Russia wants to be rugby superpower

Moscow, May 13 (IANS) Russia is well on the way to becoming a rugby superpower, the country's rugby union chief has said.

"We have made real progress in recent years and Rugby World Cup (RWC) Sevens 2013 will be the next step along the way to Russia becoming a rugby superpower," Vyacheslav Kopiev was quoted as saying by Xinhua.

"Indeed, our national team's performances at the recent RWC in New Zealand showed the world how far we have already come along the way," he added.

Russia is not known as a rugby-playing nation. The country's rugby players first participated in the Rugby World Cup in 2011, but they lost all the games in the championship held in New Zealand.

Meanwhile, Kopiev also announced that the Rugby World Cup Sevens 2013 will take place from June 28 to 30 in Moscow next year. A total of 24 men's teams and 16 women's teams are expected to compete.

In May 2010, the International Rugby Board Council awarded the world cup to Russia, saying that it was optimistic that the event would attract thousands of visiting fans from all around the world.