A very strong Serbian side
We can now say with certainty that a very strong Serbia will face Bosnia and Herzegovina in Zenica. The match is scheduled for Saturday, starting at 2:00 p.m. You can watch the live broadcast on the website of the European Rugby Federation.
What we like most about our team is that all 23 players are of high quality and can respond to the challenges. We can freely expect that the finishers who come from the club will play at a high level as well as the starters. So we can expect a high tempo match from the Serbian side. In particular, we can expect a lot of things to improve compared to the previous match between these two rivals. We put special emphasis on the scrum.
We wanted to write a little more about each member of the Serbian national team, so that all rugby fans would have the opportunity to get to know some of the characteristics and statistical data of our players. As well as clubs and leagues where they play. We hope you will enjoy the text as much as we enjoyed writing it.
Bosnia and Herzegovina squad
The head coach of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Enver Imamović, will field a fairly strong team. Compared to the previous match, Joey Huss and Haris Oruč, who were one of the key players in the previous match, are missing. But there is Adamir Stanković, who plays in France and who, together with Miralem Lekić, will be the scrum force. Two physically extremely fit and big players who can cause problems for the defenses of much stronger teams.
We are most interested in what the scrum of Bosnia and Herzegovina will look like. Compared to the last match, a couple of props are different. It will be very interesting how the scrum will look and what the balance of power will be. Stankovic should strengthen the out of Bosnia and Herzegovina, where we have to be more careful.
As for the entire team, there are no major changes compared to what they have already mentioned. A very strong team, physically oriented, patient and experienced. What makes us especially happy is that we see young Emir Mešković in the team, who played several seasons for the youth selections of Čelika in our domestic competitions. The great young hope of rugby in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
See the Bosnia and Herzegovina squad on the website of the European Rugby Federation.
Starters
1. Vladimir Đukic
YOB: 1988.
Position: Prop
Club: RK Rad
League: Serbian Championship
Country: Serbia
Vladimir Đukić is definitely one of the most experienced players in the Serbian national team. He has so far made 45 appearances for the national team. He needs to play 6 more matches in order to carry the epithet of the player with the most played matches in the history of the Serbian national team. A player without whom the first line cannot be imagined. Every coach and selector could rely on his consistency and universality, because he can play well in all positions in the first line.
2. Istok Totić
YOB: 1995.
Position: Hooker
Club:: Glasgow Hawks
League: Scottish Premiership
Country: Scotland
Serbian international who plays at a very high level in Scotland. He has been a member of the national selection since 2015 , he had 21 caps and scored 3 tries. Now he has entered his best rugby years and has become a player who can deliver absolutely everything the coach asks of him. A very important screw in Milović’s concept, which is equally good in static and open play.
3. Predrag Vraneš
YOB: 1986.
Position: Prop
Club: RK Rad
League: Serbian Championship
Country: Serbia
An experienced pillar who made his debut for the national team, back in 2006 . He earn 30 caps and scored one try. Predrag is already in his late playing years, but he is a very important player for the team. With his experience, he does an excellent job of stabilizing the scrum and the lineout. It is extremely mobile for its size and can easily handle demanding game plans.
4. Relja Pećanac
YOB: 2001.
Position: Lock
Club: RK Rad
League: Serbian Championship
Country: Serbia
One of the most standard players in the past period. He earned his place with great effort and commitment, which was recognized by the selector Milović. He has made incredible progress in the last two years. Since then, he has made 6 appearances for the national team, where he has established himself in the starting line-up. Excellent in all areas of the game. A reliable lineout jumper and exceptional defensive worker.
5. Aleksandar Krstić
YOB: 1984.
Position: Lock
Club: RK Partizan
League: Serbian Championship
Country: Serbia
The most experienced player of the Serbian national team, of which he has been a member for many years. He played 25 matches for the national team and scored 5 tries. A leader on the field whose voice is valued and respected. Although he is already in his veteran years, he is extremely physically fit and in a form that even players in their prime can envy. Dominant force in contact. Excellent in statics, especially in defensive out where his physical predispositions come to the fore.
6. Kiprijan Đorić
YOB: 2000.
Position: Flanker
Club: Rugby Union Donau Vienna
League: Bundesleague
Country: Austria
Debutant in the Serbian national team. Kiprian is a product of the Donau rugby school in Vienna. A young player who is fantastic on both sides of the field. A modern third line player who is extremely mobile and can cover large areas of the field. Strong in contact. He possesses an enviable technique that allows him to maximize complex game plans. In statics, it is a reliable jumping option in the lineout.
7. Alen Ćosović
YOB: 1988.
Position: Flanker
Club: RK Rad
League: Serbian Championship
Country: Serbia
Last season was perhaps the best season of Alen’s career. He was simply unstoppable. In the jersey of the national team, he is a man of the task. So far, he has scored 3 tries in 9 matches in the national team jersey. A player who has excellent contact skills and makes a difference on the pitch. Excellent in contact play on both sides of the field. A player who is ready to take responsibility and deliver whatever is asked of him.
8. Marko Gvozdenović
YOB: 1992.
Position: Number 8
Club: CSM Gennevillois Rugby
League: Federale 1
Country: France
If we look at the statistical data, we can immediately say that Marko is the most effective player in the history of the Serbian national team because he scored 63 points in 6 matches, that is, he scores 10.5 points per game. It is even more interesting that when Marko was in the team, Serbia did not lose a game. We would even dare to say that he is definitely one of the best players to ever play for the national team.
9. Janko Zemun Milinković
YOB: 1998.
Position: Scrumhalf
Club: Rugby Bergamo 1950
League: Seria B
Country: Serbia
Field general. A player who is so consistent, stable, mature, serious, a perfectionist that we thought he was older than us, not 25 years old and yet to enter his prime rugby years. Janko has so far played 12 games for the national team and scored 2 tries. He has an excellent overview of the game, is extremely fast and dangerous for the opposing defense. He reads the game fantastically and anticipates the positioning of the players in the defense, which is why he can often punish a bad defensive position around the ruck. The coach’s extended hand on the field.
10. Nikola Stanković
YOB: 2000.
Position: Flyhalf
Club: RK Rad
League: Serbian Championship
Country: Serbia
Nikola is one of the pillars of the national team and a player who is expected to be one of the leaders for many years. Although he is only 23 years old, he has a lot of experience playing for Serbia. He scored a total of 53 points in 11 games. He has an excellent overview of the game, a player who is very quick and penetrating. If we add to that his physical predispositions, we get a player who is very difficult to stop. Excellent defensive player.
11. Rajko Janković
YOB: 1992.
Position: wing
Club: RK Vojvodina
League: 2nd grade Serbian Championship
Country: Serbia
Experienced and very combative player who does everything for the team. He gained the trust of the coach Milović primarily because of his self-sacrifice in defense. A great shooter that has an even better overview of the game. Very fast, agile, skillful player with very good technique. He anticipates the opponent’s attack very well and creates situations for himself with great positioning where he has an advantage over the opponent’s attackers. He has a killer instinct. He played 7 matches for Serbia and scored one try.
12. Aleksandar Đorđević
YOB: 1989.
Position: Center
Club: BRK Crvena Zvezda
League: 2nd grade Serbian Championship
Country: Serbia
One of the most complete players in Serbia. Excellent on both sides of the court. Very lethal in the attack, where the review of the game comes to the fore, that is, attacking the space from which he creates situations for the extra player and uses timely assistance to provide teammates with ideal positions for the attack. A real modern center that makes good use of his experience and his physical predispositions. Aleksandar has been a member of the Serbian national team for many years, for which he played 38 times and scored 32 points.
13. Predrag Keglić
YOB: 1996.
Position: Center
Club: BRK Crvena Zvezda
League: 2nd grade Serbian Championship
Country: Serbia
Predrag’s physical predispositions and excellent technique allow him to play equally well in several positions in the team. Very explosive and fast player, who is extremely strong in contact. The experience of playing in the scrum helped him develop technique and skill in contact, where he always offers offloads. Excellent support player. Although he plays in the center position, if needed, he can be a very good jumping option in the outfield. Defensively, she is at an extremely high level, she reads the game very well. A very efficient player who scored 30 points in 13 matches for Serbia.
14. Kaspar Strugar
YOB: 1996.
Position: wing
Club: Henley Hawks
League: National league 2 East
Country: England
So far, Kaspar has played 7 matches for Serbia, in which he scored 3 tries. A very fast and deadly player, who plays at a high tempo and changes direction quickly. When you add to that the fact that he is physically very strong, that he uses the buffer and his strength, then you have a player who is a very effective attacking option. When he gets a fastball on the rush, while he’s in space, he’s very hard to stop. An excellent defensive option who decorates and plays in the air.
15. Igor Dejanović
YOB: 1988.
Position: Fullback
Club: RK Partizan
League: Serbian Championship
Country: Serbia
Igor has been a member of the Serbian national team for many years and one of the best line players who has played in domestic competitions for the past 15 years. So far, he has recorded 37 appearances for Serbia, where he scored 32 points. A very complete player, who, with his experience and leadership skills, manages the team in the best way from the position of defender. There are no weaknesses in the game, offensively and defensively it is at a high level.
Finishers
16. Boško Jovanović
YOB: 1990.
Position: Hooker
Club: Saint-Saturnin-Les-Avignon
League: Regional 1
Country: France
Boško has been a member of the Serbian national team for many years. As he announced earlier, with this match he is saying goodbye to the national team of Serbia and will hang up his rugby boots. We hope he changes his mind and continues to play. Boško can cover the counter and post positions equally well. It is an excellent option in statics, both in the scrum and in the car. A very fast and penetrating player, who knows and knows how to use the space in the opponent’s defense.
17. Igor Marinković
YOB: 1998.
Position: Prop
Club: Hannover78 Rugby
League: Bundesleague
Country: Germany
Another debutant in the Serbian jersey in this match. Igor has quite a lot of experience playing matches at a high level, as his club regularly makes it to the playoffs of the German rugby Bundesliga. A modern and extremely mobile pole. He is excellent in statics and can control the scrum. He has excellent technique and is extremely effective in open play. Defensively, he is at the top level, he likes physical challenges.
18. Danijel Stojanović
YOB: 2004.
Position: flanker
Club: RK Rad
League: Serbian Championship
Country: Serbia
Debutant in the senior national team of Serbia. The first player from the class of 2004 to break the ice and play for the national team. He has enormous potential and talent that needs to be developed. Although he had one season behind him in senior rugby, he well deserved the call. In addition to exceptional physical strength and speed, he possesses excellent technique, excels in hand play and in open play. He excels in defensive tasks, where he uses physics and excellent technique in taking down.
19. Stevan Nikolić
YOB: 1988.
Position: Lock
Club: RK Rad
League: Serbian Championship
Country: Serbia
Stevan is one of the players that coach Milović likes the most. Exceptional in statics. He can play equally well in the first and second lines. It is extremely mobile and fast for its size. There can be a lot of problems for the opponent if Stevan gets the ball into the area and at full speed. Excellent defensively. A player who reads the game very well and positions himself even better.
20. Ivan Voštić
YOB: 2003.
Position: wing
Club: RK Dinamo 1954
League: Serbian Championship
Country: Serbia
Although he is very young, Ivan already has considerable experience in the Serbian national team. It was part of the protocol for the match with Bulgaria in the fall of 2021 . He has already managed to make three appearances for the national team and score one try. A very explosive and fast player who can wreak havoc on the opponent’s defense in a small space. Excellent in the air, especially with high balls. He has a good overview of the game, he likes imposing a high tempo and fast play. A player for the future.
21. Aleksandar Mađanović
YOB: 1993.
Position: Flanker
Club: BRK Crvena Zvezda
League: 2nd grade Serbian Championship
Country: Serbia
A high pace player who spares no expense while playing rugby. He is able to deliver every task and idea of the coach on the field. So far, he has made 16 appearances for the national team, scoring 3 tries. He can cover all positions in the third line. Excellent on both sides of the court. The main characteristic is the fantastic timing in the escort, which gives the opponents a lot of problems in the defense of the space. Excellent in statics, quality jumper in the lineout.
22. Stefan Simović
YOB: 2001.
Position: Center
Club: RK Partizan
League: Serbian Championship
Country: Serbia
A very young player who was already part of the national team in the match against Turkey. He is characterized by exceptional physical strength, as well as game overview. It is particularly interesting that he has an exceptionally strong and accurate shot. A player who plays at a high tempo. Stefan is the type of player that Milović adores in the central line, explosive, strong with excellent technique. In defense, he is at a high level and is one of the better solutions.
23. Dragan Matijević
YOB: 2001.
Position: Prop
Club: Roundhegians Rugby Football Club
League: Yorkshire 1
Country: England
Another debutant in the national team. He is characterized by a strong contact game. Very good in statics and can play a key role in stabilizing the scrum. A modern and mobile post that loves contact play and loves competition. Good support player. Excellent in defensive tasks, one of the players who can do everything on the field.
Professional staff
Headcoach: Michel Milović
Coach: Marko Janković
Coach: Ljubomir Bukvić
Coach: Marko Žeravica
Doctor: Srđan Nikolić
Team manager: Goran Vuković
