2008 RLWC PRELIMINARY QUALIFIER
Holland and Russia were the first to set off on the road to Australia and the 2008 Rugby League World Cup 2008. The experienced Russian side, with its core of Lokomotiv Moscow players, travelled to Den Haag to play a Dutch side that was competing in its first official tournament.

The Bears were led by a four-try performance from their hooker, Denis Korolev, who bagged his hat-trick in half an hour. Russia led 26-10 at the interval, with the hosts two tries coming from Coventry Bears back row James Howitt. Russia did enough to keep the score ticking over, while Holland’s captain, the Huddersfield Underbank halfback Aaron de Jagger, pinched a last minute consolation.

NETHERLAND
Rudy Stanford Smyth, Jammie Groeneweg, Joel Barrett, Ronald Van Den Broek, Kees Foxon, Jorik Moree, Aaron de Jagger, Phil Parkinson, Chris Hodgett, Bevan Williamson, James Howitt. Subs: Jason Brygroms, Raymond den Engelsman, Johnny Qua, Sjorte Neiboer, Pieter Van Der Hast, Benjamin Blom

RUSSIA
Dumalkin Andrey, Nechaev Viktor, Ovchinnikov Roman, Baskakov Valentin, Gvozdev Yan, Grigoryan Artem, Dobrynin Sergey, Zagoskin Nikolay, Korolev Denis, Vinogradov Georgy, Koltykhov Andrey, Fedchuk Vadim, Iliassov Robert. Subs: Safiullin Adel, Smirnov Oleg, Vlasyuk Vladimir, Bychkov Sergey