Rugby Club Rad Belgrade (Serbian: Рагби Клуб Рад Београд) is a rugby union club from Belgrade, Serbia. RK Rad, previously known as RK Pobednik, is one of the biggest rugby clubs within the former Yugoslavia, having won ten national championships and seven national cup trophies. The club is a member of the Serbian Rugby Union.[1]
History
2015 RK Rad logo.
1996 RK Pobednik logo.
In December 1996, a group of enthusiasts and lovers of rugby, led by Bosko Strugar, founded Rugby Club Pobednik. The early years were not easy as there were no pitches or club house. However, all members helped develop the club which brought results quickly. In difficult times, the players bought the required equipment and funded travel so the club could survive. The club is now sponsored by Mozzart Sports Betting.
In December 2014 Pobednik was renamed Rad.[2] This was previously the name of its associated junior rugby club, after a link was established with football club FK Rad. In English, Rad translates as "work" or "labour", and the football club was formed by the Serbian construction company of the same name. RK Rad's president Marko Kapor is also on the board of directors of FK Rad.[2] The club wears a blue and white kit.
Domestic competitions
In the 1997/1998 season Pobednik joined the Rugby Championship of SR Yugoslavia and reached the playoffs. The first game ended with the triumph, with victory over the well-established club KBRK (now BRK Red Star). Ultimately Ragbi Klub Partizan took the championship in that season, but only two years later Pobednik defeated Partizan to become the new States champion. Pobednik won their second title the following year, and extended the winning streak to claim seven straight Championships from 2007 to 2013. Pobednik has also won 4 domestic Cups.
The club currently has more than a hundred members who compete in five categories. The youth categories are the greatest source of the club's strength with talented young players being produced every year. Pobednik (now Rad) has provided more national representative players for Serbia than any other club.
2016 Team
Note: Flags indicate national union under World Rugby eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality.
