#TeamSEM in Moscow - Matteo

TeamSEM in Moscow – Day 1

It was an early start for TeamSEM students on our first day in Moscow. We slept no more than 5-6 hours but we were all (some more than others) ready to start our adventure in Russia working in the Rugby Sevens World Cup. Obviously wearing our TeamSEM branded clothing.

The planned schedule today was to visit the area of the location where the players will fight for the title of the best National Rugby Sevens team in the world: the Luzhniki Stadium.

We all had the accreditation at the start of the day and they gave us the red uniforms to wear during our work time. The sun was shining over Moscow and we had a walk to go and visit the rugby pitch where the female National Teams will play in the next few days. The stadium was not too big, but looked very nice and we took some group pictures that would make the whole department of SEM proud!

Coming back we had the opportunity to see the players from the USA National Team and the Springboks training on the pitches surrounding the area of the main stadium. It was impressive to see those players close up and hearing them motivate each other to work better as a team.

After no dinner the day before and a small breakfast we really needed to have a proper lunch today and most of us decided to try some Russian meals and to drink a fantastic and fresh strawberry juice called ‘Компот’ (highly recommended!).

Even if we haven’t really worked, we decided to come back to our accommodation and relax due to the tiredness of the day before, we need to restore all our energy to give the best for this world tournament!

Once we have seen our ‘workplace’ we cannot wait to start!

Day 2

Today was first day of work for some of the students. Most of the TeamSEM has been involved in a photo shoot in the Red Square. But not me, I was picked to do medical service with the students from Sports Therapy.

We had a free morning that I spent sleeping and started our shift at 2pm at the Luzhniki Sport Complex. Here we had the amazing opportunity to watch some players and the coach of the New Zealand’s All Blacks, practising ahead of the rugby sevens. Luckily, during our time on the training pitches there were no injuries and so not much to do.  So we spent our time talking with a doctor from Georgia and watching the national teams training for the tournament.

We have seen the players from the women’s teams of Tunisia, Ireland, South Africa and Spain and the men’s teams of Tonga (funny guys), Japan and Australia working hard to be in the perfect shape the day of their debut.

Me and Edoardo talked a lot with  Spain’s management about rugby in Italy and about football, seen that Italy will face Spain on Thursday for the Confederations Cup semi-final!

Moreover we had a surprise, one of the Wallabies’ staff members, the coaching coordinator and former captain of Australia Sevens Tim Walsh, finished his career playing for Petrarca Padova and so we had fun speaking Italian with him. What a legend!

Tomorrow I’ll be again on the pitches of the Sport Complex hoping to make other experiences!

Day 3

There is only one day left before the beginning of the 2013 Rugby World Cup Sevens.

All the teams were focused on the training grounds where I was working in the morning.

Today I've seen for the first time the England men national team. They looked confident and ready for their debut.  I watched the training of New Zealand’s All Blacks women’s team in their maroon shirts, the USA and Canadians women’s teams , Samoa men’s team and Fiji (both men’s and women’s teams).

But the team that impressed me the most were the Argentineans. Me and my friend Edoardo met the head coach Andres Romagnoli (who played also in Italy) when he was unable to find the pitch where his team had to train. He invited us to their training ground where the atmosphere was very friendly and all the players looked relaxed. They were making lots of jokes and having fun before and during the training session. I think this is how sport should be, even at the highest level and the day before a world cup.

At 2pm I finished my shift and due to the high temperature (the hottest day in Russia for the last 100 years!) I went to relax in Gorki Park with other SEM students. Here I met some members of the Australian women’s team that told me they will try to do their best to win the trophy and suggested to bet on their team!

Want some tips for betting on RWC7s? In the female tournament New Zealand and England are the favourites and probably the winner would be one of these two.

In the male tournament New Zealand’s All Blacks will have a great contender in the Australian team.

Day 4

Today was the day of the tournament. Finally the Rugby World Cup Sevens begun! The Coventry University students were all excited about starting their jobs at Luzhniki Stadium.

For the first time in my life I watched a rugby sevens match and I loved it. I am not a rugby lover, and even if my brother plays rugby in Italy, I do not usually watch it.

But rugby sevens is different; faster, more exciting and last less than 20 minutes per match. I really enjoyed it!

I also watched the Opening Ceremony that consisted of dance performances, presentation of the teams and speeches from authorities.

Day 5

It was the second day of the tournament. Today the men’s teams had their 2^nd and 3^rd match and the women’s teams had their debut. Watching the women play I realised that they are amazing athletes!

After I spent the first half of the day at the small arena watching the women, I started my new job helping with Anti-Doping. For this role I had to watch the matches and stay with the players randomly chosen to take the test till they completed the procedure. I had the opportunity to talk with players and go in the players’ village and in the changing rooms! One of the players I had to look after was a Spanish guy and we talked a lot even if he was not in the mood after the defeat against Tunisia.

As I did yesterday I enjoyed the matches and now I cannot wait to see who is going to be the new world champion!

Day 6

Last day of the World Cup, last day of work in Russia. My job in the anti-doping department allowed me to enjoy all the matches at Luzhniki stadium. It was really emotional to see the faces of the players once they lost a match and to see the smiles of the players when they have won a match,  hugging their friends or parents who were in Moscow to support them.

After having hot and sunny weather for the whole week, during the men’s semi-finals thunder storms brought rain and some fresh air (and stopped the competition for 45 minutes)

In the women’s tournament, the USA won the bronze medal after beating Spain 10-5 and New Zealand won the final against Canada 29-15 showing their superiority on the pitch.

In the men’s tournament semi-finals Fiji lost against New Zealand’s All Blacks and Kenya was beaten by England due to the wet pitch.

This resulted in New Zealand and England competing in the final, England was dominated by New Zealand who scored 33 points and the English team unable to score.

An historical double for the All Blacks, where both the men’s and women’s team were world champions in both tournaments! After the ceremony both teams finally did the Haka, the moment we were all waiting for! Incredible!

The player chosen for the anti-doping control was Gillies Kaka (also nominated best player of the tournament) and so I had the chance to spend some time with him and the team, even in the changing room where all the players were dancing and singing. I had lots of fun with them! I couldn’t ask more from that experience than to have fun with the world champions!

This week has been a fantastic and I will never forget it, as nobody involved in the world cup would ever forget the work done by TeamSEM from Coventry University!