EPCR’s decision to trim the fat in the Challenge Cup has left academy players’ chances of debuting in it looking as distant as the former long plane journeys to Russia or Romania to play Enisei-STM or Timisoara Saracens.
With teams qualifying from only the Premiership, Top 14 and United Rugby Championship, Enisei’s Kuban Stadium is no longer on the route, but it was where Worcester centre Oli Morris marked his first outing in professional rugby in November 2019.
The trip to Krasnodar was often a logistical nightmare for teams drawn against the club from bear country. Fortunately, the team...