conclusions about the condition of the players and see the emergence of the game drawing, ”revealed Jurēvičs.
The player of the Luxembourg national team, a member of the Jurevich team in the “Garkalne” / “Livonia” team, told Clement Blair that there is a change in the composition of coaches in the national team and there is a new approach to the game. “There are also new players in the team who have successfully integrated into the team. About half of the team is from abroad – France, England, Ireland and others. We won Hungary and we want to continue on the same note. It will be interesting to play against your teammates, but you have to put your emotions aside and play for victory, ”said Blair.
“We did not expect such weather conditions, but we hope that Saturday will be better. I have played in Baldone, where the coverage is very good. There is a break in Luxembourg from October to February, but those who play in France have played matches during this time. It will be interesting to play in such weather conditions, ”continued Blair.
Meanwhile, Aivars Pilenieks, President of the Latvian Rugby Federation (LRF), said that the European Rugby Federation had been warned that there could be winter-friendly weather in Latvia at the beginning of April. “On Thursday, there will be a commissioner for the game, for whom we will show the court. The main thing is that the field is sufficiently thawed and not dangerous for the game. The surface of the field has thawed and from a safety point of view you can play, ”said Pilenieks.
The LRF does not currently receive public funding because its statutes do not comply with the principles of good governance. It is planned to change these articles of association at the general meeting scheduled for next week in order to be eligible for funding. “National matches will be able to take place and funding will be provided. A general meeting will be held on April 6, where we will make changes and eliminate shortcomings. Funding has been suspended until these shortcomings have been remedied, it has not been taken away completely, ”commented Pilenieks.
The Czech Republic is the leader in the division with ten points in two games, Sweden has earned five points in the only match, Luxembourg has four points in three dues, Hungary has earned one point in two fights, but Latvia has not yet participated in the tournament.
