‘Devastated’ SA coaches left in the cold after Russia’s World Rugby ban

Earlier this week, World Rugby confirmed they had taken action in condemnation of Russia’s aggressive invasion of Ukraine and the facilitation of this action by Belarus. This included banning both from all international rugby and cross-border club rugby activities until further notice, while enforcing the full and immediate suspension of Russia from World Rugby membership until further notice.

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Muir, who served served as an assistant Bok coach to Peter de Villiers from 2008 to 2011 and rose to prominence as a coach when he led the Sharks to the 2007 Super Rugby final, had only recently been appointed as Russia’s new head coach.

He had been joined by former Sharks assistant Grant Bashford, and the duo were were coaching the Russian national rugby team in Turkey as they prepared for a clash against Georgia when the ban from World Rugby was handed down.

According to Independent Media, an incredible case of irony saw the Ukraine and Russian rugby teams sharing a training facility in Turkey when the war broke out.

“I’m devastated,” Muir told Independent Media. “We were about to play a string of matches in the Rugby Europe Championship (the second division behind the Six Nations).

“We were holding out hope that some kind of agreement could keep us playing but that hasn’t happened. It is a massive disappointment for the Russian players as they have put so much effort into changing how they play. They responded really well to what we have been teaching them and there was a genuine belief that we could beat Georgia for the first time in 29 years.

“A lot of people don’t understand what this war is about,” he added. “It is a political thing, it is not about ordinary people. There are families split across both countries.

“At our training facility in Turkey, we had Turkish, Ukrainian and Russian teams and there was no animosity between the countries — everybody got on. We shared a dining hall with the Ukraine players and it was just a hall full of rugby players enjoying themselves.”

During his playing days, Muir featured in 148 matches for Natal between 1988 and 1996 as well as five Tests for South Africa.

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THE SANCTIONS HANDED DOWN BY WORLD RUGBY ARE AS FOLLOWS:

• The full and immediate suspension of Russia and Belarus from all international rugby and cross-border club rugby activities until further notice
• The full and immediate suspension of the Rugby Union of Russia from World Rugby membership until further notice

The decision has been taken with the interests of rugby’s values of solidarity, integrity and respect at heart.

The rugby governing body also remains in contact with colleagues at the Ukraine Rugby Federation and has pledged its full support to the rugby community in the country.