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The Oaks have finished the second training camp (in Cluj) and will have a week of rest until they return to Cheile Gradistei for the third stage of RWC training. It seems that only three tests will be played:
August 14 - vs Yorkshire Carnegie (in Leeds)
August 22 - vs Edinburgh
September 5 - vs Tonga (in Bucharest)
Baia Mare has annouced four transfers (three of them are youngsters);
- Australian flanker Timothy Buchanan, ex-Reds (Super XV) and Brisbane City (NRC)
- hooker Ovidiu Cojocaru, ex-Cleopatra Mamaia, capped by Romania U18
- lock/flanker Andrei Iurea, ex-Cleopatra Mamaia, capped by Romania U18, U19
- flanker Cristi Chirica, ex-RC Barlad, capped by Romania U17, U18
August 14 - vs Yorkshire Carnegie (in Leeds)
August 22 - vs Edinburgh
September 5 - vs Tonga (in Bucharest)
Baia Mare has annouced four transfers (three of them are youngsters);
- Australian flanker Timothy Buchanan, ex-Reds (Super XV) and Brisbane City (NRC)
- hooker Ovidiu Cojocaru, ex-Cleopatra Mamaia, capped by Romania U18
- lock/flanker Andrei Iurea, ex-Cleopatra Mamaia, capped by Romania U18, U19
- flanker Cristi Chirica, ex-RC Barlad, capped by Romania U17, U18
They were actually released some time ago. But CSM seems to be in big trouble due to bad management. Some of the foreign players have not been paid lately and the club hasn't sorted their work permits, so they are in danger of being deported. Hopefully they will sort this out.
In the meantime, Timisoara Saracens has signed Australian winger Tom Cox, who has played in Super Rugby for Brumbies and Rebels.
In the meantime, Timisoara Saracens has signed Australian winger Tom Cox, who has played in Super Rugby for Brumbies and Rebels.
Coste must have a coflict with Howells or the union, too bad.
In other news, Daniel Carpo was added to the RWC training squad while some players were removed. The 38-man squad that will go to a new training camp at Cheile Gradistei: Paulica Ion, Mihaita Lazar, Andrei Ursache, Constantin Pristavita, Horatiu Pungea, Alexandru Tarus, Andrei Radoi, Otar Turashvili, Eugen Capatana, Valentin Poparlan, Johannes Van Heerden, Marian Drenceanu, Marius Antonescu, Valentin Ursache, Mihai Macovei, Viorel Lucaci, Stelian Burcea, Ovidiu Tonita, Vlad Nistor, Morrison Randall, Daniel Carpo, Florin Surugiu, Valentin Calafeteanu, Tudorel Bratu, Danut Dumbrava, Michael Wiringi, Paula Kinikinilau, Florin Vlaicu, Csaba Gal, Florin Ionita, Robert Dascalu, Adrian Apostol, Ionut Botezatu, Ionut Dumitru, Dorin Manole, Catalin Fercu, Sabin Stratila, Madalin Lemnaru.
The article on FRR's website claims that the Oaks will play against Melrose RFC on August 21 in Edinburgh (they were supposed to face Edinburgh on August 22). This sucks, Romania already had probably the weakest test schedule of any RWC nation.
Edit: this seems to be a confusion, apparently the Oaks will play against the Pro 12 side on August 21 on the stadium of Melrose RFC.
In other news, Daniel Carpo was added to the RWC training squad while some players were removed. The 38-man squad that will go to a new training camp at Cheile Gradistei: Paulica Ion, Mihaita Lazar, Andrei Ursache, Constantin Pristavita, Horatiu Pungea, Alexandru Tarus, Andrei Radoi, Otar Turashvili, Eugen Capatana, Valentin Poparlan, Johannes Van Heerden, Marian Drenceanu, Marius Antonescu, Valentin Ursache, Mihai Macovei, Viorel Lucaci, Stelian Burcea, Ovidiu Tonita, Vlad Nistor, Morrison Randall, Daniel Carpo, Florin Surugiu, Valentin Calafeteanu, Tudorel Bratu, Danut Dumbrava, Michael Wiringi, Paula Kinikinilau, Florin Vlaicu, Csaba Gal, Florin Ionita, Robert Dascalu, Adrian Apostol, Ionut Botezatu, Ionut Dumitru, Dorin Manole, Catalin Fercu, Sabin Stratila, Madalin Lemnaru.
The article on FRR's website claims that the Oaks will play against Melrose RFC on August 21 in Edinburgh (they were supposed to face Edinburgh on August 22). This sucks, Romania already had probably the weakest test schedule of any RWC nation.
Edit: this seems to be a confusion, apparently the Oaks will play against the Pro 12 side on August 21 on the stadium of Melrose RFC.
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The domestic season restarts this weekend with matches from the King's Cup:
Saracens Timisoara vs Dinamo
Baia Mare vs Steaua
The teams are depleted due to players being away at their national teams. Timisoara for example has 10 players away with the Oaks and one in the Fiji squad.
Steaua is the only club that has announced a lineup: 15. Ionuț Niacșu, 14. Alexandru Porojan, 13. Vasilicã Pașcu, 12. Vili Ahofono, 11. Sanele Petelo Tupou, 10. Andrei Filip, 9. Grigoraș Diaconescu, 1. Andrei Florescu, 2. Cristi Cornei, 3. Sergiu Buzea, 4. Alex Grigore (C), 5. Petre Neacșu, 6. Nicholas Moa, 7. Ahome’e Tupou, 8. Eseria Vueti.
Reserves: 16. Cosmin Roșu, 17. Costin Neacșu, 18. Dennis Naitoko, 19. Bogdan Doroftei, 20. Manu Vainanuma, 21. Laurențiu Cocîrlã, 22. Mihai Golubenco, 23. Cãtãlin Neacșu.
Jayatron
Academy Player
A few questions for you,
1) How do you think Romania will fair at the RWC?
2) How will your performance at the RWC impact Romanian Rugby?
3) What is the future for Romanian Rugby, international and Europe?
4) How would you like to see the qualification for Europe work?
I know I have asked you some of these before but I am interested in a fresh perspective in the build up the RWC. Keep updating by the way, I find this post very interesting.
1) How do you think Romania will fair at the RWC?
2) How will your performance at the RWC impact Romanian Rugby?
3) What is the future for Romanian Rugby, international and Europe?
4) How would you like to see the qualification for Europe work?
I know I have asked you some of these before but I am interested in a fresh perspective in the build up the RWC. Keep updating by the way, I find this post very interesting.
1. The Oaks could get 0-2 wins this year. We have defeated Canada in the last direct games but it will still be a balanced match that any team can win. On a good day and if our forwards can dominate, Romania can get an upset win vs Italy (the Italians remain heavy favourites of course). No hope vs France and Ireland.
2. If the Oaks lose all the matches or only win vs Canada, nothing will change. Beating Italy would make the headlines in the mainstream media and potentially increase interest and investment in rugby significantly.
3. Hard to say. The problem is the current system of international rugby, where countries like Romania get no chance to grow further. Remember that the Oaks got the worst test schedule of all Tier 2 nations, while our club side was removed from the Challenge Cup despite not being the worst in the competition. The last Tier 1 test of the national team was in 2006! Romania has been beating the A teams of Tier 1 teams in the Nations Cup for years (for example this year Romania defeated Argentina Jaguars 23-0), without getting any chance to play against their first squads. This makes investing in rugby very unattractive for both state institutions and private companies. Pretty much every other sport has an open system. Football, with all its flaws, has a way better system, more fair with the minnows (for example a small Romanian club has managed a draw away at West Ham just a few days ago), where the minor clubs can get good money if they win matches in European competitions. By contrast, Tier 2 clubs get nothing from playing in the Challenge Cup and the costs are a severe drain on the budgets of clubs and unions.
4. I think the bottom clubs in France, England and Pro 12 should be removed from the Challenge Cup, they don't care about the cup and it's a burden to them anyway. That would free up three spots in the competition that should go to the top clubs in Romania, Russia and Georgia. There should also be a third tier competition with more teams from Romania, Russia and Georgia but also from Italy, Spain, Portugal, Germany, etc (open to any country that can afford to enter a club). The winner of the third competition should play a playoff each year against the worst club from the Challenge Cup, to give them a path to advance.
2. If the Oaks lose all the matches or only win vs Canada, nothing will change. Beating Italy would make the headlines in the mainstream media and potentially increase interest and investment in rugby significantly.
3. Hard to say. The problem is the current system of international rugby, where countries like Romania get no chance to grow further. Remember that the Oaks got the worst test schedule of all Tier 2 nations, while our club side was removed from the Challenge Cup despite not being the worst in the competition. The last Tier 1 test of the national team was in 2006! Romania has been beating the A teams of Tier 1 teams in the Nations Cup for years (for example this year Romania defeated Argentina Jaguars 23-0), without getting any chance to play against their first squads. This makes investing in rugby very unattractive for both state institutions and private companies. Pretty much every other sport has an open system. Football, with all its flaws, has a way better system, more fair with the minnows (for example a small Romanian club has managed a draw away at West Ham just a few days ago), where the minor clubs can get good money if they win matches in European competitions. By contrast, Tier 2 clubs get nothing from playing in the Challenge Cup and the costs are a severe drain on the budgets of clubs and unions.
4. I think the bottom clubs in France, England and Pro 12 should be removed from the Challenge Cup, they don't care about the cup and it's a burden to them anyway. That would free up three spots in the competition that should go to the top clubs in Romania, Russia and Georgia. There should also be a third tier competition with more teams from Romania, Russia and Georgia but also from Italy, Spain, Portugal, Germany, etc (open to any country that can afford to enter a club). The winner of the third competition should play a playoff each year against the worst club from the Challenge Cup, to give them a path to advance.
Timisoara Saracens will play in the Challenge Cup Qualifying Tournament this season. The competition kicks off this autumn, before the Romanian league season will finish, so last year's Romanian Cup winners Timisoara were chosen by the FRR to take part. The other teams in the group are Italian clubs Rovigo and Viadana, as well as Portugal champions Direito.
Timisoara has also signed 10 youngsters from clubs around the country (most of them capped by youth national teams) who will play for the club in the new U20 competition to be organised by the FRR. Alex Istoc, one of the prospects, will also travel to London to train with the Saracens.
King's Cup semifinals (will be played on August 29):
Saracens Timisoara vs U Cluj
Baia Mare vs CSM Bucuresti
Timisoara has also signed 10 youngsters from clubs around the country (most of them capped by youth national teams) who will play for the club in the new U20 competition to be organised by the FRR. Alex Istoc, one of the prospects, will also travel to London to train with the Saracens.
King's Cup semifinals (will be played on August 29):
Saracens Timisoara vs U Cluj
Baia Mare vs CSM Bucuresti
The Oaks mountain climbing as part of the RWC training camp:
And in this link there's a clip with the foreigners in the Romanian squad singing the anthem, speaking Romanian and interviewing each other:
http://www.digisport.ro/Sport/RUGBY...&utm_medium=Digi24&utm_campaign=imn-stranieri
And in this link there's a clip with the foreigners in the Romanian squad singing the anthem, speaking Romanian and interviewing each other:
http://www.digisport.ro/Sport/RUGBY...&utm_medium=Digi24&utm_campaign=imn-stranieri
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Romania will play this evening from 17.30 local time against Yorkshire Carnegie in a RWC warm-up match. The match is part of a double-header and will be followed by a rugby league match between Leeds Rhinos and Wigan.
Lynn Howells has named an experimental squad, for many of these players it will be a chance to earn a place in the team:
1. Alexandru Tarus
2. Eugen Capatana
3. Ion Paulica
4. Valentin Ursache
5. Marian Drenceanu
6. Ovidiu Tonita
7. Randall Morrison
8. Stelian Burcea
9. Florin Surugiu
10. Danut Dumbrava
11. Madalin Lemnaru
12. Florin Vlaicu
13. Csaba Gal
14. Florin Ionita
15. Sabin Stratila
Subs will be chosen from: Andrei Ursache, Andrei Radoi, Otar Turashvili, Horatiu Pungea, Johannes Van Heerden, Viorel Lucaci, Mihai Macovei, Daniel Carpo, Tudorel Bratu, Valentin Calafeteanu, Michael Wiringi, Ionut Botezatu, Paula Kinikinilau, Adrian Apostol.
Lynn Howells has named an experimental squad, for many of these players it will be a chance to earn a place in the team:
1. Alexandru Tarus
2. Eugen Capatana
3. Ion Paulica
4. Valentin Ursache
5. Marian Drenceanu
6. Ovidiu Tonita
7. Randall Morrison
8. Stelian Burcea
9. Florin Surugiu
10. Danut Dumbrava
11. Madalin Lemnaru
12. Florin Vlaicu
13. Csaba Gal
14. Florin Ionita
15. Sabin Stratila
Subs will be chosen from: Andrei Ursache, Andrei Radoi, Otar Turashvili, Horatiu Pungea, Johannes Van Heerden, Viorel Lucaci, Mihai Macovei, Daniel Carpo, Tudorel Bratu, Valentin Calafeteanu, Michael Wiringi, Ionut Botezatu, Paula Kinikinilau, Adrian Apostol.
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nomadenhaft
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Great thread, dragos (and everyone who contributes). I've gone back and read it from the beginning, and though I can't claim to remember all the names, places, and clubs, it's been very cool to learn about the structure and struggles of Romanian rugby. Certainly it's nice to know something beyond the usual "the Oaks have really good forwards."
Unfortunately it's tough to dig up much coverage in English, outside of the odd interview or article featuring Lynn Howells. Between this thread and my own searches, I've been quite intrigued by Alin Petrache; even through the language barrier, he seems like a bit of a character. Can you tell me anything about how he was regarded back when he was a player, or what kind of reputation he has now that he's on the business side of sport? (Apparently he was the ringleader of Romania's cheering section at RWC 2011; from a professional standpoint that seems inappropriate, but if I were a Romanian supporter I would have thought it was great!)
I know Petrache is no longer the head of FRR, but it seems natural that even in his new Olympic position he would maintain close ties to Romanian rugby, which could be good for the development of the sport.
Unfortunately it's tough to dig up much coverage in English, outside of the odd interview or article featuring Lynn Howells. Between this thread and my own searches, I've been quite intrigued by Alin Petrache; even through the language barrier, he seems like a bit of a character. Can you tell me anything about how he was regarded back when he was a player, or what kind of reputation he has now that he's on the business side of sport? (Apparently he was the ringleader of Romania's cheering section at RWC 2011; from a professional standpoint that seems inappropriate, but if I were a Romanian supporter I would have thought it was great!)
I know Petrache is no longer the head of FRR, but it seems natural that even in his new Olympic position he would maintain close ties to Romanian rugby, which could be good for the development of the sport.
As a player, Petrache was very determined, one of the leaders of the team.
Most rugby fans were not happy back when he was elected as FRR president because of the influence of his father (an important local politician and businessman). However, Petrache implemented a number of important reforms and I think he saved Romanian rugby from collapse. Petrache managed to qualify Romania to the 2011 RWC, he started a professional domestic league, attracted new sponsors, vastly improved the online presence of the FRR, etc. Indeed, he was also inappropriate sometimes, speaking more than the players and coaches in press conferences and TV shows and being very loud and passionate in the stands when the Oaks were playing. After he left the FRR, things are not going as well and the local rugby community regrets him.
He remains close to Romanian rugby and rarely misses a match. It's rumoured that he used his political influence to secure state funding for the expansion of the Arcul de Triumf Stadium.
Yesterday, Yorkshire Carnegie vs Romania ended in a draw, 10-10. Not a good result but it was an experimental team and Lynn Howells said it was a good test.
Most rugby fans were not happy back when he was elected as FRR president because of the influence of his father (an important local politician and businessman). However, Petrache implemented a number of important reforms and I think he saved Romanian rugby from collapse. Petrache managed to qualify Romania to the 2011 RWC, he started a professional domestic league, attracted new sponsors, vastly improved the online presence of the FRR, etc. Indeed, he was also inappropriate sometimes, speaking more than the players and coaches in press conferences and TV shows and being very loud and passionate in the stands when the Oaks were playing. After he left the FRR, things are not going as well and the local rugby community regrets him.
He remains close to Romanian rugby and rarely misses a match. It's rumoured that he used his political influence to secure state funding for the expansion of the Arcul de Triumf Stadium.
Yesterday, Yorkshire Carnegie vs Romania ended in a draw, 10-10. Not a good result but it was an experimental team and Lynn Howells said it was a good test.
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@dragos03 Are you looking forward to this week game against Edinburgh. Didn't feel there was a need to start a new thread about it.
What is your thought on this week game. From an Edinburgh's point off view, Alot off Edinburgh key players won't the there due to Scotland but give some players who don't usually play a chance to show what they can do. It won't be an easy game for us though could go either way in my opinion.
What is your thought on this week game. From an Edinburgh's point off view, Alot off Edinburgh key players won't the there due to Scotland but give some players who don't usually play a chance to show what they can do. It won't be an easy game for us though could go either way in my opinion.
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It should be an useful test for both sides, even if Edinburgh is missing key players. I'm curious if Romania will name a strong team or a reserve one for this match. I wish the Oaks had mroe tests against national sides but at least these games vs clubs will help them get used to the UK weather ahead of the RWC.
The result here is not important but a win would be nice.
The result here is not important but a win would be nice.
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