Vereya crowned champions of expanded Russian competition

Bears RLFC, a club from the Russian rugby league stronghold of Vereya, are the new champions of the Russian rugby league competiiton.

The Bears, whose hometown is some 80 kilometres south of Moscow, beat Moscow Magicians 28-24 in the final, taking the trophy they last won in 2013.

The final two teams were drawn from a competition of four conferences, based in Crimea, in the north eastern Russian city of Perm, the southern city of Rostov, and in Moscow.

Four teams competed in the Crimea and the north east, six in Rostov and eight in the strong Moscow regional conference.