Coach of RC "Olymp" about the prospects of rugby in Ukraine

Providing Rugby Federation of Ukraine (FRU) the status of the national one opens broad prospects for development of this sport in the country

This was stated in an interview with UNIAN by former coach of Ukrainian rugby national team, head coach of Kharkiv Rugby Club "Olymp" Valeriy Kochanov commenting on official announcement about Rugby Federation Ukraine national status.

"We have been waiting for this for 20 years, and it is difficult to overestimate the importance of this event," - said V.Kochanov.

"First of all, - he said - it opens up broad prospects of development, growth and mass popularity of this sport in Ukraine."

However, with the inclusion of rugby-7 to Olympic sports, the coach said, "we find ourselves in the "Olympic family" and actively participate in competition for participation in Olympic Games which will be held in Rio de Janeiro in 2016." But "that's very important," said V.Kochanov, "funding is expected, ie strengthening the material base for the development of rugby, the creation of new rugby clubs the sport coming to youth and students."

According to V.Kochanov, in recent years, rugby has developed in Ukraine, "now our team is in top-12 best teams in Europe, but the presence of only a few truly powerful centers of rugby, particularly in Kharkiv and Odessa, significantly slowed this process down."

"Today, we have entered a new stage, and hopefully soon it will bring results," - said V.Kochanov.

As UNIAN reported earlier, the Federation of Rugby Ukraine gained national status. This was announced at a meeting of the Presidium of FRU.

UNIAN info. Rugby Federation of Ukraine (FRU) was founded in 1991, the federation include regional federations of Crimea, Kyiv and Sevastopol, Odessa, Kharkiv, Donetsk, Lviv, Khmelnytsky, Rivne, Ivano-Frankivsk, Ternopil, Dnipropetrovsk and Kyiv regions. FRU unites more than 5,000 athletes of all ages.

Championship and the Cup of Ukraine on rugby-15 among adults (super, senior and first leagues) championship of Ukraine on rugby-7, and the championships of Ukraine on rugby-15 and rugby-7 among young boys and juniors. The national rugb-15 y team of the country plays in the division "1B" of European Nations Cup, the national team of Ukraine on rugby-7 is in top-12 best teams in Europe. National team of Ukraine on rugby-7 among women was also included in the top-12 of best teams of the continent.

Спонсором РК «Олімп» виступає президент групи DCH, харківський бізнесмен Олександр Ярославський.

Valeriy Kochanov, honored coach of Ukraine, in 2009-2012 led Ukraine national rugby-7 team, head coach of Kharkiv "Olymp" - 8-time champion of Ukraine, 5-time winner of the Cup of Ukraine. Today RC "Olymp" is the basis of the national team of Ukraine.

The sponsor RC "Olymp" is the president of DCH, Kharkiv businessman Aleksander Yaroslavskiy.

UNIAN, Kharkiv