• A Russian rugby union player scores a try against Crimea in Simferopol on Saturday. Filippo Monteforte / AFP / March 15, 2014
    A Russian rugby union player scores a try against Crimea in Simferopol on Saturday. Filippo Monteforte / AFP / March 15, 2014
  • Russian and Crimean rugby union players in action on Saturday. Filippo Monteforte / AFP / March 15, 2014
    Russian and Crimean rugby union players in action on Saturday. Filippo Monteforte / AFP / March 15, 2014
  • Crimea rugby union players get dressed in the locker room prior to their match v Russia on Saturday. Filippo Monteforte / AFP / March 15, 2014
    Crimea rugby union players get dressed in the locker room prior to their match v Russia on Saturday. Filippo Monteforte / AFP / March 15, 2014
  • A Russia rugby union player kicks the ball during warmups prior to playing Crimea rugby union on Saturday. Filippo Monteforte / AFP / March 15, 2014
    A Russia rugby union player kicks the ball during warmups prior to playing Crimea rugby union on Saturday. Filippo Monteforte / AFP / March 15, 2014
  • Russia's, left, and Crimea's, right rugby teams gather onto the pitch prior to their match on Saturday. Filippo Monteforte / AFP / March 15, 2014
    Russia's, left, and Crimea's, right rugby teams gather onto the pitch prior to their match on Saturday. Filippo Monteforte / AFP / March 15, 2014
  • Russia rugby union, right, and Crimea rugby union, left, players vie for the ball during a line-out on Saturday. Filippo Monteforte / AFP / March 15, 2014
    Russia rugby union, right, and Crimea rugby union, left, players vie for the ball during a line-out on Saturday. Filippo Monteforte / AFP / March 15, 2014
  • A Russia rugby union player walks past the poster advertising the match v Crimea rugby union in central Simferopol's stadium on Saturday. Filippo Monteforte / AFP / March 15, 2014
    A Russia rugby union player walks past the poster advertising the match v Crimea rugby union in central Simferopol's stadium on Saturday. Filippo Monteforte / AFP / March 15, 2014
  • Russia's rugby union players get dressed in the locker room prior to their match against Crimea rugby union on Saturday. Filippo Monteforte / AFP / March 15, 2014
    Russia's rugby union players get dressed in the locker room prior to their match against Crimea rugby union on Saturday. Filippo Monteforte / AFP / March 15, 2014
  • Fans watch Russia play Crimea at a stadium in Simferopol on Saturday. On Sunday, Crimeans voted in support of a referendum declaring independence from Ukraine. Filippo Monteforte / AFP / March 15, 2014
    Fans watch Russia play Crimea at a stadium in Simferopol on Saturday. On Sunday, Crimeans voted in support of a referendum declaring independence from Ukraine. Filippo Monteforte / AFP / March 15, 2014

In pictures: As Crimeans vote to join Russia, their rugby teams battle


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On Saturday, a day before Crimeans went to the ballot box to declare their secession from Ukraine and intention to rejoin Russia, the Crimea rugby union team played Russia rugby union in Simferopol.