TEST RUGBY FRIENDLY MATCH: Turkey’s First Test

29.04.2012
Turkey v Slovakia in Bratislava (Friendly)

Venue:

Referee:

Preview
It is a grand occasion when a nation first steps into the international test rugby scene. Today Turkey will begin their great adventure. They will play another rugby test match on 12 May against Estonia. Both Estonia and Turkey will be looking to gain full admission to FIRA-AER and begin playing in the European Nations Cup competition.

Rugby has been established in Turkey for some time. They have a healthy 13 team club competition, divided into two divisions.

Slovakia is itself a relative newcomer to the international test rugby scene. Their main local club, RC Slovan Bratislava, competes in the Czech Republic club competition. At present they are doing well in the middle of the top league. A number of the Slovakian squad play for Czech teams in the club competition.

Slovakia played their first rugby test match in 2006 and now competes in European Nations Cup Division 3. That competition has concluded. It took place in Bosnia Herzegovina in October last year where Slovakia lost in the only test (Azerbaijan pulling out) 15-48.

Looking at the makeup of both sides Turkey has been able to call upon a number of players based in France and England. They have lost key lock forward Nejmi Kara but I feel Turkey will just that much more speed and finish than the Slovakians.

Prediction: Turkey by 12 points

Teams

Slovakia Squad
Forwards
Štefl Martin (RC PRAGA CZ) , Klimiashvili Giorgi (RC Slovan), Mihálik Michal (RC Slovan), Grunner Patrik (RC Slovan) , Vereš Ludovít (RC Slovan), Mihalka Martin (RC Slovan), Gregorovic Boris (RC Spartak) , Capkovic Ladislav (RC Spartak), Pfeifer Ján (RC Praga), Rabara Andrej (RC Slovan), Mihálik Martin (RC Slovan), Fric Michal (RC Rental.cz)

Backs
Daniel Puha (RC Slovan), Kucera Michal (RC Slovan), Hybben Branislav (RC Slovan), Loch Patrik (RC Ravens Košice), Fišer Jozef (RC Praga CZ), Janžo Martin (RC Slovan), Kozubík Peter (RC Rental.cz) Fialka Radek (RC Vyškov CZ), Želinský Tomáš (RC Ravens Košice), Kozubík Pavol (RC Rental.cz), Mana Marcel (RC Olomouc CZ)

Turkey

15		Tamer James	Wessex RFC, England
14		Erkut Durmuş	Heidelberger RK, Germany
13		Abdullah Güneş	METU
12		Kerim Galal	SC Germania, Germany
11		Adem Selim	Samsung RK
10		Ali Sürer	TB Rohrbach/Boxberg, Germany
9		Rama Kılıçkaya	Vichy, France
8		Deniz Krom	Kadıköy RK - Istanbul
7		Melik Kuzucu (Capt.)	Orleans, France
6		Ertuğrul Günday	METU
5		Attila Demir	Puy Guillame, France
4		Mehmet Akif Ersoy	Trakya Üniversitesi Ragbi - Edirne
3		Hüseyin Şaşmaz	Oyonnax, France
2		Bahri Dağlı	Goussainville-Gonesse, France
1		Gökhan Ceylan	Pontarlier, France
16		Dinçhan Kilercioğlu	METU
17		Yavuz Kocaer	Samsung RK
18		Doğu Eroğlu	Mutzig, France
19		Kemal Ege Gürkan	METU
20		Selçuk Kozlu	Samsung RK
21		Murat Altun	Mutzig, France
22		Koray Kaya	Samsung RK
		COACH: Niall Doherty