The XV of Ukraine will face Croatia in the Rugby Europe Trophy in Zagreb this Saturday.
One year to the day after their last match, a 39-37 victory against Lithuania, the Ukrainian team will turn back the rugby pitches. The country, affected by the war since February 24, will face Croatia, in Zagreb, as part of the Rugby Europe Trophy.
«We will go with a less complete squad as the majority of our experienced players are in the military or fighting on the front line, explains Iwan Rewko, representative of Ukraine in the United Kingdom. The team we take is young and inexperienced, but they will play with fire in their hearts and do the best they can on that day..»
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«As some of these players are over 18, we had to obtain permission from the President’s office for them to leave the country and represent their country. He is a sports enthusiast and he thinks it is a very good thing that Ukrainian teams – be it rugby, volleyball, basketball or whatever – show that Ukraine is still a country and that it is present all over the world giving the best of itself.»
A match “strong in emotions”, during which the players will have a thought for the “heroes fallen in combat”, like the former captain of Ukraine, Oleksi Tsibko, killed in action last April. “Everyone wants to fight for their country – whether in the army or on the rugby pitch. We really want to show that we have a big heart and that we will fightassured Iwan Rewko.