The Ukrainian Rugby League Federation (UFRL) has announced a 20-man squad for the opening fixture of the 2013 RLEF European Bowl against Norway in Kharkov on 6th July. Fresh from their historic 26-22 victory over BARLA Young Lions, Artur Martyrosyan’s men will be full of confidence.
They are led by the outstanding player in that match fullback Volodymyr Mashkin, while captain Oleksandr Skorbach will marshal the side from his stand-off position. Up front, the Ukrainians will be spearheaded by Sergii Kravchenko and powerful prop Maksym Miroshnichenko, part of an 11-strong contingent from the Ukrainian champions Legion XIII.
Ukrainian teams have regularly been noted for their peak physical condition and four players - Urii Smolii, Oleksandr Kozak, Mykhailo Troyan and Bogdan Vepryk – hail from an athletics or fitness background, while Donbass Tiger Anatolii Egorov, formerly with Donetsk football club, will add to the squad’s rugged edge.
UKRAINE 20-MAN SQUAD
Pavlo Kardakov, Oleksandr Korobov, Sergii Kravchenko, Maksym Miroshnichenko, Oleksandr Kozak, Sergii Romanko, Oleksandr Skorbach, Urii Smolii, Vadym Tolstoi, Mykhailo Troyan, Volodymyr Mashkin (Legion XIII, Kharkiv), Artem Bespalchenko, Vitalii Felko, Bogdan Vepryk (Storm, Kharkiv), Anatolii Egorov, Volobymyr Lysenko, Volodymyr Mazepa, Danyl Pozhidaev (Donbass Tigers, Donetsk), Roman Shashkov, Igor Urkin (Typhoon, Krasnoarmiysk)