Rugby Sevens: The other Russian team going for World Cup glory

Few could have foreseen Russia reaching the quarterfinals of the 2018 World Cup.

The tournament’s lowest-ranked team, the host scored eight in its first two games before dumping Spain out on penalties in the round of 16 to set up a meeting with Croatia for a place in the semifinals.

The nation’s footballers, however, are not the only team currently harboring World Cup ambitions.

Russia’s rugby teams have made significant strides in recent years, and while all eyes are on the FIFA World Cup, the country’s sevens players are quietly preparing for their sport’s World Cup in San Francisco between July 20 and 22.

The women’s side, in particular, found itself among the silverware, winning the European Women’s Sevens title four times in the past five years and regularly finishing in the top five spots of the World Rugby Sevens Series.

Paris, France —

Victory for South Africa and a fifth-place finish for Fiji saw the Blitzboks take the 2017-18 Sevens World Series title by just two points.

Paris, France —

A runner-up finish for Australia in Paris was enough to secure the overall women's title ahead of rivals New Zealand.

Paris, France —

Portia Woodman bagged two tries in the Paris final, which ended 33-7 in favor of the Black Ferns. Despite three tournament wins, however, they couldn't defend their championship title.

London, England —

Fiji's Josua Tuisova looks for an offload in the final of the London Sevens against South Africa. His side ran out 21-17 victors to take control of the series.

Langford, Canada —

New Zealand's Black Ferns inflicted the heaviest ever series defeat on Australia in the final of the Canada Sevens, scoring eight tries in a 46-0 demolition of their rivals.

Singapore —

Fiji moved to the top of the standings with a tense victory over Australia in Singapore.

Kitakyushu, Japan —

New Zealand's Black Ferns backed up Commonwealth gold with silverware in Japan after a 24-12 victory over France in final.

Hong Kong —

Fiji made history in Hong Kong -- the most famous and best-loved leg of the Sevens World Series -- by winning a fourth consecutive title, defeating Kenya 24-12 in the final.

Hong Kong —

Japan gained a berth in next year's Sevens World Series with a 19-14 victory over Germany in the qualifier event.

Vancouver, Cananda —

Fiji fans celebrate in Vancouver where their country secured its second win of the Sevens World Series.

Vancouver, Cananda —

Kenya was the tournament's surprise package. Playing in its first final since Singapore in 2016, Shujaa eventually went down 31-12 to Fiji.

Las Vegas, USA —

There was an historic result in Vegas as the Eagles lifted the trophy for the first time on home soil with a 28-0 victory over Argentina in the final. It was just the second title USA have won, the first coming in London in 2015.

Hamilton, New Zealand —

Fiji overturned a first-half deficit against South Africa to claim a first title of the season in Hamilton -- the first time the town has hosted a Sevens World Series tournament after the New Zealand leg was moved from Wellington.

Sydney, Australia —

Australia's women continued their storming start to the season in Sydney. Tim Walsh's side became the first team ever to go a whole tournament without conceding a point.

Sydney, Australia —

There was more good news to come for home fans that weekend in Sydney. The men eased past South Africa 29-0 in the final, with Ben O'Donnell (pictured) grabbing a brace.

Cape Town, South Africa —

The All Blacks claimed a first tournament victory since March 2016 in Cape Town, toppling Argentina in the final.

Dubai, UAE —

Having finished second to New Zealand in last season's overall standings, Australia's women got their campaign off to winning ways by overwhelming USA 34-0 in the opening tournament in Dubai.

Dubai, UAE —

Last year's world champion South Africa started this season as they ended the last. The Blitzboks saw off New Zealand 24-12 in the UAE to win the first piece of silverware up for grabs in the men's competition.

Rugby Sevens World Series: Story of the season

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It took the best part of two decades for Russia to get its women’s sevens program up and running; things haven’t always been easy.

“At the very beginning when we were setting up our women’s team, it was really very difficult because we didn’t show any significant results,” Pavel Baranovosky, a former player for the Russian national side and now a development coach, tells CNN World Rugby.

“Today in Russia, there is a system where you can only get financial support as soon as you start winning.”

In the early days, 70% of women’s team were drawn from other sports like athletics and handball. Baranovosky’s task, he says, was to “transform them from individual athletes into team players” as quickly as possible.

One such example is Elena Zdrokova, who bagged 18 World Series tries last season, seven of those coming in the opening tournament in Dubai.

Zdrokova makes a break against England during the World Rugby Sevens Series clash in Kitakyushu, Japan, last year.

READ: South Africa and Australia clinch overall championships in Paris

Her introduction to rugby came about by chance, but now she holds rank as one of the sport’s best attacking players.

“At school, I was a ballet dancer up until I was 17 years old, and then I became a sprinter,” says Zdrokova.

“I was noticed by a coach and for several years I continued training as a runner. I started playing rugby only four years ago when I was invited into the Krasnoyarski team called Enisei STM. One of my former players recommended me as a player.”

World Cup chances

It still remains to be seen whether Russia will truly take to rugby sevens and join the world’s elite teams – the likes of New Zealand, Australia, and England.

The 2013 Sevens World Cup was hosted in Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium, incidentally the same site as Russia’s recent footballing victories – a 5-0 thumping of Saudi Arabia and shock defeat of Spain.

Five years ago, however, the stadium was not so raucous, with the 81,000-seat venue barely at a quarter of its capacity for the Sevens showpiece.

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Published 6:00 AM EDT, Thu July 5, 2018

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World Rugby Sevens series wrap

23:14 - Source: CNN

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The men’s team has found things more difficult than its female counterparts, picking up just 26 points from all 10 World Series tournaments this season, which concluded in May this year.

Neither side will be talked about as favorites for the World Cup on America’s West Coast. Those privileges are reserved for the likes of Fiji and South Africa on the men’s side and Australia and New Zealand – the only two previous champions – on the women’s.

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But given Russia’s current record in a different World Cup, who knows? Hot on the heels of the football team’s success, perhaps the rugby sevens teams can find inspiration.