Greg Jeloudev: If I were offered to play for Russia, I would respectfully decline the offer

In 2011, Russia studiously disproves the myth that rugby is a foreign game for it. Vyacheslav Grachev and Kirill Kulemin have established themselves in the French championship. The national team is preparing for its World Cup debut, Vasily Artemiev and Andrey Ostrikov are getting ready for their first game in the English Premiership, while Greg Jeloudev, a Russian by birth, has already debuted for the Australia national rugby sevens team. Soon there will come a day when he will play for the national rugby XV team.

I have Russian blood. But I do not feel myself a Russian. My parents, as well as I, were born in Australia. I don’t remember a single word in Russian and hardly understand even the most basic phrases, I haven’t heard any Russian folktales, though I went to a Russian school until I was ten.

My family’s links with Russia broke off three generations ago. My great-grandmother and great-grandfather emigrated to China to find themselves in Australia eventually.

I am Orthodox. We celebrate Christmas and Easter with our whole family, like Christians normally do. We like to gather at a big table. My mother and grandmother are very good at cooking and often treat us to some extremely tasty pelmeni. I believe they know thousands of Russian recipes.

My name never seems strange to anyone in Australia. ‘I live in a multinational country where people are very accepting of different origins.

I have two brothers. The younger one, Lawrence, is still at high school, while the elder one, Adrian, has a degree in marine biology, used to play rugby successfully, but did not turn professional. He chose another way.

I started to play rugby at the King’s School and now I’m playing for the University of Sydney. It’s my second season in the team, which has won the Shute Shield for the first time in six years.

At the same time I also study humanities and natural sciences at the University. I want to be a versatile person. The system of studies allows me to choose the schedule for my subjects. It is convenient considering my frequent travels.

Greg Jeloudev, an alumni of the King’s School, student at the University of Sydney.

I’m lucky to have travelled to many countries. I’ve been to England, Scotland, Ireland, France, New Zealand, Argentina, China, USA, South Africa, and United Arab Emirates. I liked all of them very much, but New Zealand surprised me the most. I would like to go there with all my family and spend some good time.

And, of course, I would like to see Russia very much, at least once. Quite probably, this dream will come true in two years, when Moscow will host the Rugby World Cup Sevens. If all goes well and I’m included in the team, I will take my parents with myself. They know where our relatives live in Russia.

Making it into the Australian rugby sevens national team is very difficult. The selection in made in special training camps, where only the strongest and the toughest remain after exhausting physical tests. Of course, I’m proud to be included into the team. I have got my own trump cards: I am physically strong, I can handle the ball at a high speed, and I make my decisions quickly. But I don’t stop at what has been accomplished, cause I have to progress in many respects.

My main dream is to play for the Wallabies one fine day. It’s the goal for every professional Australian rugby player. However, you should move towards it step by step. Now I play rugby sevens and wait for my chance to come.

If I were offered to play for Russia at the World Cup, I would respectfully decline the offer. I have a big respect for the Russian team, but to play the best rugby is more important for me. All my thoughts are with the Australian rugby sevens team and the University of Sydney team (15-a-side code). I am proud of my Russian ancestry, but I’m an Australian for all that.

I wish success to the Russian team at their debut World Cup. I have never seen their team in rugby union, but managed to watch the sevens play in Hong Kong. Russia have reached the quarterfinals and were a serious threat for the leaders. The Russian sportsmen are athletic, physically strong, and close-knit amongst themselves.

I’m not going to New Zealand for the 2011 World Cup – even as a spectator. The University of Sydney team has some important games in September and October.

Greg Jeloudev with his brothers – Lawrence (center) and Adrian (right)

I adore fishing! It’s even more than just a hobby. When I was a child I often went fishing with my uncles. They used to sit beside the fire, sing Russian songs, and drink a little bit of vodka. Now we go fising with my father and brothers in a completely non-Russian style. We do not sing songs, we enjoy talking to each other, we can toss off a bottle of beer or two, but it’s fishing itself that we enjoy the most.

Australia has a lot of places abounding in fish, like the lakes and the ocean. You can catch a large trout almost everywhere. It’s my favourite fish! Last weekend we hooked a big fish that weighed 4.4 pounds.

To tell the truth, I can hardly keep a watch on the Australian news. The only thing I know about today’s Russia is that Dmitry Medvedev is its president.

by Pavel Kopachev, Daria Panova

Sports.ru personal file

Greg JELOUDEV

Born on March 24, 1990 in Sydney, Australia. Height: 179 cm. Weight: 87 kg. Graduated from the King’s School whose other alumni are well-known Australian rugby players Dean Mumm, Benn Robinson, and Stirling Mortlock. Currently studies humanities and natural sciences at the University of Sydney.

Silver medal winner of the Junior World Championship (U-20), participant of the rugby Sevens World Series, winner of Shute Shield with the University of Sydney.

Former 100m sprint champion in Sydney’s GPS Schools tournament. Personal record: 10.91 sec.

Greg Jeloudev is one of the best Australian 100m runners.

Images: from Greg Jeloudev’s personal archive.