SWITZERLAND AND ARMENIA MEET IN FRANCE

Planet Rugby, UK
Sept 27 2006

FIRA Championship starts

The FIRA-AER Championship starts with a Division 3A match between
Armenia and Switzerland in Vienne, France.

It is actually an Armenian home match, but because most of their
players are Armenians of the diaspora and play in France the match
is just down the Rhône in the ancient town of Vienne.

Armenia was part of the USSR and then rugby flourished because of
government functions, such as the army and the police. Since Armenia
has obtained independence from Russia rugby has declined to a degree
but the Federation has gone to lengths to find players of Armenian
origin to play for the national side, and the plan has worked.

In 2004, Armenia played its first Tests – in FIRA’s Division 3C and
easily beat Norway and Israel to gain promotion, by beating Luxembourg
easily, to Division 3B where, in 2005, Armenia easily beat Bulgaria,
Hungary, Slovenia and Lithuania. Now it is kin Division 3 A along
with Switzerland, Serbia & Montenegro, Denmark and Sweden.

The competition will again be played over two years. The team ending
top will go to Division 2B, the team ending fifth to Division 3B.

Both Armenia and Switzerland would have ambitions. The first part of
the competition will run till the first week of November after which
there will be a break till March while rugby hibernates.

Switzerland’s coach Patrice Philippe has named his 23-strong squad
to play Armenia. He has included 20 of the squad which lost 40-10 to
Germany a fortnight ago, brining in three players who play their rugby
in France – Pierre Dubost, Mathieu Guyou-Kreis and Nicolas Guyou. The
flyhalf against Germany, Ian Mowat, is away at the European Under-20
tournament in Poland.

Switzerland have prepared well but they know Armenia will not be easy
pickings at all.

Swiss squad:

Forwards: Schelte Betten (Zurich), Alfredo Burgener (Nyon), David Da
Silva (Neuchâtel), Pierre Dubost (Champery), Yohann Mazza (Hermance),
Pedro Dubois (Nyon), Steven Lazarus (Basel), Sergio Hosel (Zurich),
Nicholas Guyou (Rumilly), Urs Zimmerli (Zurich), Gareth Jones (Nyon),
David Mossiere (Geneva), Arnaud Vincent (La Seyne)

Backs: Geoff Johnson (Hermance), Anthony Carriere (Geneva), Iain Wise
(Hermence), Jean-Claude Porte (Nyon), Mathieu Guyou-Kreis (Racing),
Celien Mundler (Geneve), Arnaud Blaszczyk (Geneve), Alberto Giuliani
(Ticino), Benjamin Faudot, Olivier Dumerliat (Hermance)

Kick-off: 15.00 Referee: Akim Hadj Bachir (France).

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