Kulemin, who joined Welsh in the summer after four seasons in the Top 14 at Castres, turns 32 on what will be yet another historic day for the Premiership’s new boys, as the club makes its European debut against the two-time Heineken Cup finalists and 2011 Amlin Challenge Cup runners up.
“If we win it will be a good present for my birthday. Maybe I’ll have an opportunity to score – I will try and do my best,” said Kulemin.
The big Russian second row, capped 12 times by his country, has featured in all six of London Welsh’s opening Premiership fixtures, including last Sunday’s narrow 28-23 defeat to Saracens.
It was a game the Exiles almost snatched at the death but Kulemin believes the club can’t be too disappointed with the start it’s made.
“It was a hard start. There were a lot of changes from the side that played in the Championship last year, but we’ve won two games and we’ve played big teams like Harlequins, Leicester and Saracens, and we had a chance to beat Saracens,” said Kulemin, who has settled in well to life at the Exiles.
“It’s a good friendly team – they’re a good bunch of boys. I really enjoy playing at this level – it’s a great opportunity for me to play Premiership rugby.”
Kulemin spent four seasons at Agen before joining Castres in 2008 and amassed 23 appearances in the Heineken Cup and Amlin Challenge Cup during his eight years in France. Saturday will give him the opportunity to once again lock horns with Stade Francais.
“They’re a good team; they’ve got a good scrum and lineout. I hope it’s going to be an entertaining match and I’m also expecting it to be a fast. We’ll be looking to play hard in the forward, try and improve in the scrum and put a lot of pressure on in the lineout,” he said.
“Castres was good; we played in the quarter-finals of the Top 14 three years in a row and that was a good experience. I really enjoyed it.
“The Top 14 is quite different to the Premiership. In France it’s much more open, more passes, because the weather is different. In the Premiership there’s more forwards play, more pick and go.
“But the Premiership is a tough league; all teams are at the same level. It’s not like in France where you have four or five teams that win all the time. Everything is possible in the Premiership.”
Everything is indeed possible but in a season of ‘firsts’ for London Welsh, Saturday will be another historic day. Kulemin would love to mark it with a victory, and who knows, maybe even a rare try.
