Pavel Baranovsky – Sevens Coach of the Year 2012
A new team playing a new form of women??s sevens burst onto the scene in 2012, but exciting prospect though they are it was...
Published by John Birch, December 21, 2012
2 minute read
After a difficult start to 2012 where Russia finished a relatively unimpressive seventh at their first IRB Sevens Challenge Cup in Hong Kong, came close to beating the much-fancied Dutch team (who were to go to reach the final). The Dutch had beaten Canada, and went onto beat Australia, but for most of a dramatic game against Russia seemed to have no answer to their physical style of play.
We also met Pavel Baranovsky for the first time. Pavel is a force of nature, passion personified. An incredible personality he is?gloriously entertaining in his own right ?? but very effective with it, constantly encouraging his team and lifting them to new heights.
Russia finished sixth in London ?? but that was just a warm up. In the first round of the European Championship they were fifth, and then in the second leg third (beating France twice), placing them fourth overall ?? above the Dutch.
And this is a team that ??Pasha?? has built himself. The tales about how he trekked into the mountains to find the Khamidova sisters are, apparently, more or less true. In a country with little rugby tradition, and even less money, he is building a team that will be a threat for the best.?