The European Championship in the Olympic discipline of Rugby 7 will be held from 21st to 23rd od july, in Poland, Zabka, near Warsaw. In addition to 13 players, the Serbian expedition includes head coach Aleksandar Nedeljković, coach Radivoje Ćosić, team manager Marko Žeravica and doctor Maja Veselinović.
Serbia is in a very difficult group where they will meet Romania, Austria, Latvia and Moldova. Clarification related to the competition system, as well as the schedule of matches of Serbia, can be found on the page of our website. You can follow the complete competition on the website of the European Rugby Federation.
Game schedule
How you can watch live matches
The European Rugby Federation broadcasts live all the matches and tournaments it organizes. We recommend that you subscribe to the YouTube channel of the European Federation where you will find links to live broadcasts of all competition days.
It is also possible to follow the matches in direct broadcast and through the website of the European Rugby Federation, in order to be able to do this, it is necessary to register and log in after registration.
Players who will perform at the European Championship:
1. Ognjen Siljanovski
Position: Scrum
YOB: 2006.
Club: RK Rad
Comparason: Lodewyk de Jager
Very mobile scrum player, explosive, quick, with exceptional timing in support. He has a very good technique in contact, it is very difficult to knock him down, on every occasion, when the situation allows, he offers an offload. He is able to control and perform a quick ruck, which is completed in three seconds, which is an extremely strong pace. An excellent defensive player, he is particularly effective on the break down as well as playing in and around the ruck. It can be a powerful weapon in 7s rugby. A disciplined player who likes responsibility in making decisions and who above all likes to compete.
2. Igor Gajić
Position: Backs
YOB: 2006.
Club: RK Rad
Comparason: Johnny Wilkinson
A playmaker who reads the game very well in attack and defense. High rugby intelligence that can be seen in the decisions he makes on the field. A player who can do it all on the field, who can cover almost every position in the 7s rugby format. He is not so fast and explosive as he positions himself well and anticipates the moves of teammates and opponents. In support, he is by far the most dangerous when he breaks through the opponent’s defense line from the second plan. Even when he is on a full run, he is always aware of where his players are on the field. An excellent striker, he has a very good technique in contact.
3. Dragan Kokanović
Position: Backs
YOB: 2005.
Club: BRK Crvena Zvezda
Comparason: Robbie Henshaw
Fantastic penetration player, who can really use his speed, explosiveness and physicality in the right way. Although he belongs to the U18 national team, he has considerable experience playing senior rugby. When we add to that many years of experience in junior teams, we get a complete player, whose threshold for advancement is still extremely high. He positions himself well and moves very well with and without the ball. In attack, he has a wide range of attacking options, from penetration to tactical shooting. He is excellent in the air, where his height comes to the fore.
4. Dušan Jovanović
Position: Scrum
YOB: 2005.
Club: RK Rad
Comparason: Joe Moody
A modern and mobile proop that deservedly made it onto the list of travelers to Poland. It’s not common to see prop in 7s rugby team formations. Dušan is a player who has a lot of experience playing in youth rugby, starting this season he started gaining experience in senior rugby as well. Defensive force, especially in tackles, assists the tackler and in the ruck. An excellent breakdown player who will force opponents to use more and more players to secure the ruck. Positions himself well, is a determined ball carrier and a very penetrating player.
5. Matija Pelva
Position: Backs
YOB: 2005.
Club: RK Rad
Comparison: Will Jordan
Explosive and lightning fast player, who is very difficult to stop when he gets the ball in space and at full speed. He has excellent technique, reads the game very well and finds space in the opponent’s defense. He changes direction very quickly, so it is very difficult to catch him when he breaks through the defensive line. Defensively, he is an excellent tackler who excels in all kinds of tackles, when the opponent breaks through the defense line, Matija stops him. He excels an airial play, where he can control the opposition’s kicking attacks. He also has a very good tactical kick.
6. Filip Vidaković
Position: Backs
YOB: 2006.
Club: RK Rad
Comparason: Jonathan Davies
Philip can cover both scrum and line positions equally well in 7s rugby. A modern player in the central position who is decorated with speed, explosiveness and great penetration in contact. He knows very well how to use all his strengths and bind several players who have to stop him, which gives the rest of the team a huge advantage and huge space. He has excellent technique. Defensively, he is equally effective, especially in tackles and breakdowns. Excellent positioning on both sides of the field.
7. Pavle Pelva
Position: Backs
YOB: 2007.
Club: RK Rad
Comparason: Brian O’Driscoll
The Pelva family can be very proud of their sons who will represent Serbia at the European Championship. Although Pavle is in class 2007 ,he is a generational talent who has well earned his place among the travelers for Zabka. He is a player who does technical things at full speed that others cannot while trotting. High pace player on both sides of the pitch. Unbelievable speed, even better reading of the game which ultimately reflects on making always good decisions on the field. An excellent defensive player. Legend said, it that you can pass one Pelva on the field, but not two.
8. Milan Vesković
Position: Backs
YOB: 2006.
Club: RK Rad
Comparason: Thomas Ramos
Playmaker and one of the main creative executors of the game plan set by the coaching team. Great game overview and great hand play. When you add to that explosiveness, agility, speed and reading the opposing defense, then you get a player who plays at a high tempo. He has a very good and accurate shot, both from penalties and tries conversions, as well as a tactical kicks in the game, which he knows how to use very well. Very communicative and one of the leaders on the field. Excellent in defense, especially in tackles. He loves situations that give rise to counterattacks with a high execution rate.
9. Lazar Jelisavčić
Position: Scrum
YOB: 2006.
Club: BRK Crvena Zvezda
Comparason: Paul Willmese
A very steady, stable and strong player who knows how to use his physical predispositions and be very effective in penetrations. He positions himself well and knows how to recognize and take advantage of the situation when there is a smaller defensive player in front of him. He has an excellent technique and very often passes the offload to the player who comes in support. An excellent support player who can follow the action and game plan very well. A solid defensive player who is good at tackling as well as defending space.
10. Vuk Simić
Position: Scrum
YOB: 2006.
Club: RK Rad
Comparason: Maro Itoje
The archetype of the modern scrum player. Very fast, explosive, with pronounced physical predispositions, quickly changes direction, extremely strong and durable in contact. When he gets into contact, he always wins a few extra meters thanks to his excellent footwork. When he has the opportunity, he offers offloud. In the ruck, everything works at a high pace, starting from the quick presentation, to cleaning and securing the ruck. Excellent defensive player, excellent tackler. He excels in defensive support and breakdown. An excellent defender in the ruck, a nightmare for opposition support.
11. Strahinja Glišić
Position: Backs
YOB: 2006.
Club: RK Rad
Comparason: George North
Universalist and man of the task. A real treasure for any coach is when he has a player like this in his team. He successfully realizes every challenge that is put in front of him. He is very fast and explosive, he has a very good technique. He uses space in the opponent’s defense in penetrations, but he knows how to create space for his teammates. He changes direction quickly, uses a sidestep and a buffer in penetrations. Defensiveness is perhaps even a strong point. Very good tackler. He positions himself well and plays without the ball. He covers the space well in the depth of the field and defends the opponent’s shots.
12. Matej Petrović
Position: Scrum
YOB: 2006.
Club: RK Rad
Comparason: Tadhg Beirne
Definitely one of the fastest scrum players in the junior categories. He has excellent physical predispositions, especially for 7s rugby. When he gets a chance in space to break into a sprint, hardly anyone can stop him. It is an excellent option for statics, especially out. Very penetrating and strong in contact. Excellent support player. Very good in defensive tasks, especially if he has to defend a slightly larger area. Great tackler. A player who plays at a high tempo and can follow a demanding game plan.
13. Aleksa Milanković
Position: Scrum
YOB: 2007.
Club: RK Rad
Comparason: Bakkies Botha
A very young player who deservedly fought for a place in the team. Very brave and combative and aggressive on the field. Excellent defensively, with a special emphasis on tackling and playing around the ruck. Very lethal on the breakdown, where he had a high number of steals in domestic contests. In attack, he is a sure ball carrier and a very penetrating player. He has excellent physical predispositions that allow him to be effective on the field. He loves counter-attacking situations on the pitch, where he excels and can be very effective.
