Oxford University lost their opening tour match 29-19 to RC Slava in Moscow.
Nikita Medkov’s try gave Slava, who are professional, the lead, but Oxford hit back with scores from centre Alex Cheesman and fly half Charlie Marr plus a Marr conversion.
Denis Antonov then converted tries from Gleb Babkin and Ilya Osminko.
An Antonov penalty made it 22-12, but Oxford replacement James Crozier gave them hope with a try converted by Marr.
Slava sealed it when Andrei Khorokhorin was driven over and Antonov converted.
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