Romanian Rugby

[amz]

Romania A squad to play England Counties:

1. Marius Lungu (CSA Steaua)
2. Tudor Butnariu (CSA Steaua)
3. Alexandru Gordas (CSA Steaua)
4. Adrian Motoc (C) (Racing 92) - Captain
5. Marius Iftimiciuc (Timisoara Saracens)
6. Vlad Neculau (Timisoara Saracens)
7. Marcel Rusu (CS Dinamo)
8. Damian Stratila (CSA Steaua)
9. Gabriel Rupanu (Timisoara Saracens)
10. Tudor Boldor (CSA Steaua)
11. Alexandru Porojan (CSA Steaua)
12. Ionut Balaban (CS Dinamo)
13. Stefan Cucos (Tomitanii)
14. Mihai Lamboiu (CSM Stiinta Baia Mare)
15. Marius Simionescu (Timisoara Saracens)


Subs:
16. Adrian Tala (CS Tomitanii)
17. Iulian Hartig (CSM Bucuresti)
18. Silviu Suciu (CSM Stiinta Baia Mare)
19. Bogdan Doroftei (CSA Steaua)
20. Silviu Gradinaru (CS Dinamo)
21. Alexandru Afloare (CS Tomitanii)
22. Ovidiu Melniciuc (U Cluj)
23. George Oprea (CSM Stiinta Baia Mare)
24. Ionut Botezatu (CSM Stiinta Baia Mare)
25. Adrian Apostol (CSM Stiinta Baia Mare)

Head Coach:
Thomas Lièvremont,
Back Coach:
Danut Dumbrava
Forwards Coach:
Horea Himpea

Very young team, except Botezatu, Apostol and Suciu but it is normal with so many backs who played in Autumn to Romania A to Sevens squad (Melinte, Popa, Perju, Bucur) who is looking to promote or some injured (Onutu, Plai). Savin still injured although he was in the squad, Chirica not even on bench so I presume he's injured too.

This is quite far of what I imagined but will be interesting to see how Tomitanii's players will do, they only played second division rugby so far.

Match will be live on rugbytv.ro tomorrow starting with 19:00 local time (17 UK timezone).

 

[amz]

1. Marius Lungu (CSA Steaua) - 22 yo
2. Tudor Butnariu (CSA Steaua) - 23 yo
3. Alexandru Gordas (CSA Steaua) - 24 yo
4. Adrian Motoc (C) (Racing 92) - Captain - 21 yo
5. Marius Iftimiciuc (Timisoara Saracens) - 21 yo
6. Vlad Neculau (Timisoara Saracens) - 20 yo
7. Marcel Rusu (CS Dinamo) - 21 yo
8. Damian Stratila (CSA Steaua) - 22 yo
9. Gabriel Rupanu (Timisoara Saracens) - 21 yo
10. Tudor Boldor (CSA Steaua) - 21 yo
11. Alexandru Porojan (CSA Steaua) - 24 yo
12. Ionut Balaban (CS Dinamo) - 22 yo
13. Stefan Cucos (Tomitanii) - 21 yo
14. Mihai Lamboiu (CSM Stiinta Baia Mare) - 21 yo
15. Marius Simionescu (Timisoara Saracens) - 21 yo

Subs:
16. Adrian Tala (CS Tomitanii) - 20 yo
17. Iulian Hartig (CSM Bucuresti) - 20 yo
18. Silviu Suciu (CSM Stiinta Baia Mare) - 27 yo
19. Bogdan Doroftei (CSA Steaua) - 23 yo
20. Silviu Gradinaru (CS Dinamo) - 21 yo
21. Alexandru Afloare (CS Tomitanii) - 25 yo
22. Ovidiu Melniciuc (U Cluj) - 24 yo
23. George Oprea (CSM Stiinta Baia Mare) - 25 yo
24. Ionut Botezatu (CSM Stiinta Baia Mare) - 31 yo
25. Adrian Apostol (CSM Stiinta Baia Mare) - 28 yo

I added the age of Romanian players. I haven't seen such a young side in last years. The older guys are there because many players are with Sevens and they were for a while out of the views of Oaks although they are capped already. Romanian coaches also very young.

Also Counties team available here:

http://www.englandrugby.com/news/england-counties-name-side-face-romania/

1. Joe Wrafter (Moseley and North Midlands)
2. Danny Maher (Sedgley Park and Lancashire)
3. Cameron Leigh (Esher and Surrey)
4. Rob Conquest (Cambridge and Hertfordshire)
5. Joe Makin (c) (Hull Ionians and Yorkshire)
6. Matt Lane (Cinderford and Gloucestershire)
7. Phill Mills (Rossendale and Lancashire)
8. Harry Hone (Cinderford and Gloucestershire)

9. Tom Banks (Bishop's Stortford Hertfordshire)
10. Warren Seals (DMP and Durham)
11. Jake Lloyd (Blackheath and Kent)
12. Dan Watt (Old Albanians and Hertfordshire)
13. Lewis Minikin (Hull Ionians and Yorkshire)
14. Jamie Broadley (Sheffield Tigers and Yorkshire)
15. Sean Taylor (Hertford and Hertfordshire)

16. Billy Harding (Esher and Surrey)
17. Joe Smart (Cinderford and Gloucestershire)
18. Karl Garside (Ampthill and Hertfordshire)
19. Liam Edwards (Esher and Surrey)
20. Andy Hughes (Sale FC and Lancashire)
21. Ollie Hodgson (DMP and Durham)
22. Jack Gash (Rosslyn Park and Surrey)
23. Lawrence Rayner (Ampthill and East Midlands)
24. Sam Baker (Ampthill and East Midlands)
25. Matt Hema (Cambridge and Eastern Counties)

 

[amz]

Final score

Romania A 5 - 41 England Counties

Full match here:
https://www.privesc.eu/arhiva/82681

It would have been interesting to have 7s players as well. The first half was close and credit to young Romanian team which never kicked at posts for the entire match and picked the playing option. In the second half, they collapsed toward the end hence the margin.

I'd say Lungu, Cucos, Stratila, Neculau had a very good match. Boldor, Rusu, Gordas, Iftimciuc not so good, disappointing. I don't want to judge too hard a very young team who played their first match now. I'm curious to see the changes for next match on Friday, some subs should be starters (Doroftei, Gradinaru, Tala especially).

 

[amz]

Second match Romania A 20 vs 31 England Counties

https://www.rugbytv.ro/2018/06/08/8-iunie-ora-1700-romania-england-counties-meci-de-pregatire.html

Good school game for a very young side, most of players being under 23 to which were added few Oaks who are capped but didn't made it to Senior squad in last few years (Melniciuc, Apostol). Some of the best young backs (V.Popa, Melinte, Bucur, Zaharia, Perju, Prunaru, Tigla) were not available because they were with Romania Sevens at European Trophy in Croatia (they won the round).

Timisoara was invited in Challenge Cup in HRK's place. First declaration of Radu Toanca (direct of SCM Timisoara, one of the stakeholders of the club):

- we are sorry for the disqualification of HRK, they were the winners of the playoff
- we believe that this unique opportunity should not be missed, considering the situation in which Romanian rugby is in this period, and we consider that the EPCR invitation and our participation in the Challenge Cup can only be a good sign from Europe regarding regarding the value of Timisoara Saracens and implicitly of our players.
- he believes in the functionality of the public-private partnership and efforts were made to assure the funds from both sides.

 

[amz]

Some reorganization takes place in Romanian local competitions:

- 2 teams will be added to professional Super Liga, Tomitanii Constanta and Gloria Buzau, the winner and the runner up therefore Super Liga will be at the number desired at its inception, 8 pro teams.
- National Seniors Division (2nd) and Divizia A (3rd division) will be merged resulting a group of 12 teams which will be split in two groups

Center North:
Gura Humorului - new formed senior squad based on the local junior club.
CSM Suceava
Stiinta Petrosani
Poli Iasi
CS Manastur

Center South
RC Grivita
Sportul Studentesc
CS Navodari
RCM Galati
RC Barlad

or a system with a single division 12 teams. It is not decided yet the exact format.

I favor the first approach as it is easier to add U20 teams from center of excellence of juniors

 

[amz]

Ionel Badiu moved from Timisoara Saracens to Fed 1 Valence Romans.

He played only one year in Romania, he moved from Carcassonne because he wanted to be more visible for national team coaches before RWC. Now he moved back in France albeit in a lower league...bad luck for him..

 

[amz]

Tangimana Fonovai leaves Timisoara Saracens after 6 years:

http://rugby-timisoara.ro/noutate/ro/210/Fonovai-Tangimana-spune-ramas-bun-Timisoarei-Saracens.html

His destination for now is unknown.

 

[amz]

Romania Sevens promote after 3 year hiatus back in Grand Prix Series after winning both Trophy tournaments from Zagreb (Croatia) and Siauliai (Lithuania). Ionel Melinte, Steaua's fly-half was the MVP of the team.

Danie de Villiers (Romania Sevensm ex Austin Huns, ex. CSM Buchares/Timisoara Saracens) was announced as U20 new coach.

World Rugby U20 Trophy will be held in August - September in Bucharest.
Schedule of matches:

Tuesday, 28th August:
Samoa – Hong Kong, 10:00
Uruguay – Fiji, 12:00
Namibia – Romania, 14:00
Portugalia – Canada, 16:00

Saturday, 1st September
Uruguay – Canada, 10:00
Namibia – Hong Kong, 12:00
Samoa – Romania, 14:00
Portugal – Fiji, 16:00

Wednesday, 5th September
Romania – Hong Kong, 10:00
Fiji – Canada, 12:00
Portugalia – Uruguay, 14:00
Samoa – Namibia, 16:00

Sunday, 9th September
4th Group A – 4th Group B, ora 10:00
3rd Group A – 3rd Group B, ora 12:00
2nd Group A – 2nd Group B, ora 14:00*
1st Group A – 1st Group A, ora 16:00
*Romania will play from 14:00, except in the situation when will play the final for 1st place

 

[amz]

Long time since I didn't update this

Highlights from Dinamo 15 - 27 Steaua



In Challenge Cup, Timișoara Saracens 17 Dragons 54 . The margin doesn't look good but the match was much closer until last minutes. Considering the financial issues of Timisoara and how many key players they lost in last year I expected worse.

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Long time since I didn't update this

Highlights from Dinamo 15 - 27 Steaua



In Challenge Cup, Timișoara Saracens 17 Dragons 54 . The margin doesn't look good but the match was much closer until last minutes. Considering the financial issues of Timisoara and how many key players they lost in last year I expected worse.

Dragons have improved quite a bit over last year (although still are a weaker side in the Pro14).

 

[amz]

Romania A for test vs Kenya as preparation of the guests for repechage and for Romania for the qualifier vs Portugal:


Props:
Alexandru Savin (CSM Bucuresti)
Alexandru Gordas (CSM Bucuresti)
Vasile Balan (CSM Bucuresti)
Constantin Pristavita (CSM Stiinta Baia Mare)
Laurentiu Nica (Universitatea Cluj)

Hookers:
Eugen Capatana (Timisoara Saracens)
Andrei Radoi (Timisoara Saracens)
Florin Bardasu (CSM Bucuresti)

Locks:
Ionut Muresan (Timisoara Saracens)
Marian Drenceanu (Timisoara Saracens)
Bogdan Doroftei (CSA Steaua)
Marcel Rusu (CSA Steaua)
Mtya Dumani (CSM Stiinta Baia Mare)

Backrow:
Cristian Chirica (CSM Stiinta Baia Mare)
Vlad Neculau (Timisoara Saracens)
Damian Stratila (CSA Steaua)
Moyake Kuselo (CSA Steaua)
Viorel Lucaci (CSA Steaua)
Adrian Ion (CSM Bucuresti)

Scrum-halves:
Florin Surugiu (CSA Steaua)
Tudorel Bratu (CSM Bucuresti)
Valentin Calafeteanu (CSM Bucuresti)

Fly-half:
Tudor Boldor (CSA Steaua)
Daniel Plai (CSA Steaua)

Wings:
Ionut Dumitru (CSA Steaua)
Madalin Lemnaru (Timisoara Saracens)
Robert Neagu (CSA Steaua)

Centers:
Tangimana Fonovai (CSM Bucuresti)
Florin Vlaicu (CSM Bucuresti)
Vladut Popa (Timisoara Saracens)

Fullbacks:
Catalin Fercu (Timisoara Saracens)
Marius Simionescu (Timisoara Saracens)
Ionel Melinte (CSA Steaua)

This is the squad to play Kenya and since it outside the window is made only by players from Super Liga. There are many young players selected and also all available veterans, probably a safe strategy before the very important qualifier with Portugal to avoid relegation from REC. I can understand they do not want to risk anything and call up the best team available, even if it is a RET team.

 

[Welshdragon2000]

I really hope a few young players can play well and really stake a claim to a squad place. Romanian rugby to me feels like the same old faces have been around for years (which is true!) and it just needs a few young fresh faces who can improve the team and take it forward in the right direction.

 

[amz]

New interview with Lievremont:

http://www.asm-rugby.com/actus/«-le...33QkrOpyAtMH_dx5-9iqyO2ohCEZODcy6Gsu0aEnDjQ2w

 

[amz]

Two matches today live in Super Liga on https://www.rugbytv.ro/

SCM Gloria Buzau - CS Tomitanii 12:30 (10:30 UK time) - both finalists of last season second division meet now in top division

https://www.rugbytv.ro/2018/10/19/2...zau-cs-tomitanii-et-7-superliga-cec-bank.html

Steaua Bucuresti - CSM Bucuresti 14:00 (12:00 UK time) - match between the leader and the runner up of Super Liga standings

https://www.rugbytv.ro/2018/10/19/2...ua-csm-bucuresti-et-7-superliga-cec-bank.html


Super Liga current standings:
https://www.super-liga.ro/superliga/clasament/

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Good to see 8 in the top flight and to see the new teams competing with BM & Dinamo in the standings.

 

[amz]

Good to see 8 in the top flight and to see the new teams competing with BM & Dinamo in the standings.

There is a big gap between top 4 and the rest of the teams.

Buzau made some good signings and is improving. Tomitanii lost many of their young starting players ( Alexe 7, Tala 2, Boboc 8, Afloare 9, Cucos 13) and although they signed some players too they suffer and don't play as good as last year and the new coaching team seem to rely more on experienced players.

Timisoara also lost a lot of players and it is far from what used to be but with all that they are still capable to beat teams like CSM which is work in progress. Steaua did not lost a match but their depth wasn't tested yet. Looks to me like it is the team which managed to adapt to all type of opposition. New coaching team from Baia Mare isn't doing great and team looks far from the form of last season. Dinamo played some decent matches but so far they failed to win any, even against newly promoted squads despite their squad stability and pack strength.

 

[amz]

Highlights from Steaua 22 - 24 CSM Bucuresti

 

[amz]

In Challenge Cup , Timisoara lost 70-12 away to Clermont. They held well until around 60th minute, 28-12 but fall down in last minutes of the game. A Timisoara fan broadcasted the game live on facebook by phone

 

[amz]

Romania A - Kenya will start at 13 UK timezone here:

https://www.rugbytv.ro/2018/11/02/3-noiembrie-2018-ora-1400-romania-kenya.html

 

[amz]

Highlights from Romania A 36 - 5 Kenya



Very good first half for Romania A with huge possession ratio, the match was more balanced after the break when all the bench come in. It was a preparation match so the number of subs was unlimited.


Oaks / Stejarii for Portugal match with new call ups:

Props:
Alexandru Țăruș (Sale Sharks)
Alexandru Gordaș (CSM Bucuresti)
Constantin Pristaviță (CSM Stiinta Baia Mare)
Ionel Badiu (Romains)
Alexandru Savin (CSM Bucuresti)

Hookers:
Eugen Căpățână (Timisoara Saracens)
Andrei Rădoi (Timisoara Saracens)
Florin Bărdașu (CSM Bucuresti)

Lock:
Marius Antonescu (Colomiers)
Johan Van Heerden (Perpignan)
Adrian Moțoc (Agen)
Marian Drenceanu (Timisoara Saracens)
Marius Iftimiciuc (Timisoara Saracens)

Backrow:
Mihai Macovei (Colomiers)
Andre GORIN/Andrei Gorcioaia (RC Massy)
Damian Strătilă (CSA Steaua)
Valentin Ursache (Oyonnax)
Cristi Chirica (CSM Stiinta Baia Mare)
Adrian Ion (CSM Bucuresti)

Halfbacks
Florin Surugiu (CSA Steaua)
Tudorel Bratu (CSM Bucuresti)
Valentin Calafeteanu (CSM Bucuresti)

Fly-halves:
Daniel Plai (CSA Steaua)
Tudor Boldor (CSA Steaua)

Wings:
Ionuț Dumitru (CSA Steaua)
Robert Neagu (CSA Steaua)
Vladut Zaharia (Timisoara Saracens)

Centers:
Fonovai Tangimana (CSM Bucuresti)
Florin Vlaicu (CSM Bucuresti)
Vlăduț Popa (Timisoara Saracens)
Alexandru Bucur (CSM Stiinta Baia Mare)

Fullbacks:
Cătălin Fercu (Timisoara Saracens)
Paul Popoaia (CSS 2 Baia Mare)
Ionel Melinte (CSA Steaua)

Head coach: Thomas Lievremont
Assistants: De Villiers (backs), Dumbrava (skills)

Very strong squad, probably the strongest available with only two usual call ups missing, Andrei Ursache (prop, Carcassone) and Simionescu (fullback, Timisoara). Popoaia who still plays for a junior club is a strange call up but probably De Villiers knows him from Romania U20 and called him as an apprentice. Vulturar (CSS 2 Baia Mare) could have been called as well