Romanian Rugby

[dragos03]

The local council of Bucharest has approved the plans for the reconstruction of Arcul de Triumf Stadium, the home of Romanian rugby. It will be extended to a capacity of 8000 seats, all covered, with a heated pitch. The complex will include a hotel, moden gym, training fields and other facilities.

While the stadium will continue to have a limited capacity, three other arenas in Bucharest will be rebuilt as part of the same project (the stadiums Rapid, Dinamo and Ghencea), and will have between 18000 and 30000 seats. Any of them could be used for important rugby games in the future, if the demand will exceed the number of seats at Arcul de Triumf.

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Nice to see some investment in a stadium but if none of the three main Bucharest sides use it and it is too small for any major international then it seems a bit puzzling. News on June Internationals for the Oaks and still no Tier 1.

http://www.americasrugbynews.com/2016/11/02/canada-face-romania-june-2017/

Potentially loads of ranking points to play for in Japan though, which might reduce the disappointment a little.

 

[Brigantine]

Potentially loads of ranking points to play for in Japan though, which might reduce the disappointment a little.

True. As things stand now, there would be 2.88 points up for grabs by Romania, and only 0.12 for Japan.
As for the Canada game, it would be a potential 1.32 for Romania and 1.68 for Canada.

In each case (and for most opponents), the difference between going on tour and having a home game is 0.90 points. Just the fact the Oaks are going on tour is as big of a story as who the opponents are.
Even going to Samoa and Tonga would offer more rankings points than a 6NB home game vs Georgia. Maybe they're still looking at doing just that, while Ireland is in Japan.

Italy is who they should be playing though.

 

[amz]

Although we will miss as supporter matches played home I am very happy Oaks will start to tour again, especially in Pacific or Americas, they need more experience playing away in different environments.

In Japan 2019, should we will qualify, the climate will be very different compared with what we are accustomed here so ever match in similar conditions in very valuable experience.

Hopefully once the new stadium will be finished, we will see a T1 test in Bucharest and maybe some Junior tournaments.

 

[dragos03]

I'm happy that we finally get to tour, instead of the useless Nations Cup. No Tier 1 but strong opposition anyway, Japan at home will be very strong. Canada again is repetitive but they played in Bucharest many times so it's normal for us to return the visit. Third match could the the USA but some weaker opponent is fine as well (Uruguay, even Hong Kong).

However, that article is based on Romanian sources and the origin is comments made by Dumitras. Nothing is official and he has announced strong schedules for the Oaks in the past as well, which didn't happen in the end.

I think the new stadium will be very useful, even if none of the clubs move there. It will be large enough for all national team matches (unless we finally get some Tier 1 tests) and will also be used for junior national teams, finals of all leagues and cups, etc. I've heard rumours that the Dinamo rugby stadium, which currently is in an awful condition, might also get some renovation works next year.

 

[dragos03]

Some strange selections in the Oaks squad for the USA match, I don't think starting Vasile Rus is a good idea. There are two uncapped players in the team: Tangimana Fonovai and Vladut Popa (a young guy, I don't think he even played in the Superliga yet)

 

[amz]

Here are the two teams who'll play tomorrow on Arcul de Triumf:

USA Eagles team:

1. ***i Lamositele
2. Joe Taufete'e
3. Chris Baumann
4. Nate Brakeley
5. Nick Civetta
6. Al McFarland
7. Todd Clever(C)
8. Andrew Durutalo
9. Nate Augspurger
10. Will Holder
11. Martin Iosefo
12. Bryce Campbell
13. Thretton Palamo
14. Blaine Scully
15. Madison Hughes

Men's Eagles | Reserves
16. James Hilterbrand
17. Eric Fry
18. Dino Waldren
19. Samu Manoa
20. Langilangi Haupeakui
21. Stephen Tomasin
22. JP Eloff
23. Matai Leuta

Romanian Oaks:

1. Mihaita Lazar (Castres Olympique)
2. Eugen Capatana (Timisoara Saracens)
3. Alexandru Tarus (Beziers)
4. Johan Van Heerden (Stiinta Baia Mare)
5. Marius Antonescu (Tarbes)
6. Viorel Lucaci (CSA Steaua)
7. Vasile Rus (Timisoara Saracens)
8. Stelian Burcea (Timisoara Saracens) (c)
9. Florin Surugiu (Steaua)
10. Jody Rose (Timisoara Saracens)
11.Ionut Dumitru (Steaua)
12. Florin Vlaicu (Steaua)
13.Jack Umaga (Timisoara Saracens)
14. Tangimana Fonovai (Timisoara Saracens)
15. Catalin Fercu (Timisoara Saracens)

Bench:
16. Andrei Radoi (Timisoara Saracens)
17. Ionel Badiu (Carcassonne)
18. Alexandru Gordas (CSA Steaua)
19. Valentin Poparlan (Timisoara Saracens)
20.Andrei Gorcioaia (Valence d'Agen)
21. Valentin Calafeteanu (Timisoara Saracens)
22.Stephen Shennan (Timisoara Saracens)
23. Vladut Popa (Timisoara Saracens)

 

[dragos03]

Massive upset in the King's Cup, Poli Iasi has beaten Steaua in Bucharest, 38-36. Steaua missed the players away at the national team but Iasi also has important absents (some of their players are Moldovan internationals, others are injured or lacked visas).

The other results today:
Baia Mare - Dinamo 28-15
Timisoara Saracens - CSM Bucharest 26-9 (Timisoara missed no less than 23 players for this match)

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

It is easy to imagine Iasi competing with the top 3 next season if they continue to improve. Bad that CSM could not compete more with a third string Timisoara.

 

[dragos03]

Iasi seem to be on the right track, I like how they methodically built their team without spending too much. They hired a good coach and were patient even after the terrible results in the Romanian Cup early this year. Let's see how far they can go.

Timisoara's third string team still included a number of good internationals: Kinikinilau, Militaru, Pungea, D. Lazar, Morrisson, Sefanaia or Manumua. Except for Adrian Ion (perhaps the most under-rated player in the Superliga), CSM doesn't have anyone of comparable skill.

Edit: 21 year old flanker/hooker Valentin Nita scored 5 tries for Iasi!

 

[amz]

I was unpleasantly surprised that Iasi didn't had any player called up by Oaks.

Happy for their win, gutted I was out of Bucharest and couldn't made it to the match

 

[dragos03]

In the USA match, Florin Vlaicu (ironically, his nickname is "The American") has become the most capped Romanian player (94 caps). He already was the all-time top points scorer for the Oaks and has good prospects of becoming our first century player next year.

I'm not a big fan of Vlaicu, he's not a flashy player but made it this far because of his versatility and hard work. His skill with the boot and ability to play at 10, 12 or 15 made him a constant presence in the Oaks squads. He used to be unreliable in big matches in his youth but greatly improved his focus later, several of the most important victories in the last few years have been secured by accurate last-minute kicks from his boot.

 

[dragos03]

Romania vs USA 23-10 highlights:


And here is the full match (for some reason, it starts with the second half):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnHOtMdceTI

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Highlights below. A couple of decent tries for Romania and confirmation they are slowly adapting to the modern game and not simply relying on their front 8. Canada may be a tougher test though.

https://youtu.be/bbRpkX7f0vo

Italy could do with a solid utility back like Vlaicu. Currently they are playing a fly half at fullback and a fullback at centre. I'd probably take Vlaicu over either of them when played out of position like that although I agree he is somewhat limited.

Unusual question but is there any chance of Tomis Constanta emerging to replace Farul Constanta in the top league in a couple of years or is Navadori favourite to be the main club from that region for years to come? Looking to Romania it seems unusual to me you have so many towns of 100,000 people, roughly twenty (although a lot of them are getting smaller?). Having so many population centres could be good for the spread of the game. Hopefully one day more of these cities will catch the rugby bug as they should be big enough to support at least a second division side.

 

[dragos03]

I suspect Navodari might attempt Superliga promotion next year, especially since the example of Poli Iasi proves that a second division club can become competitive even without a big budget.

Tomitanii Constanta are currently leading the third division (with their U20 squad), they will probably go up to the second division next season. They could become a feeder club for Navodari and hopefully form the core of a rebuilt Farul Constanta in a few years.

Indeed, Romania has a number of 100k+ towns but many of them have no rugby tradition at all. There never was a decent rugby club in towns like Craiova, Targu Mures, Ploiesti, Pitesti or Alba Iulia. Lately, FRR has done some serious efforts to grow the grassroots and managed to introduce rugby tag in some schools in most counties around Romania, I hope in time some youth clubs can be established there and maybe one day they can grow into senior clubs.

 

[dragos03]

Oaks match squad against Canada (according to unofficial sources):

1. Mihai Lazar
2. Marian Capatana
3. Alexandru Tarus
4. Marius Antonescu
5. Johan Van Heerden
6. Viorel Lucaci
7. Stelian Burcea (c)
8. Andrei Gorcioaia
9. Florin Surugiu
10. Florin Vlaicu
11. Ionut Dumitru
12. Florin Popa
13. Jack Umaga
14. Fonovai Tangimana
15. Catalin Fercu

Subs: 16. Andrei Radoi, 17. Ionel Badiu, 18. Alex Gordas, 19. Valentin Poparlan, 20. Cristian Chirica, 21. Valentin Calafeteanu, 22. Nicolas Onutu, 23. Stephen Shennan

The young center Vladut Popa, who didn't play a single minute in the Superliga yet, will start this very tough match. The bench includes two uncapped players, Chirica and Onutu and both reserve props (badiu, Gordas) are almost debutants as well.

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Ah, that explains why I haven't noticed Popa. Seems a very strange way to almost debut a player at the senior level. They must think he is something special. Or they are mad!

 

[dragos03]

Well, Howells did mention Popa as an emerging talent last year, after watching him in the youth leagues. He did play a few minutes at the end of the USA match. Not easy for a 20 year old player to get minutes at Timisoara, since there are so many experienced internationals on his position (Kinikinilau, Umaga, Sefanaia, Manumua).

 

[dragos03]

Another shock in the King's Cup, where Timisoara lost at home against CSM Bucharest 11-18. Even without all their players at the national team, Timisoara had a pretty strong starting team on paper, with 11 internationals.

Other results:
Dinamo - Poli Iasi 35-12
Steaua - U Cluj 19-10

The semifinals will be:
Baia Mare vs CSM Bucharest
Steaua vs Dinamo

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Wait. Was this a quarter finals or something? It was the same fixture Timisoara at home to CSM Olimpia last weekend wasn't it? Strange to have two such different results in the same fixture, but happy to see this. It is bad if a depleted Timisoara were to still dominate. CSM were the ones that somehow defeated a first choice Timisoara early in the Superliga too weren't they? I guess all CSM's former Timisoara players that joined them this year were super motivated to play well against their old team and show that they deserved a new contract.

A nice Bucharest derby in one semi-final. I think Baia Mare will win overall if international players are unavailable for the final.