Partizan is a club that is always in the narrowest circle of favorites to win the trophy. So we can expect nothing less in the season that is ahead of us. Last season they finished as runners-up. But from 2018 to 2021, they were the champions of Serbia four times in a row. The current generation has won everything, and we can consider it the golden generation. Although, hand on heart, Partizan had several great generations in its history who had quite a bit of success.
When we look at the history of rugby in this area, we can count on our fingers the clubs that have a huge tradition. Nevertheless, Partizan Rugby Club stands out for its tradition and success. The black and whites are the most successful club in Serbia. Partizan has won a total of 22 Champions League titles, as well as 18 Cups. Since the breakup of Yugoslavia, they have 16 championships and cups in their showcases.
The 90s of the last century and the beginning of a new one in the name of Partizan
Perhaps the most significant title in history is the one from 1988 when Partizan was the best in the huge competition of the former Yugoslavia. That generation continued its streak through the 90s. Only BRK Crvena Zvezda won the title in 1995 . The dominance lasted until 2005 with a two-year break in the period 2000-2022 when Pobednik managed to win the titles. If we only look mathematically in 16 seasons, Partizan has won 13 titles of the Champions of Serbia.
Partizan’s rugby school at the time was one of the best in the region. Numerous generations have grown up in the youth club of the black and whites, where they showed all their potential in the Championship and the Cup, which, after all, the numbers show. Several great generations have grown up and left a deep mark on Serbian rugby.
Partizan's new streak
Partizan once again has a great generation of rugby players who, after a long period of fasting, managed to create a new dynasty and win as many as four titles in a row. Last season, they had two match points against Rad, but they didn’t use them and ended up in second place. This generation hasn’t fully told their story yet, so we expect a lot from them in the coming seasons.
What will the Partizan team look like?
Forwards
Black and white have an extremely strong scrum. During the entire last season, they fought an equal battle with Rad, while they had no problems with the other teams. They have a lot of options in the first line. Miloš Joksimović was perhaps the most consistent option during the last season. He took upon himself a great responsibility in the scrum. Miloš is a product of the former club from Smederevo, RK Iron Fortress, or Steel Fortress. Aleksandar Ljubičić is a pillar who can play at a very high level and who definitely makes a difference on the field. He is very mobile for his size, has excellent hands and is very good in movement without the ball, a player capable of following the game plan.
Although he originally plays in the position of the second line, Đorđe Preradojević played several matches in the post position last season. Even for the Serbian national team. We just remember last spring when he played in the post against Rad and demonstrated a game that we haven’t seen in several years. That the player in the pole position plays as the third line and lasts the whole game. We have written about that match and Djordje’s game several times, so you can freely browse the archive on our website. Slobodan Jovanović, who we have seen in rugby after a few years and who can be a very good option, also played in the pillar position towards the end of the season.
At the point guard position, Partizan has two very good options. The first is Oleg Babkin, an international player from Russia who demonstrated an excellent game last season. Very good in static and open play. Athlete with good hands who likes up tempo. Babkin can also be an option in the pole position if necessary. Although it seems to us that he has always been in rugby, Ivan Spasenović has just entered his best years as an athlete. He is characterized above all by good statics, he is especially good at throwing the ball in the outfield, where he throws extremely accurately, which gives you the possibility for more combinations and options in the outfield.
In the second line, there are plenty of quality options. Here we are thinking first of all about the Serbian national team Đorđe Preradojević and Aleksandar Krstić.We have already said a few words about Đorđe. Aleksandar is a player who is extremely long-lived and has been playing for the Serbian national team for a long time. Regardless of the fact that he is already a de facto veteran, he is decorated with excellent physical preparation and physical strength. That’s why we can see him very often in the third line. When you add to that that he still runs like a young man and is excellent in the open game, you get a player who can be deadly. Former representative of Serbia. Ivan Ničić is another experienced player who can realize the coach’s ideas and play at a high level. In the earlier phase of his career, he also covered the post position, now he mainly plays in the second line. It is similar with Radovan Stanić, who can easily cover the post position in the first line. Mostly, Partizan has quality and experienced poker players in the second line who, if necessary, can play equally well in any number of positions.
In the positions of the third line, the black and whites have a lot of people to play with. Above all, we think of Stefan Đorđević, whose narrower specialty is defense in and around cancer. The former international who played professionally in Romania has just entered his best rugby years and we expect a lot from him in the new season. Stefan can cover all positions in the third line, most often last season he played on the plug. There are several excellent options in the wing positions. One of them is Nikola Nenadović, who is characterized by great endurance and speed. He is able to play the entire match at the same level and at a very high pace. He is graced by his play without the ball. They say that wingers in the third line do everything on the field, and when we say that, we mean Boban Janković, who does everything on the field. You won’t see him pass the ball from behind or run over someone, but you will see him in tackles, rucks and spread defenses. Vukašin Medić always gives his best in every match. Experience and combativeness along with excellent technique and reading of the game always give him an excellent position both in defense and in attack.
Backs
In the position of scrumhalf, Partizan has a very good solution in the form of Borislav Radić. Apart from the fast tempo, Borislav’s main characteristic in attack is putting pressure on the defense in and around the ruck, where he often makes a breakthrough if you leave space. It’s especially interesting how he plays defense, you have a video of the Bulgaria-Serbia match where you can see superb marking and positioning in action. On the flyhalf last year, Patizan had several options. Aleksandar Andrić, who was the best scorer of the Serbian Championship several times, is extremely efficient and aggressive with the ball and creation. He promotes a high level of play, where he has all kinds of tactical shots in his arsenal. It is very difficult for the opposing defense to cope with such players. During the last season, Stefan Nikolić was the main creator of Partizan’s game, who perfectly balances and controls the game. Very often it happens that with a good action he makes a surplus for his teammates from which either space is won or points are scored. Excellent defensive player.
Last season, Partizan was very strong in the central line. Miloš Ljubičić is a player who can play equally well in the center and in the third line. But he is still the most lethal in the center. A very fast and strong player with a quick change of direction that can cause a lot of trouble for the defense. He has an excellent passing technique, he is very good in contact. If we could say that someone has one of the best passing techniques in domestic rugby, Vladimir Dejanović would certainly be in the TOP 5. Excellent in positioning on both sides of the field. He reads the game very well. We can’t imagine what he would look like in full training. Rajko Trifunović is a player who plays in both rugby codes. In rugby league he played in France. At 24, he has yet to enter his prime. He is decorated with excellent reading of the game and the fielding itself. A very creative player who can make something out of nothing.
If you were to ask us who is the biggest danger in Partizan. We would say who from a cannon of wings and fullback. At the back is the experienced Igor Dejanović, who has certainly been synonymous with that position in Serbia for the last ten years. Since he still plays like he is 25, which you could see among other things in the match against Bosnia and Herzegovina when he scored a very effective try. And what can we say about Aljoša Avramović, who can normally cover almost all positions in the line. He does equally well in the position of demi and opener. Although we think he is still most effective on the wing where he can wreak havoc on the opposing defense. Let’s just remember the actions he had with Rajko Trifunović in the opening game last fall in the derby against Rad. The trio of standard national team members is completed by national team captain Velibor Srećković. A large and extremely penetrating winger who, when he receives the ball in space and in full run, becomes an insurmountable problem for the opponent. In a 1v1 game in a small space, he is capable of doing good things, like the first essay he scored against Bosnia and Herzegovina last year in Zenica.
Miloš Tamburić is an experienced winger in Partizan who defies time and age. He still has the speed and explosiveness he used to have in Žarkovo. It is not easy to compete on the field with players twice as young as yourself, and Miloš is still able to perform such a task if he is placed in front of him. Next to him is Zoran Radeka who can provide stability and quality in the game.
Reinforcements for the new season
Partizan has a very strong core of its players. When you add serious reinforcements from other clubs to that, you get a very high-quality and serious team. The scrum will have reinforcements in the new season in the form of Aleksandar Madjanović, a standard representative of Serbia. Madjanovic is in his best rugby years. He got into great shape and doesn’t intend to get out of it anytime soon. He covers all positions in the third line, although in our opinion he does best in the open wing position. Extremely fast and penetrating player, very aggressive and effective in defense.
Partizan will have Aleksandar Đorđević, a long-time member of the Serbian national team, as a major reinforcement in the central line. Aleksandar can also cover the opening position very easily because he has excellent playmaking abilities. An exceptional defensive player, a worker on the field. He has excellent technique which he uses together with his speed to create space for his teammates and himself in the opposing defense. You may not see it in the official statistics, but in rugby, the so-called hockey assist is very important, where the player creates a possible position for his team’s attack. Huge reinforcement for Partizan.
Danijel Kajan will play on the wing for the black and whites in the new season. The former Serbian national team player is in excellent shape. Extremely fast, with quick changes of direction, he poses a great danger to the opponent. He also has an excellent shot, so it is very difficult to defend against him. High pace player.
What can we expect from Partizan in the new season
It’s not a big secret that the matches between Partizan and Rad will definitely decide the division of titles this season. We expect very good editions and, above all, quality rugby. Partizan’s team is full of experienced and hardened players who make up the very cream of domestic rugby. In the first round scheduled for this weekend, Partizan will meet Torpedo Mlava, while the big derby of the Serbian Championship awaits us on the weekend of 18/19 of march .
