Romania national rugby union team

National rugby union team

Romania

Nickname| Stejarii (The Oaks)
Emblem| Oak leaf
Union| Federația Română de Rugby
Head coach| David Gérard
Captain| Marius Simionescu
Most caps| Florin Vlaicu (129)
Top scorer| Florin Vlaicu (1,030)
Top try scorer| Cătălin Fercu (33)
Home stadium| Stadionul Arcul de Triumf

First colours

Second colours

|

World Rugby ranking
Current| 21 (as of 7 July 2025)
Highest| 13 (2003, 2004, 2005, 2006)
Lowest| 21 (2025)
First international
United States 21–0 Romania
(Paris, France; 26 June 1919)
All military sides
Biggest win
Bulgaria 0–100 Romania
(Burgas, Bulgaria; 21 September 1976)
Biggest defeat
England 134–0 Romania
(London, England; 17 November 2001)
World Cup
Appearances| 9 (first in 1987)
Best result| Pool stage (1987, 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2023)

Medal record

Men's rugby union
| 1924 Paris | Team

Website| rugbyromania.ro

The Romania national rugby union team,[1] nicknamed Stejarii (The Oaks), has long been considered one of the stronger European teams outside the Six Nations. They have participated in all but one Rugby World Cup and currently compete in the first division of the Rugby Europe International Championships, which they won in 2017. Rugby union in Romania is administered by the Romanian Rugby Federation.

France first played rugby against Romania in 1924 when they tried to establish a rival to the Five Nations championship. Romania holds with 25 matches the record for the longest unbeaten run.[2] Although not regarded as a first-tier team in more recent times, their history includes an away draw against Ireland, and wins against four (France, Italy, Scotland, Wales) of the other Six Nations Championship teams.[3]

Romania played in every Rugby World Cup through to 2015, but were disqualified from the 2019 tournament after fielding an ineligible player during the qualification process.[4] Romania returned to the 2023 Rugby World Cup and finished bottom of Pool B, losing all of their matches.

## History

[edit]

### Early history

[edit]

Romania at the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris, France

The game itself was introduced by students returning with rugby balls from their studies in Paris to form clubs such as Stadiul Roman from 1913 onwards. Seventeen other teams would be formed in the capital, Bucharest.

Romania's first international was played against the US in 1919. France first officially played rugby union against Romania in May 1924 when they tried to establish a rival to the Five Nations Championship (now the Six Nations). France were victorious by 59 points to 3.

Romania were one of three teams who entered the 1924 Olympics in Paris. France won 59–3, scoring 13 tries including four by the fine Stade Francais winger Adolphe Jaureguy. The United States then defeated Romania 39–0. Romania finishing third claimed the bronze medal. The Federaţia Română de Rugby was formed in 1931. In 1939 a team was formed in Braşov at an aircraft factory. This was the first team outside Bucharest.

### Post-World War II

[edit]

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (July 2022)

|

Viorel Morariu (right) captained Romania in the 1950s and early 1960s Alex Penciu, one of Romania's greatest players in the 1960s. The Oaks starting lineup that beat France 15–0 in November 1980. The Oaks before a test match against Wales in 1983.

A generation of French school trained coaches [citation needed] from late 1940s, and 1950s built a system and led the national team to success of the 1960s, 1970s and early 1980s. In this era Romania began to compete more regularly against the major nations. Their first win over France came in 1960 in Bucharest, in a tour match won by 11–5. In 1974 Romania won against France 15–10 in Bucharest,[5] and the FIRA – Association of European Rugby championship.[6] In 1975 Romania went for an 8-game tour to New Zealand, concluding in Wellington with a 10–10 draw against the Junior All Blacks. Exposure to international rugby developed the country's game and they began to form their own distinctive style of play, built around strong, bruising packs. That Romania was emerging as a real force on the world stage became clear on their 1979 Romania rugby union tour of Wales at Cardiff Arms Park, in an unofficial, non-cap international. The Oaks led going into the dying minutes, when only a last-gasp drop goal from Gareth Davies gave a narrow 13–12 victory for Wales. The improvement continued in 1980, when Romania crushed the French in a record 15–0 win in Bucharest. A trip to Lansdowne Road in the 1980 Romania rugby union tour of Ireland then yielded a 13–13 draw against Ireland in another unofficial, non-cap match.

In the 1980s the country boasted more than 12,000 players in 110 clubs. Home nations sides began to award international caps for matches against Romania in 1981; Scotland were the first to do so when Romania visited them on their 1981 tour, Scotland winning the international by 12 points to 6.[7] Wales travelled to Bucharest in November 1983 and were totally overwhelmed, falling to a 24–6 defeat. Romania's first win over Scotland came in Bucharest in 1984 and their first away win against Five Nations opposition came in 1988 against Wales; 15–9 at Cardiff Arms Park.

Their national side beat Wales (twice – 1983: 24–6 in Romania, 1988: 15–9 in Wales), Scotland (the 1984 Grand Slam side 28–22 in Romania), France (twice 1980: 15–0 in Romania, 1982: 13–9 in Romania) and drew with Ireland (13–13, in 1980, at Dublin). In 1981, they lost to the All Blacks 14–6 but had two tries disallowed. Many felt it was wrong for the rugby union powers to fail to bring them into top-flight competition. Romania beat Zimbabwe 21–20 in their first ever Rugby World Cup match in 1987 but did not win any other games and failed to progress beyond the group stage.

### After the collapse of Communism

[edit]

However, with the deterioration of the domestic political and economic situation in the country in the 1990s, Romanian rugby union suffered; the two leading rugby union teams – Dinamo Bucharest and Steaua Bucharest, represented the police and the army respectively, so their state funding fell. [citation needed]

Post-revolution, Romanian rugby union was still alive and kicking. In 1990 they recorded a prestigious win to date by beating France 12–6 on French soil for the first time. The following year they beat Scotland 18–12. At the 1991 World Cup they beat Fiji 17–15 and as recently as the 1995 World Cup, Romania held the eventual winners South Africa to a highly respectable 21–8.

The professionalism that followed immediately upon the heels of that World Cup was the undoing of the sport in Romania. Approximately 200 Romanian players are thought to be playing in France and Italy. It was not just playing numbers that suffered, but a whole generation of potential referees and administrators was lost to the game. By 1994 Romania's rugby fortunes had declined sharply, when a Welsh team travelled to Bucharest for an uncapped international the visitors came away with a 16–9 win. In 1997 the Romanians toured Wales. They lost 36–21 to Wales A at Pontypridd and 70–21 in a test held in Wrexham. At the 1999 World Cup Romania could again only manage a single win 27–25 against the United States.

### The new millennium

[edit]

Romania plays its home games at the Stadionul Arcul de Triumf in Bucharest. Romania playing Ireland at Lansdowne Road in 2005.

In 2000, Romania won the first European Nations Cup by a large margin, recording victories in all four matches. By 2001, Romania had been caught by the likes of Georgia who defeated them to take the 2001 European Nations Cup, crowned with a decisive 31–20 win over Romania in Bucharest. The national side lost to England by 134–0 in 2001 and Dinamo Bucharest lost 151–0 to Saracens in the European Rugby Shield. Several French-based players refused to turn up for the England debacle simply because their clubs refused to pay them for the week. Players in that Romanian squad were getting £30 a day in expenses while England's top earners scooped £6,000 for their afternoon's work.[citation needed]

In January 2002, Bernard Charreyre was appointed coach of the national team both supplied by and paid by the French Rugby Federation (FFR). Under Charreyre (known by The Oaks as 'Little Napoleon'), the Oaks' decline has been stopped and the team has started to slowly climb from the basement of international rugby union. With a change of format in the European Nations Cup, Romania started in 2002 trailing Georgia due to the inclusion of 2001 results. The Oaks won all of the remaining five games, including a hard-fought 31–23 victory in Tbilisi to win the tournament. They qualified for the World Cup in 2003, where they beat Namibia and lost to Ireland (45–17), after an honourable display, and then to Australia (90–8) and Argentina (50–3). Charreyre was dismissed after the World Cup as the Romanian Federation was not satisfied by the World Cup performance and decided not to renew his contract. Three other French coaches followed: first, Phillipe Sauton, for a very short period, Robert Antonin as a temporary stand-in and then Daniel Santamans.

In the 2003–2004 European Nations Cup, Portugal were surprise 16–15 winners over Romania in Lisbon and installed themselves on the top of the 2003 table. In the second half of the competition, Romania seemed back on track (36–6 against Portugal in Constanţa), but went down 24–33 to Russia in Krasnodar following allegations of players having been doped. Then Portugal clinched their first title with a last-minute 19–18 win over Russia in Lisbon. In 2004, the Romanians scored a narrow 25–24 victory over Italy, their first victory to date over a Six Nations Championship side.

In 2005 Romania was given 'second tier' status by the IRB and replaced Russia in the Super Powers Cup. The USA beat a Romanian team stripped of their France-based players 23–16 in the third place play-off. The 2005–06 European Nations Cup also served as a qualifying group for the 2007 Rugby World Cup. Romania triumphed despite finishing level on points with Georgia.

Romania qualified for the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France, finishing at the top of their pool during the Round 5 of the European qualifying tournaments. Romania won their first qualifying match on 7 October, defeating Georgia in Bucharest 20–8. Their 43–20 win over Spain in Madrid on 14 October ensured that they qualified directly for the World Cup in 2007. In June 2007, Romania hosted the IRB Nations Cup in Bucuresti.[8] In the 2007 Rugby World Cup finals, Romania won a bonus point in the 18–24 loss to Italy and to win a second game with Portugal by a narrow margin (14–10), but suffered heavy losses to Scotland (42–0) and New Zealand (85–8).

On 21 March 2009, Romania lost 22–21 at home to Portugal, leaving them with an uphill struggle to qualify for the 2011 World Cup – qualification for which is determined by performances in the European Nations Cup in 2009 and 2010. Romania went unbeaten, with a draw at Russia, in the 2010 phase of the European Nations Cup. The Oaks' strong finish put them in third place and the final phase of the European qualification playoffs, in which they easily defeated Ukraine over two legs (94–10 on aggregate) for the European place in the Final Place Playoff for the 2011 Rugby World Cup. Romania emerged as the last qualifier for the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand by overcoming first Tunisia in a winner-takes-it-all game (56–13) and later Uruguay (60–33 on aggregate). Thus, the Oaks are one of only 12 teams to participate at all World Cups alongside New Zealand, Australia, England, France, Wales, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, Argentina, Canada, and Japan.

In November 2016, Romania achieved home soil wins against the US, Canada and Uruguay.[9]

In 2018, Romania finished top of the Rugby Europe Championship, meaning they qualified for the 2019 Rugby World Cup to be played in Japan in 2019. But after the conclusion of the tournament World Rugby conducted a review of player eligibility and found Romania fielded Sione Faka'osilea, who previously played for the Tonga Sevens team, which made him ineligible to play for Romania in the competition. Romania was stripped of 30 competition points, which placed them third and meant that they failed to qualify for the 2019 Rugby World Cup, with Russia taking their place.[10]

On 29 May 2018, it was confirmed that Romania had appealed the decision.[11] On 6 June, the appeal failed and the decision was upheld, meaning Russia was confirmed as Europe 1 and qualified for the World Cup, whilst Germany advanced to round 6.[12]

## Honours

[edit]

* Rugby union at the Summer Olympics
* Bronze Medal (1): 1924
* Rugby Europe International Championships
* Winner (10): 1968–1969, 1974–1975, 1976–1977, 1980–1981, 1982–1983, 2000, 2001–2002, 2004–2006, 2010, 2017
* Runners-Up (14)
* Third-Place (12)
* Antim Cup
* Winner (6): 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2010, 2017
* World Rugby Nations Cup
* Winner (4): 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016

## Record

[edit]

Romania holds the record for the longest unbeaten run: 25 matches in between May 1959 and November 1964.[2]

### Wins against Tier 1 nations

[edit]

Date  | Home  | Score  | Away  | Venue  | Status

|
|
|
|
|

14 April 1940  | Romania  | 3–0  |  Italy |  Dinamo Stadium, Bucharest | Test Match
5 June 1960[13] | Romania  | 11–5  |  France |  Dinamo Stadium, Bucharest | Test Match
10 June 1962  | Romania  | 14–6  |  Italy |  Dinamo Stadium, Bucharest | Test Match
11 November 1962  | Romania  | 3–0  |  France |  Dinamo Stadium, Bucharest | Test Match
14 May 1967  | Romania  | 15–14  |  Italy |  Dinamo Stadium, Bucharest | 1966–67 FIRA Nations Cup
1 December 1968  | Romania  | 24–3  |  France |  Dinamo Stadium, Bucharest | 1968–69 FIRA Nations Cup
25 October 1970  | Italy  | 3–14  |  Romania |  Stadio Comunale Mario Battaglini, Rovigo | 1969–70 FIRA Nations Cup
11 April 1971  | Romania  | 32–6  |  Italy |  Dinamo Stadium, Bucharest | 1970–71 FIRA Nations Cup
13 October 1974  | Romania  | 15–10  |  France |  Dinamo Stadium, Bucharest | 1974–75 FIRA Trophy
14 November 1976  | Romania  | 15–12  |  France |  Dinamo Stadium, Bucharest | 1976–77 FIRA Trophy
1 May 1977  | Romania  | 69–0  |  Italy |  Dinamo Stadium, Bucharest | 1976–77 FIRA Trophy
22 April 1979  | Romania  | 44–0  |  Italy |  Dinamo Stadium, Bucharest | 1978–79 FIRA Trophy
23 November 1980  | Romania  | 15–0  |  France |  Dinamo Stadium, Bucharest | 1980–81 FIRA Trophy
12 April 1981  | Romania  | 35–9  |  Italy |  Brăila | 1980–81 FIRA Trophy
31 October 1982  | Romania  | 13–9  |  France |  Dinamo Stadium, Bucharest | 1982–83 FIRA Trophy
10 April 1983  | Romania  | 13–6  |  Italy |  Buzău | 1982–83 FIRA Trophy
12 November 1983  | Romania  | 24–6  |  Wales |  Dinamo Stadium, Bucharest | Test Match
20 May 1984  | Romania  | 28-22  |  Scotland |  Dinamo Stadium, Bucharest | Test Match
14 April 1985  | Romania  | 7–6  |  Italy |  Brașov | 1984–85 FIRA Trophy
12 April 1987  | Romania  | 9–3  |  Italy |  Constanța | 1985–87 FIRA Trophy
2 April 1988  | Italy  | 3–12  |  Romania |  San Siro, Milan | 1987–89 FIRA Trophy
10 December 1988  | Wales  | 9–15  |  Romania |  Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff | Test Match
15 April 1989  | Romania  | 28–4  |  Italy |  Dinamo Stadium, Bucharest | 1987–89 FIRA Trophy
14 April 1990  | Italy  | 9–16  |  Romania |  Frascati | 1989–90 FIRA Trophy
24 May 1990  | France  | 9–12  |  Romania |  Stade du Moulias, Auch | 1989–90 FIRA Trophy
31 August 1991  | Romania  | 18–12  |  Scotland |  Dinamo Stadium, Bucharest | Test Match
14 May 1994  | Romania  | 26–12  |  Italy |  Dinamo Stadium, Bucharest | 1992–94 FIRA Trophy
26 June 2004  | Romania  | 25–24  |  Italy |  Dinamo Stadium, Bucharest | Test Match

### European competitions

[edit]

Romania's only annual tournament is a competition involving Europe's tier 2 and tier 3 national teams. From 1936 through 1938, they competed in the FIRA Tournament against France, Germany and Italy. In 1965 until 1973 the FIRA Nations Cup was formed allowing other teams to be promoted or relegated from the competition. Romania won the competition once in 1969, being the only team to defeat France.

Pre–WWII Tournament (1936–1938)

Nation  | Games  | Points  | Table
points  | Champs
played  | won  | drawn  | lost  | for  | against  | diff
France | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 133 | 48 | +85 | – | 3
Germany | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 83 | 92 | −9 | – | 0
Italy | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 75 | 76 | −1 | – | 0
Romania | 7 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 81 | 114 | −33 | – | 0
Belgium | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 20 | 48 | −28 | – | 0
Netherlands | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 62 | −54 | – | 0
FIRA Nations Cup (1965–1973)

Nation  | Games  | Points  | Table
points  | Champs
played  | won  | drawn  | lost  | for  | against  | diff
France | 26 | 25 | 0 | 1 | 824 | 198 | +626 | 65 | 7
Romania | 26 | 17 | 1 | 8 | 528 | 222 | +306 | 51 | 1
Czechoslovakia | 17 | 2 | 2 | 13 | 135 | 411 | −267 | 16 | 0
Morocco | 9 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 65 | 332 | −267 | 13 | 0
Italy | 13 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 86 | 227 | −141 | 12 | 0
West Germany | 10 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 81 | 132 | −51 | 6 | 0
Spain | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 56 | 55 | +1 | 5 | 0
Poland | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 19 | 132 | −113 | 3 | 0
Portugal | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 23 | 108 | −85 | 0 | 0

### European Nations Cup (2000–present)

[edit]

See also: European Nations Cup (rugby union)

#### Winners

[edit]

Year  |  | First Division  |  | Lower Division Champions

|
|
|
|

Winner  | Second  | Third  | Relegated  | Division 2  | Division 3
2000 |  Romania |  Georgia |  Morocco |  |  Russia |  Czech Republic
2001 |  Georgia |  Romania |  Russia |  |  Poland | Not played[14]
2001–2002 |  Romania |  Georgia |  Russia |  Netherlands |  Czech Republic[15] |  Slovenia
2003–2004 |  Portugal |  Romania |  Georgia |  Spain |  Ukraine |  Moldova
2004–2006 |  Romania |  Georgia |  Portugal |  Ukraine |  Spain |  Latvia
2006–2008 |  Georgia |  Russia |  Romania |  Czech Republic |  Germany |  Sweden
2008–2010 |  Georgia |  Russia |  Portugal |  Germany [16] |  Ukraine |  Lithuania
2010 |  Romania |  Georgia |  Russia
2011 |  Georgia |  Romania |  Portugal |  Ukraine [16] |  Belgium |  Sweden
2012 |  Georgia |  Spain |  Romania
2013 |  Georgia |  Romania |  Russia |  Belgium [16] |  Germany |  Netherlands
2014 |  Georgia |  Romania |  Russia
2015 |  Georgia |  Romania |  Spain |  Portugal |  Belgium |  Estonia
2016 |  Georgia |  Romania |  Russia
2017 |  |  Romania |  Georgia |  Spain | –  |  |  Portugal |  Czech Republic /  Malta
2018 |  |  Georgia |  Russia |  Germany | –  |
2019 |  |  Georgia |  Spain |  Romania |  Germany
2020 |  |  Georgia |  Spain |  Romania |  Belgium |  Netherlands
2021 |  |  Georgia |  Romania |  Portugal | –  |
2022 |  |  Georgia |  Romania |  Spain |  Russia |  |  Belgium |  Sweden /
Croatia
2023 |  |  Georgia |  Portugal |  Romania | –  |
2024 |  |  Georgia |  Portugal |  Spain |  Poland |

### All-time table

[edit]

| Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | AVPPG | Pts | Champs

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Georgia | 100 | 83 | 4 | 13 | 3096 | 1151 | +1945 | 30.96 | 334 | 11
Romania | 100 | 72 | 2 | 26 | 3024 | 1311 | +1713 | 30.24 | 288 | 5
Russia | 85 | 47 | 3 | 34 | 2190 | 1788 | +402 | 26.07 | 186 | 0
Portugal | 85 | 35 | 3 | 47 | 1605 | 1865 | −260 | 18.88 | 152 | 1
Spain | 80 | 25 | 4 | 51 | 1575 | 2020 | −445 | 19.69 | 145 | 0
Czech Republic | 29 | 6 | 0 | 23 | 362 | 1075 | −713 | 12.48 | 40 | 0
Germany | 25 | 3 | 1 | 21 | 341 | 1064 | −723 | 13.64 | 26 | 0
Netherlands | 15 | 1 | 0 | 14 | 278 | 652 | −374 | 18.53 | 17 | 0
Ukraine | 20 | 1 | 0 | 19 | 201 | 998 | −797 | 10.05 | 15 | 0
Morocco | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 94 | 69 | +25 | 18.80 | 11 | 0
Belgium | 20 | 2 | 1 | 17 | 204 | 412 | −208 | 13.6 | 8 | 0

### Rivalries

[edit]

See also: History of rugby union matches between Georgia and Romania and Antim Cup

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (November 2016)

|

Romania and Georgia have enjoyed a rivalry between the two most successful teams in the European Nations Cup. The winner of the rivalry takes home the Antim Cup.

### Rugby World Cup

[edit]

Main article: Romania at the Rugby World Cup

Romania had competed in every Rugby World Cup since the inaugural tournament in 1987; that streak ended in 2018, when they were expelled from the 2019 tournament via points deduction for fielding ineligible players. Their best finish was with one win in 1987, 1991, 1999, 2003, 2007 and 2015. They lost all pool matches in 1995, 2011 and 2023.

Rugby World Cup record |  | Qualification

|
|

Year  | Round  | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | Squad  | Head coach  | Pos | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA
1987 | Pool stage  | 3  | 1  | 0  | 2  | 61  | 130  | Squad | M. Naca | Invited
1991 | Pool stage  | 3  | 1  | 0  | 2  | 31  | 64  | Squad | P. Ianusevici | 2nd  | 3  | 2  | 0  | 1  | 85  | 42
1995 | Pool stage  | 3  | 0  | 0  | 3  | 14  | 97  | Squad | M. Paraschiv | 3rd  | 4  | 2  | 0  | 2  | 105  | 45
1999 | Pool stage  | 3  | 1  | 0  | 2  | 50  | 126  | Squad | 2nd  | 6  | 4  | 0  | 2  | 300  | 127
2003 | Pool stage  | 4  | 1  | 0  | 3  | 65  | 192  | Squad | B. Charreyre | 2nd  | 2  | 1  | 0  | 1  | 84  | 31
2007 | Pool stage  | 4  | 1  | 0  | 3  | 40  | 161  | Squad | D. Santamans | 1st  | 12  | 10  | 0  | 2  | 452  | 122
2011 | Pool stage  | 4  | 0  | 0  | 4  | 44  | 169  | Squad | R. Gontineac | P/O | 15  | 10  | 2  | 3  | 492  | 192
2015 | Pool stage  | 4  | 1  | 0  | 3  | 60  | 129  | Squad | L. Howells | 2nd  | 10  | 8  | 1  | 1  | 242  | 106
2019 | Expelled from competing at tournament after qualification | 3rd  | 8  | 6  | 0  | 2  | 296  | 126
2023 | Pool stage  | 4  | 0  | 0  | 4  | 32  | 287  | Squad | E. Apjok | 2nd  | 10  | 6  | 0  | 4  | 289  | 232
2027 | Qualified | 2nd  | 3  | 2  | 0  | 1  | 85  | 58
2031 | To be determined | To be determined
Total  | —  | 32  | 6  | 0  | 26  | 397  | 1355  | —  | —  | —  | 73  | 52  | 3  | 18  | 2430  | 1081

*   Champions
*   Runners–up
*   Third place
*   Fourth place
*   Home venue

World Cup results

Year  | Stage  | Opponent  | Final score  | Venue
1987 | Pool D  |  Zimbabwe | 21–20  | Eden Park
France | 12–55  | Lancaster Park
Scotland | 28–55  | Carisbrook
1991 | Pool D  |  France | 3–30  | Stade de la Méditerranée
Canada | 11–19  | Stade Ernest-Wallon
Fiji | 17–15  | Parc Municipal des Sports
1995 | Pool A  |  Canada | 3–34  | Boet Erasmus Stadium
South Africa | 8–21  | Newlands
Australia | 3–42  | Danie Craven Stadium
1999 | Pool D  |  Australia | 9–57  | Ravenhill
United States | 27–25  | Lansdowne Road
Ireland | 14–44  | Lansdowne Road
2003 | Pool A |  Ireland | 17–45  | Central Coast Stadium
Australia | 8–90  | Suncorp Stadium
Argentina | 3–50  | Sydney Football Stadium
Namibia | 37–7  | York Park
2007 | Pool C |  Italy | 18–24  | Stade Vélodrome
Scotland | 0–42  | Murrayfield Stadium
Portugal | 14–10  | Stadium de Toulouse
New Zealand | 8–85  | Stadium de Toulouse
2011 | Pool B |  Scotland | 24–34  | Rugby Park Stadium
Argentina | 8–43  | Rugby Park Stadium
England | 3–67  | Otago Stadium
Georgia | 9–25  | Arena Manawatu
2015 | Pool D |  France | 11–38  | Olympic Stadium
Ireland | 10–44  | Wembley Stadium
Canada | 17–15  | Leicester City Stadium
Italy | 22–32  | Sandy Park
2023 | Pool B |  Ireland | 8-82  | Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux
South Africa | 0-76
Scotland | 0-84  | Stade Pierre-Mauroy
Tonga | 24-45

### Overall

[edit]

Men's World Rugby Rankings

* v
* t
* e

Top 20 as of 7 July 2025[17] Rank | Change[i] | Team | Points

|
|
|

1  |  |  South Africa | 092.78
2  |  |  New Zealand | 090.98
3  |  |  Ireland | 089.83
4  |  |  France | 088.90
5  |  |  England | 086.72
6  |  |  Argentina | 082.98
7  |  |  Scotland | 082.36
8  |  |  Australia | 082.08
9  |  |  Fiji | 079.52
10  |  |  Italy | 077.77
11  |  |  Georgia | 074.69
12  |  |  Japan | 073.70
13  |  |  Samoa | 072.68
14  | 2 |  Wales | 072.65
15  |  |  United States | 070.02
16  |  |  Spain | 067.34
17  |  |  Uruguay | 067.06
18  |  |  Portugal | 066.44
19  |  |  Tonga | 065.46
20  |  |  Chile | 063.20
21  |  |  Romania | 063.13
22  |  |  Hong Kong | 059.98
23  |  |  Belgium | 059.98
24  |  |  Canada | 059.18
25  |  |  Namibia | 057.87
26  |  |  Zimbabwe | 057.16
27  |  |  Netherlands | 057.01
28  |  |  Brazil | 056.53
29  |  |   Switzerland | 055.26
30  |  |  Poland | 054.06

1. ^ Change from the previous week

Romania's historical rankings

This graph was using the legacy Graph extension, which is no longer supported. It needs to be converted to the new Chart extension.

|

See or edit source data.

Source: World Rugby[17]
Graph updated to 7 July 2025

Below is a table of the representative rugby matches played by a Romania national XV at test level up until 15 July 2025, updated after match with  Uruguay. [18]

Opponent  | Played  | Won  | Lost  | Drawn  | Win %  | For  | Aga  | Diff

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Argentina | 9 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0.00% | 114 | 341 | −227
Argentina XV | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 80% | 113 | 74 | +39
Australia | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0.00% | 20 | 189 | −169
Belgium | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 100% | 478 | 118 | +360
Brazil | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100% | 78 | 26 | +52
Bulgaria | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100% | 170 | 3 | +167
Canada | 10 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 70% | 195 | 204 | −9
Chile | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 66.67% | 73 | 74 | -1
Czech Republic | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 100% | 307 | 53 | +254
Czechoslovakia | 18 | 17 | 0 | 1 | 94.44% | 349 | 105 | +244
East Germany | 13 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 92.31% | 393 | 69 | +324
England | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0.0% | 24 | 335 | −311
Fiji | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 33.33% | 42 | 70 | −28
France | 50 | 8 | 40 | 2 | 16% | 462 | 1,315 | −853
France A | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.00% | 16 | 20 | −4
France XV | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0.00% | 30 | 153 | −123
Georgia | 30 | 9 | 20 | 1 | 30% | 457 | 703 | −246
Germany | 13 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 61.54% | 463 | 178 | +285
Ireland | 10 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0.00% | 110 | 472 | −362
Ireland XV | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.90% | 13 | 13 | +0
Emerging Ireland | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.00% | 10 | 31 | −21
Italy | 44 | 16 | 25 | 3 | 36.36% | 654 | 711 | −57
Italy A | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 50% | 65 | 87 | −22
Emerging Italy | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100% | 43 | 26 | +17
Japan | 6 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 16.67% | 119 | 152 | −33
Japan XV | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100% | 30 | 25 | +5
Morocco | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 87.5% | 342 | 56 | +286
Namibia | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 83.33% | 158 | 66 | +92
Netherlands | 9 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 100% | 390 | 73 | +317
New Zealand | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0.00% | 14 | 99 | −85
New Zealand XV | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.00% | 30 | 60 | −30
Junior All Blacks | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.00% | 10 | 10 | +0
Poland | 18 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 88.89% | 601 | 178 | +423
Portugal | 31 | 25 | 6 | 0 | 80.65% | 911 | 441 | +470
Russia | 24 | 16 | 7 | 1 | 66.67% | 580 | 347 | +233
Samoa | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 66.67% | 49 | 59 | −10
Scotland | 14 | 2 | 12 | 0 | 15.38% | 192 | 559 | −367
Scotland A | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.00% | 18 | 21 | −3
South Africa | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0.00% | 8 | 97 | −89
Emerging Springboks | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0.00% | 20 | 86 | −66
Soviet Union | 15 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 80% | 251 | 153 | +98
Spain | 40 | 35 | 5 | 0 | 87.5% | 1,148 | 482 | +666
Tonga | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 50% | 136 | 144 | −8
Tunisia | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 80% | 189 | 42 | +147
Ukraine | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 100% | 400 | 43 | +357
United States | 11 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 27.27% | 143 | 281 | −138
Uruguay | 15 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 66.67% | 383 | 281 | +102
Wales | 8 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 25% | 96 | 342 | −246
Wales XV | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.00% | 12 | 13 | −1
West Germany | 9 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 88.89% | 199 | 69 | +130
Zimbabwe | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 100% | 123 | 84 | +39
Total | 500 | 280 | 208 | 12 | 56% | 11,231 | 9,633 | +1,598

## Players

[edit]

### Current squad

[edit]

On 29 June, Romania named a 32-player squad for their South American tour against Chile, Uruguay and Argentina XV.[19]

Head Coach: David Gérard

* Caps Updated: 5 July 2025 (After Chile v Romania)

Player  | Position | Date of birth (age)  | Caps  | Club/province

|
|
|
|

Ștefan Buruiană | Hooker |  (2003-03-03) 3 March 2003 (age 22) | 10  |  Nevers
Tudor Butnariu | Hooker |  (1995-03-12) 12 March 1995 (age 30) | 20  |  Timișoara
Lukas Mitu | Hooker |  (2004-03-26) 26 March 2004 (age 21) | 0  |  Castres
Vasile Balan | Prop |  (1992-02-07) 7 February 1992 (age 33) | 26  |  Steaua București
Thomas Crețu | Prop |  (2002-03-05) 5 March 2002 (age 23) | 9  |  Albi
Ciprian Chiriac | Prop |  (1993-03-21) 21 March 1993 (age 32) | 7  |  Timișoara
Gheorghe Gajion | Prop |  (1992-11-13) 13 November 1992 (age 32) | 17  |  Stade Montois
Iulian Harțig | Prop |  (1998-10-11) 11 October 1998 (age 26) | 26  |  Dinamo București
Alexandru Savin | Prop |  (1995-02-12) 12 February 1995 (age 30) | 43  |  Rapid
Yanis Horvat | Lock |  (2003-05-08) 8 May 2003 (age 22) | 6  |  Albi
Adrian Moțoc | Lock |  (1996-07-11) 11 July 1996 (age 29) | 34  |  Biarritz
Andrei Mahu | Lock |  (1991-09-03) 3 September 1991 (age 33) | 14  |  Massy
Cristi Boboc | Back row |  (1995-10-09) 9 October 1995 (age 29) | 20  |  Steaua București
Nicolaas Immelman | Back row |  (1993-06-18) 18 June 1993 (age 32) | 9  |  Baia Mare
Vlad Neculau | Back row |  (1998-01-07) 7 January 1998 (age 27) | 25  |  Timișoara
Florian Roșu | Back row |  (1993-04-20) 20 April 1993 (age 32) | 21  |  Baia Mare
Damian Strătilă | Back row |  (1996-07-28) 28 July 1996 (age 28) | 13  |  Steaua București
Matthew Tweddle | Back row |  (1992-06-01) 1 June 1992 (age 33) | 5  |  Steaua București
Vladut Bocanet | Scrum-half |  (1999-04-28) 28 April 1999 (age 26) | 2  |  Baia Mare
Alin Conache | Scrum-half |  (2002-05-07) 7 May 2002 (age 23) | 25  |  Steaua București
Toma Mîrzac | Scrum-half |  | 0  |  Baia Mare
Tudor Boldor | Fly-half |  (1997-11-29) 29 November 1997 (age 27) | 19  |  Timișoara
Ștefan Cojocariu | Fly-half |  (2004-01-04) 4 January 2004 (age 21) | 0  |  Rapid
Alexandru Bucur | Centre |  (1994-04-24) 24 April 1994 (age 31) | 20  |  Timișoara
Antonio Mitrea | Centre |  (2006-01-27) 27 January 2006 (age 19) | 1  |  Aurillac
Fonovai Tangimana | Centre |  (1989-10-25) 25 October 1989 (age 35) | 29  |  Dinamo București
Sebastien Tofan | Centre |  (2006-01-02) 2 January 2006 (age 19) | 0  |  Perpignan
Toni Maftei | Wing |  | 1  |  CSU ELBI Cluj
Taliaʻuli Sikuea | Wing |  (1995-07-14) 14 July 1995 (age 30) | 7  |  Baia Mare
Romeo Corrado-Ștețco | Wing |  (2001-03-23) 23 March 2001 (age 24) | 3  |  Steaua București
Alexandru Harasim | Fullback |  (2000-03-03) 3 March 2000 (age 25) | 0  |  Baia Mare
Ovidiu Neagu | Fullback |  (2001-03-06) 6 March 2001 (age 24) | 7  |  Timișoara

### Notable players

[edit]

This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (January 2022) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

|

Mircea Paraschiv captained Romania from 1976 to 1987.

Florică Murariu was one of a number of Romanian rugby internationals who were killed during the Romanian Revolution in December 1989.[20]

Romania's current top point scorer and most capped player of all time, Florin Vlaicu.

The 1924 Romania Olympic team are the only Romanian inductee to have been inducted into the IRB Hall of Fame. Nicolae Mărăscu captained the Hall of Fame side. The highest point of Mărăscu's career was at the 1924 tournament, earning Romania the bronze medal. He played as a centre and had five caps, without ever scoring, since his first match, in 1919, a 48–5 loss to France, in Paris, for the Inter-Allied Games, and his last, at 22 May 1927, in a 21–5 win over Czechoslovakia, in Bratislava.

Iulian Dumitraș was Romania's main man. Dumitraș was known to be one of the Oaks' most gifted playmakers, with an accurate kicking boot and a penchant for sparking attacks. Having made his test debut in 2002, he went on to start in every match a Rugby World Cup 2007 in France, bringing plenty of experience to the nation. The then standing 1.88m and weighing in a 110 kg, Dumitraș was a punishing runner when he chimes into the line on attack, which he looked to do often, and he provided a solid and dependable last obstacle in defence.

Sorin Socol is regarded by many good judges as the then best player in the current squad and was one of the rocks of the Romanian forward pack. He has captained the most matches to date for Romania, between 2003 and 2011. A total of 61 tests, 36 of them were as captain. He captained Romania for the first time on 30 October 2003 during the 2003 Rugby World Cup match against Namibia. He went on and featured in the 2007 World Cup squad and eventually retired from all international rugby after the 2011 tournament. Socol had one of Romania's highest winning percentage as a captain of 63.88.

Florin Vlaicu is Romania's top ever point scorer and also the most capped player appearing in 104 tests so far. Vlaicu made his international debut in 2006 as a substitute against Ukraine. He played for Romania in the IRB Nations Cup and in their 2007 Rugby World Cup qualifying before appearing for them in the 2007 Rugby World Cup. He played two Tests at the World Cup as a substitute against both Scotland and the All Blacks. He also played at the 2011 and 2015 Rugby World Cups.

Cristian Petre is Romania's most recognized player after dominating the lock position for eleven years. He is one of Romania's most capped player with a total of 92 matches and a career span that started in 2001 against England and ended in 2012 against Italy. Petre has featured in three Rugby World Cups, first in 2003, going on to feature in 2007 and his last being in 2011. Petre has scored a total of six tries and had winning percentage of 55.43.

Cătălin Fercu is generally regarded as one of Romania's true global superstar of rugby union. Fercu is Romania's top try scorers. He had quickly made appearances on the international stage at a very young age and played against France and Scotland in the Autumn internationals in 2006. He also scored a try against the French. Fercu helped guide Romania to the 2007 Rugby World Cup as he played in the qualifier matches including the vital games against Georgia and Spain and scored a try against Spain in the game that sealed their qualification to the Rugby World Cup. Fercu was a late withdrawal from their Rugby World Cup squad in 2011 because he was not prepared to fly all the way to New Zealand. The Romanian side arrived in Christchurch to prepare for their first game of the tournament against Scotland in Invercargill on 10 September without Fercu, who failed to get on the plane when it left Romania.

Another one of the Oaks greatest players are Romeo Gontineac, represented Romania in four Rugby World Cups from 1995 to 2007. The hard running centre, who became the national coach in 2010, was capped 75 times for the nation, scoring 13 tries and a drop goal. During his career he played professionally in Romania, South Africa and France.

#### Members of the 1924 Olympics team

[edit]

* Nicolae Anastasiade
* Dumitru Armășel
* Gheorghe Benția
* J. Cociociaho
* Constantin Crătunescu
* Teodor Florian
* Petre Ghițulescu
* Ion Gîrleșteanu

* Octav Luchide
* Jean Henry Manu
* Nicolae Mărăscu
* Teodor Marian
* Sorin Mihăilescu
* Paul Nedelcovici
* Iosif Nemeș
* Eugen Sfetescu

* Mircea Sfetescu
* Soare Sterian
* Mircea Stroescu
* Atanasie Tănăsescu
* Mihai Vardală
* Paul Vidrașcu
* Dumitru Volvoreanu

|
|

## Coaches

[edit]

### Current coaching staff

[edit]

The current coaching staff of the Romanian national team:

Name  | Nationality  | Role

|
|

Iustin Ilioiu |  ROU | Manager
David Gérard |  FRA | Head coach
Jon Callard |  ENG | Attack coach
Simon Maisuradze |  GEO | Forwards coach
Raphaël Francois Saint-André |  FRA | Assistant coach with the three quarters and skills
Michaël Dallery |  FRA | Head trainer with physical training
Paul Cere-Labourdette |  FRA | Second coach with physical training & GPS
Daniel Carpo |  ROU | Second coach with physical training & GPS
Daniel Răzvan Wanya Crîngu |  ROU | Doctor
Marius Tudosi |  ROU | Physiotherapist
David Popa |  ROU | Video analyst

### Former coaches

[edit]

Years  | Coach

|

1961–1965 |  Petre Cosmănescu
1965–1968 |  Viorel Morariu
1968–1972 |  Petre Cosmănescu
1973–1974 |  Valeriu Irimescu
1974–1981 |  Petre Cosmănescu
1985–1987 |  Theodor Rădulescu
1987–1989 |  Mihai Naca
1989–1990 |  Theodor Rădulescu
1991 |  Peter Ianusevici
1992–1994 |  Theodor Rădulescu
1994–1999 |  Mircea Paraschiv
1999–2001 |  Eduard Suciu
2002–2003 |  Bernard Charreyre
2004 |  Phillipe Sauton
2004 |  Robert Antonin
2005–2007 |  Daniel Santamans
2007–2008 |  Marin Moț
2008–2009 |  Ellis Meachen
2009 |  Marin Moț
2009–2010 |  Serge Lairle
2010–2011 |  Romeo Gontineac
2012 |  Haralambie Dumitraș
2013–2018 |  Lynn Howells
2018 |  Thomas Lièvremont
2019 |  Marius Țincu (interim)
2019–2022 |  Andy Robinson
2022–2023 |  Eugen Apjok
2024– |  David Gérard

## Individual all-time records

[edit]

### Most caps

[edit]

#  | Player  | Pos  | Span  | Mat  | Start  | Sub  | Won  | Lost  | Draw  | %

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1 | Florin Vlaicu | Centre | 2006–2022 | 129 | 103 | 26 | 79 | 47 | 3 | 62.89
2 | Cătălin Fercu | Fullback | 2005–2020 | 109 | 107 | 2 | 73 | 33 | 3 | 68.34
3 | Florin Surugiu | Scrum-half | 2008–2024 | 108 | 68 | 40 | 64 | 43 | 1 | 62.35
4 | Mihai Macovei | Flanker | 2006–2023 | 104 | 93 | 11 | 60 | 43 | 1 | 58.98
5 | Valentin Calafeteanu | Scrum-half | 2004–2019 | 100 | 54 | 46 | 61 | 37 | 2 | 62.00
6 | Cristian Petre | Lock | 2001–2012 | 92 | 83 | 9 | 50 | 40 | 2 | 55.43
7 | Csaba Gál | Centre | 2005–2015 | 88 | 65 | 23 | 49 | 37 | 2 | 56.81
8 | Valentin Popârlan | Lock | 2007–2020 | 77 | 50 | 27 | 48 | 29 | 0 | 62.33
9 | Romeo Gontineac | Centre | 1995–2008 | 76 | 75 | 1 | 35 | 41 | 0 | 46.05
Adrian Lungu | Centre | 1980–1995 | 76 | 75 | 1 | 40 | 36 | 0 | 52.63
Lucian Sîrbu | Scrum-half | 1996–2011 | 76 | 62 | 14 | 40 | 34 | 2 | 53.94

Last updated: United States vs Romania, 6 July 2024. Statistics include officially capped matches only.[21]

### Most tries

[edit]

#  | Player  | Pos  | Span  | Mat  | Start  | Sub  | Pts  | Tries

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1 | Cătălin Fercu | Fullback | 2005–2020 | 109 | 107 | 2 | 171 | 33
2 | Gabriel Brezoianu | Centre | 1996–2007 | 71 | 67 | 4 | 142 | 28
3 | Mihai Macovei | Flanker | 2006–2023 | 104 | 93 | 11 | 110 | 22
4 | Ionut Dumitru | Centre | 2013–2022 | 55 | 49 | 6 | 85 | 17
5 | Ovidiu Tonița | Flanker | 2000–2016 | 73 | 67 | 6 | 75 | 15
6 | Petre Mitu | Scrum-half | 1996–2009 | 41 | 36 | 5 | 339 | 14
Cristian Săuan | Wing | 1999–2007 | 37 | 32 | 5 | 70 | 14
Marius Țincu | Hooker | 2002–2012 | 53 | 49 | 4 | 70 | 14
Florin Vlaicu | Centre | 2006–2022 | 129 | 103 | 26 | 1025 | 14
10 | 4 players on 13 tries

Last updated: United States vs Romania, 6 July 2024. Statistics include officially capped matches only.[22]

### Most points

[edit]

#  | Player  | Pos  | Span  | Mat  | Pts  | Tries  | Conv  | Pens  | Drop

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1 | Florin Vlaicu | Centre | 2006–2022 | 129 | 1321 | 14 | 173 | 203 | 4
2 | Dănuț Dumbravă | Fly-half | 2002–2015 | 73 | 389 | 3 | 73 | 74 | 2
3 | Petre Mitu | Scrum-half | 1996–2009 | 41 | 339 | 14 | 55 | 53 | 0
4 | Ionuţ Tofan | Fly-half | 1997–2007 | 60 | 316 | 12 | 53 | 46 | 4
5 | Valentin Calafeteanu | Scrum-half | 2004–2019 | 100 | 233 | 11 | 32 | 37 | 1
6 | Neculai Nichitean | Fly-half | 1990–1997 | 28 | 201 | 0 | 18 | 45 | 10
7 | Ionel Melinte | Fullback | 2018–present | 29 | 176 | 9 | 37 | 19 | 0
8 | Cătălin Fercu | Fullback | 2005–2020 | 109 | 171 | 33 | 1 | 1 | 0
9 | Gelu Ignat | Fly-half | 1986–1992 | 25 | 148 | 1 | 15 | 32 | 6
10 | Gabriel Brezoianu | Centre | 1996–2007 | 71 | 142 | 28 | 1 | 0 | 0

Last updated: United States vs Romania, 6 July 2024. Statistics include officially capped matches only.[23]

### Most matches as captain

[edit]

#  | Player  | Pos  | Span  | Mat  | Won  | Lost  | Draw  | %  | Pts  | Tries

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1 | Mihai Macovei | Flanker | 2012–2023 | 72 | 47 | 24 | 1 | 68.10 | 105 | 21
2 | Sorin Socol | Lock | 2001–2011 | 36 | 22 | 12 | 2 | 63.88 | 25 | 5
3 | Stelian Burcea | Flanker | 2009–2018 | 19 | 13 | 6 | 0 | 68.42 | 15 | 3
4 | Mircea Paraschiv | Scrum-half | 1980–1987 | 18 | 7 | 10 | 1 | 41.66 | 16 | 4
5 | Haralambie Dumitras | Number 8 | 1989–1993 | 14 | 5 | 9 | 0 | 35.71 | 20 | 5
Romeo Gontineac | Centre | 1999–2003 | 14 | 4 | 10 | 0 | 28.57 | 5 | 1
7 | Tiberiu Brînză | Number 8 | 1994–1997 | 13 | 1 | 12 | 0 | 7.69 | 5 | 1
8 | Marius Țincu | Hooker | 2007–2012 | 11 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 45.45 | 0 | 0
9 | Costica Mersoiu | Number 8 | 2007–2008 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 60.00 | 5 | 1
10 | Alin Petrache | Number 8 | 1999–2004 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 42.85 | 0 | 0

Last updated: United States vs Romania, 6 July 2024. Statistics include officially capped matches only.[24]

### Most points in a match

[edit]

#  | Player  | Pos  | Pts  | Tries  | Conv  | Pens  | Drop  | Opposition  | Venue  | Date

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1 | Ionuţ Tofan | Fly-half | 32 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 0 |  Spain |  Iași | 05/10/2002
2 | Virgil Popisteanu | Fly-half | 27 | 0 | 12 | 1 | 0 |  Portugal |  Bucharest | 13/04/1996
Petre Mitu | Scrum-half | 27 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 0 |  Portugal |  Lisbon | 04/02/2001
4 | Ionel Rotaru | Wing | 25 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |  Portugal |  Bucharest | 13/04/1996
5 | Florin Vlaicu | Fullback | 24 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 1 |  Czech Republic |  Bucharest | 22/03/2008
Florin Vlaicu | Centre | 24 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 0 |  Russia |  Bucharest | 09/02/2013
7 | Gelu Ignat | Fly-half | 22 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 0 |  Netherlands |  Treviso | 30/09/1990
Petre Mitu | Scrum-half | 22 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 0 |  Russia |  Bârlad | 18/03/2001
Ionuţ Tofan | Fly-half | 22 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 0 |  Russia |  Krasnodar | 24/03/2002
10 | 5 players on 21 points

Last updated: United States vs Romania, 6 July 2024. Statistics include officially capped matches only.[25]

### Most tries in a match

[edit]

#  | Player  | Pos  | Pts  | Tries  | Conv  | Pens  | Drop  | Opposition  | Venue  | Date

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1 | Gheorgie Rascanu | Flanker | 20 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |  Morocco |  Bucharest | 02/05/1972
Cornel Popescu | Wing | 20 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |  Portugal |  Bârlad | 18/10/1986
Ionel Rotaru | Wing | 25 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |  Portugal |  Bucharest | 13/04/1996
4 | Petre Motrescu | Wing | 16 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |  Italy |  Bucharest | 01/05/1977
Gheorghe Solomie | Wing | 20 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |  Belgium |  Brussels | 04/10/1997
Lucian Colceriu | Wing | 20 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |  Poland |  Bucharest | 02/05/1998
7 | 11 players on 3 tries

Last updated: United States vs Romania, 6 July 2024. Statistics include officially capped matches only.[26]

## Media coverage

[edit]

Romania's Rugby Europe Championship matches, mid year internationals and end of year internationals are currently televised by TVR.

## Kits and symbols

[edit]

Romania usually wears a yellow shirt with blue shorts and red socks as home uniform, with the exceptions being at the 1924 Olympic Games in Paris, where a light blue shirt with the Royal coat of arms[27] was worn, as well in the 2003 Rugby World Cup, where a blue uniform was worn in all of the matches. Since 2014, the jerseys are adorned with Romanian traditional embroidering motifs and Dacian patterns.[28][29][30][31]

The origins of the oak leaf as symbol for the Romanian team date from 1979, after former Romanian international player Viorel Morariu and then-president of Federația Română de Rugby, decided, with the consultation of specialists, that an oak leaf would be the team emblem[32] (as during the touris in the British Isles and Ireland, the Communist coat of arms painted on the Romanian players' shirts became unrecognisable due to the rain).[33][34][35][36] The Latin word for oak, "robur", also meant "strength" in that same language.[32][37] In 1980, a new badge, a shield with an oak leaf (which made the Romanian team be nicknamed "Stejarii", which means "the oaks") and the acronym "FRR" on the top. The adoption of said emblem could be also seen as an act of defiance towards the then-ruling regime in Romania, whose approval was given to the Romanian federations's requests to be affiliated to the IRFB.[38] After the 2003 Rugby World Cup, the oak leaf was seen without the shield, usually accompanied by the inscription "Rugby Romania".

* 2003-2010 emblem

## Kit suppliers

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Romania national rugby union team kits.

Period  | Kit manufacturer  | Shirt sponsor

|
|

1919–1985  | No supplier  | No shirt sponsor
1985–1988  | Adidas
1988–1989  | Bukta
1989–1993  | Adidas | Rank Xerox
1994–1996  | Gilbert | No shirt sponsor
1996–1997  | Puma AG[39]
1997–2001  | Gilbert | No shirt sponsor
2002  | Petrom
2003–2008  | O'Neills | Orange
2009  | No shirt sponsor
2010  | CEC Bank
2011  | KooGa
2012  | Tall Ball
2012  | Samurai Sportswear (worn in the 2012 end of the year internationals)
2013–2016  | BLK
2016–2019  | Mizuno
2020  | Tall Ball
2021  | Macron
2021  | Stanleybet (worn in the 2021 mid-year internationals)
2021–  | No shirt sponsor
2023  | Kaufland

## See also

[edit]

* Rugby union in Romania
* Romanian Rugby Federation
* List of Romania national rugby union players
* Romania national rugby sevens team
* Romania women's national rugby sevens team
* Romania women's national rugby union team
* Romania national under-20 rugby union team
* Sport in Romania

## Further reading

[edit]

* Bath, Richard (1997). The Complete Book of Rugby. London: Sevenoaks. ISBN 978-1-8620-0013-1.
* Ravagnani, Luciano; Fadda, Pierluigi (2007). Storia del Rugby Mondiale dalle origini ad oggi (2nd ed.). Milan: Editrice SEP. ISBN 978-8-8871-1092-0.
* Zamfir, Constantin (2010). Povestea naționalei de rugby continuă: palmaresul revăzut și completat (3rd ed.). Bucharest: Editura Paco. ISBN 978-6-0680-0654-3.
* Garcia, Henri (2013). La Fabuleuse Histoire du rugby. Paris: La Martinière. ISBN 978-2-7324-5456-6.
* Moldoveanu, Traian (2016). Rugby: Istorie românească, Vol. 1 1908-1982. Editura Scripta. ISBN 978-9-7382-3855-8.
* Moldoveanu, Traian (2018). Rugby: Istorie românească, Vol. 2 1983-2018. Editura Scripta.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ (Romanian: Echipa națională de rugby a României)
2. ^ a b "Rugby: România - deținătoarea necunoscută a unui record mondial" [Romania – The Unknown Holder of a World Record – A Discovery by Journalist Chris Thau] (in Romanian). Romania: Romanian Rugby Federation. 8 May 2020. Retrieved 12 July 2025.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
3. ^ Men's International Rugby Union Teams beaten by Romania
4. ^ "Independent Appeal Committee decision regarding Romania and Spain".
5. ^ "Rugby Teams, Scores, Stats, News, Fixtures, Results, Tables - ESPN". ESPNscrum.
6. ^ 1974–1975 FIRA Trophy
7. ^ Vivian Jenkins, ed. (1982). Rothmans Rugby Yearboook 1982–83. Rothmans Publications Ltd. p. 65\. ISBN 0907574130.
8. ^ "IRB". Archived from the original on 5 October 2013.
9. ^ November gain or pain? Retrieved December 2016
10. ^ "Russia qualify for 2019 Rugby World Cup after Romania, Belgium and Spain sanctioned for ineligible players". Independent.co.uk. 16 May 2018. Retrieved 13 June 2018.
11. ^ Disciplinary update: Romania and Spain to appeal disputes committee outcomes
12. ^ Independent Appeal Committee decision regarding Romania and Spain
13. ^ "Games played between Romania and France".
14. ^ Was played the first round of 2003 Rugby World Cup – European qualification
15. ^ Was played as the second round of 2003 Rugby World Cup – European qualification
16. ^ a b c relegation and promotion on two year based ranking
17. ^ a b "Men's World Rankings". World Rugby. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
18. ^ Romania statistics
19. ^ Stejarii pentru Summer Tour. Vezi cei 32 de jucători care fac parte din lotul României. Cristi Boboc, căpitanul echipei
20. ^ Coyle, Danny (17 September 2014). "20 Biggest Shock Results in Rugby History". The Bleacher Report. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
21. ^ "Rugby Teams, Scores, Stats, News, Fixtures, Results, Tables - ESPN".
22. ^ "Rugby Teams, Scores, Stats, News, Fixtures, Results, Tables - ESPN".
23. ^ "Rugby Teams, Scores, Stats, News, Fixtures, Results, Tables - ESPN".
24. ^ "Rugby Teams, Scores, Stats, News, Fixtures, Results, Tables - ESPN".
25. ^ "Rugby Teams, Scores, Stats, News, Fixtures, Results, Tables - ESPN".
26. ^ "Rugby Teams, Scores, Stats, News, Fixtures, Results, Tables - ESPN".
27. ^ "Authentic Jerseys - 1924 Romania Jersey". www.sports-depoque.com. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
28. ^ Nazare, Daniel (27 June 2021). "Naționala de rugby, echipament cu însemnele tradiționale! Chimirul, din nou pe tricoul "stejarilor"". Prosport (in Romanian). Retrieved 18 February 2024.
29. ^ Iasi, Ziarul de. "Motive tradiţionale pe tricourile rugbiştilor". www.ziaruldeiasi.ro. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
30. ^ Gorjeanul, Echipa (14 September 2015). "Motive schilereşti, pe echipamentul grupării de rugby a României | Ştiri locale de ultima ora, stiri video - Ştiri Gorjeanul.ro" (in Romanian). Retrieved 18 February 2024.
31. ^ "Colours and patterns from tradition on Romania's new jerseys for the Rugby World Cup 2023". www.macron.com (in French). 3 August 2023. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
32. ^ a b "Un stejar pentru Stejarii României: Campanie de plantare de copaci în numele echipei naţionale de rugby". Ziarul Impact (in Romanian). Retrieved 18 February 2024.
33. ^ "ROMÂNIA - IRLANDA / ISTORIE: Cum a înlocuit Frunza de Stejar stema Republicii Socialiste România pe tricourile rugbyștilor". www.rugby.ro (in Romanian). Retrieved 18 February 2024.
34. ^ Journal, Romania (29 May 2023). "Oak planting event on behalf of the national rugby team". The Romania Journal. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
35. ^ "Povestea frunzei de stejar". www.rugby.ro (in Romanian). Retrieved 18 February 2024.
36. ^ Burlacu, Marian (21 September 2013). "L-au fentat pe Ceauşescu! Afilierea Federaţiei Române de Rugby la forul mondial, în 1987, s-a făcut fără aprobarea partidului comunist". Libertatea (in Romanian). Retrieved 18 February 2024.
37. ^ "Un stejar pentru Stejarii României: Campanie de plantare de copaci în numele echipei naționale de rugby - Jurnal de Sustenabilitate" (in Romanian). 29 May 2023. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
38. ^ Burlacu, Marian (21 September 2013). "L-au fentat pe Ceauşescu! Afilierea Federaţiei Române de Rugby la forul mondial, în 1987, s-a făcut fără aprobarea partidului comunist". Libertatea (in Romanian). Retrieved 18 February 2024.
39. ^ Museo del Rugby - N.1, Gabriel Vlad (Andrea Castellani)

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Romania national rugby union team.

* Official website (in Romanian)

* v
* t
* e

Romania national rugby union team

* Romanian Rugby Federation

Competitions and trophies|

* Rugby World Cup
* World Rugby Nations Cup
* Rugby Europe International Championships
* Antim Cup
* Kiseleff Cup
* Pershing Cup

Related teams|

* Womens
* U20s
* 7`s
* Women`s 7`s

Matches|

| By opponent|

* Georgia

|

See also|

* England (1989)

Tours|

| Europe|

* 1979
* 1980
* 1981
* 1984–85
* 2002

|

New Zealand|

* 1975
* 1991

Argentina|

* 1973
* 1998

* v
* t
* e

Rugby union in Romania

Governing body|

* Romanian Rugby Federation

National teams|

| Men's|

* Romania
* 7s
* U-20

|

Women's|

* Romania
* 7s

Rugby Europe Super Cup Franchise|

* Romanian Wolves

Competitions|

| International|

* Rugby World Cup
* Rugby Europe Championship
* Rugby World Cup Sevens
* Rugby Europe Sevens
* World Rugby U20 Trophy
* Rugby Europe Under-20 Championship

|

Professional Club|

* Rugby Europe Super Cup
* Liga Națională de Rugby
* Cupa României

* v
* t
* e

World Rugby Nations Cup

2019 teams|

* Argentina XV
* Namibia
* Russia
* Uruguay

Former teams|

* Emerging Ireland (2014)
* Emerging Springboks (2007, 2008)
* France A (2009)
* Georgia (2007, 2008, 2010, 2011)
* Portugal (2006, 2011, 2012)
* Scotland A (2009, 2010)
* Russia (2014)
* South African Kings (2011)

Seasons|

* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019

Winners|

* 2006 Argentina A
* 2007 Emerging Springboks
* 2008 Emerging Springboks
* 2009 Scotland A
* 2010 Namibia
* 2011 South African Kings
* 2012 Romania
* 2013 Romania
* 2014 Emerging Ireland
* 2015 Romania
* 2016 Romania
* 2017 Uruguay
* 2018 Uruguay
* 2019 Uruguay

* v
* t
* e

International men's rugby union teams

Tier 1 teams|

* Argentina
* Australia
* England
* France
* Ireland
* Italy
* Japan
* New Zealand
* Scotland
* South Africa
* Wales

Emerging teams with
Rugby World Cup participation|

* Canada
* Chile
* Fiji
* Georgia
* Hong Kong
* Ivory Coast
* Namibia
* Portugal
* Romania
* Samoa
* Spain
* Tonga
* United States
* Uruguay
* Zimbabwe

Other Emerging teams
(World Rugby members)|

* Algeria
* American Samoa
* Andorra
* Austria
* Azerbaijan
* Bahamas
* Barbados
* Belgium
* Bermuda
* Bosnia and Herzegovina
* Botswana
* Brazil
* British Virgin Islands
* Brunei
* Bulgaria
* Burkina Faso
* Burundi
* Cameroon
* Cayman Islands
* China
* Chinese Taipei
* Colombia
* Cook Islands
* Costa Rica
* Croatia
* Cyprus
* Czech Republic
* Denmark
* Eswatini
* Finland
* Germany
* Ghana
* Guam
* Guatemala
* Guyana
* Hungary
* India
* Indonesia
* Iran
* Israel
* Jamaica
* Jordan
* Kazakhstan
* Kenya
* Kyrgyzstan
* Laos
* Latvia
* Lebanon
* Lithuania
* Luxembourg
* Madagascar
* Malaysia
* Mali
* Malta
* Mauritius
* Mexico
* Moldova
* Monaco
* Mongolia
* Morocco
* Nepal
* Netherlands
* Nigeria
* Niue
* Norway
* Pakistan
* Panama
* Papua New Guinea
* Paraguay
* Peru
* Philippines
* Poland
* Qatar
* Rwanda
* Senegal
* Serbia
* Singapore
* Slovakia
* Slovenia
* Solomon Islands
* South Korea
* Sri Lanka
* St Lucia
* St Vincent and the Grenadines
* Sweden
* Switzerland
* Tanzania
* Thailand
* Togo
* Trinidad and Tobago
* Tunisia
* Turkey
* Uganda
* Ukraine
* United Arab Emirates
* Uzbekistan
* Vanuatu
* Venezuela
* Zambia

Teams not affiliated
to World Rugby|

| Rugby Africa|

* Benin
* Chad
* Congo
* Democratic Republic of the Congo
* Egypt
* Libya
* Niger
* Seychelles

|

Asia Rugby|

* Bangladesh
* Cambodia
* Macau

Rugby Europe|

* Belarus
* Estonia
* Iceland
* Kosovo
* Liechtenstein
* Montenegro
* San Marino

Rugby Americas North|

* Curaçao
* Dominican Republic
* Guadeloupe
* Martinique
* Turks and Caicos Islands

Oceania Rugby|

* French Polynesia (Tahiti)
* Nauru
* New Caledonia
* Wallis and Futuna

Sudamerica Rugby|

* Ecuador
* El Salvador

Combination teams|

* African Leopards
* British & Irish Lions
* Pacific Islanders
* South American XV

Teams with affiliation suspended
or without affiliation|

* Armenia
* Bahrain
* Basque Country
* Catalonia
* Gibraltar
* Greece
* Mauritania
* Russia

Teams affiliated to the FFR|

* Mayotte
* Réunion

Defunct teams|

* Arabian Gulf
* Commonwealth of Independent States
* Czechoslovakia
* East Africa
* East Germany
* Nyasaland (Malawi)
* Serbia and Montenegro
* Soviet Union
* West Germany
* Yugoslavia

* v
* t
* e

National sports teams of Romania

* American football
* Badminton
* Baseball
* Basketball
* M
* M-20
* M-19
* M-16
* W
* W-20
* W-18
* W-16
* M 3x3
* W 3x3
* Beach soccer
* Bobsleigh
* Cricket
* M
* W
* Football
* M
* M Olympic
* M-21
* M-20
* M-19
* M-17
* M-16
* W
* W-19
* W-17
* Futsal
* M
* W
* Gymnastics
* Handball
* M
* W
* W-19
* W-17
* Ice hockey
* M
* M-20
* M-18
* W
* W-18
* Korfball
* Minifootball
* Rugby union
* M
* M-20
* M7's
* W
* W7's
* Tennis
* M
* W
* X
* Volleyball
* M
* M-21
* M-19
* W
* W-21
* W-19
* Water polo
* M
* W

* Olympics
* Paralympics
* European Games

*[Pld]: Games played
*[W]: Won
*[D]: Drawn
*[L]: Lost
*[PF]: Points for
*[PA]: Points against
*[Pos]: Position
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template