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Russia's premier clubs are heading to the Krasnodar territory town of Krymsk this weekend for the Russian Rugby Sevens Cup, a curtain raiser for the domestic season.

This is the first Russian Sevens Cup since it was announced the short form of the game will become an Olympic sport, raising interest in rugby nationwide.

Fifteen teams, including five from the Russian Professional Rugby League (RPRL), will take part in a four-pool group-stage, to be held on Saturday April 17, with the knockout stages following on Sunday.

Group A sees local side and defending champions Yug (Krasnodar) pitted against RPRL side Slava (Moscow), Zelenograd (Moscow region), and Energia (Kazan), a recent convert from rugby league. Yug's Vladimir Ostroushko is Russia's leading try scorer in their recent run of good form in the IRB's Sevens World Series.

All eyes in Group B will be on another recent convert from rugby league. Although Lokomotiv (Moscow) will retain a junior presence in the 13-man code they have dominated for the past decade, the Moscow side has now turned its focus to Sevens since the IOC's decision to include it in the Olympic Games and much will be expected of them.

The group also features another team from the capital, Marino, and RPRL quality in the shape of Krasny Yar (Krasnoyarsk), fresh from a three-week trip to New Zealand. Local side Krasnodar Territory round out the group.

The two heavyweights of the 15-man game in Russia - VVA-Podmoskovye (Monino) and Yenisei-STM (Kransoyarsk) - have been drawn together in Group C.

VVA supplies the bulk of both the full national team and its sevens side, which is coached by VVA Director Rifkat Sattarov, and they will be looking to make a statement ahead of the rest of the season. Taganrog (Rostov region) and debutants Dagestan (Makhachkala) will have their work cut out to make an impact.

Imperia (Penza) are the RPRL representatives in Group D, which also features Spartak (Moscow) and Rostov-on-Don. Rostov are late replacements to the competition after Legion (Izhevsk) and yet another former league side, Strela (Kazan), pulled out. Premier League side Novokuznetsk and Moscow sides Fili and Dinamo are not in attendance.

The winners of group A play the runners up of group B in the second round and vice versa, with the pattern repeated between groups C and D. If favourites Yug and VVA both win their groups and then remain undefeated, they will meet in the final.

Meanwhile, Russia have been dealt a tough draw for the London leg of the IRB Sevens World Series, to be held at Twickenham on May 22-23, when the Bears will face hosts England, Scotland, and Australia in Pool D. It doesn’t get any easier for the Russians a week later at the Edinburgh Sevens, facing New Zealand, South Africa, and Italy in Pool B.

www.heavensgame.com