Alexandru Penciu
Encyclopedia
Alexandru Penciu is a former Romania
n rugby union
player and coach whose role was fullback.
Amongst the best players of Romania, he was nicknamed "Alexander the Great" (Alexandru cel Mare) in his home country.
Penciu started his youth career at Petrolul Ploieşti
, in 1946/47.
He moved soon to PPT Bucharest, where he played from 1948/49 to 1950/51, and was promoted to the first category.
He was assigned to CAA, later called CSA Steaua Bucureşti (Rugby), the Romanian Army team, in 1952/53, where he would stay until 1968/69. He won 5 titles of the Romanian Championship, in 1952/53, 1953/54, 1960/61, 1962/63 and 1963/64. He was allowed to move to Rugby Rovigo Delta, in Italy
, in 1969/70, where he would finish his player career in 1973/74, aged 41 years old. He took charge at Rugby Rovigo as player-coach at 1970/71, being the top scorer of the Italian Championship twice, in 1970/71 and 1971/72.
Romania was then living his first "Golden Era" of rugby and was often considered the best European team, outside the Five Nations Championship.
Penciu would be one of the most emblematic players of this era, winning 34 full caps for Romania
and scoring 2 conversions, 7 penalties and 4 drop goals, 37 points in aggregate.
His first game was at Brno
on 20 April 1955, a 3-0 win over Czechoslovakia
in a friendly match.
Penciu played in the first ever win of Romania over France
, by 11-5, on 5 June 1960, in Bucharest
, in a friendly game where he scored 1 conversion and 2 drop goals. The large crowd of 55 000 at the Dinamo Bucharest Stadium is a remainder of the popularity of rugby union in this time. His last international game was also with France, in the 11-3 loss in Nantes
for the European Nations Cup
, at 10 December 1967, where he scored a penalty. It was still the second consecutive 2nd place of Romania in the competition, losing the title in a row to France, then the only continental European side at the Five Nations Championship.
After finishing his player career in Rugby Rovigo, he would be a coach for Montréal, in Canada
(1974/5-1977/78), then for Oyonnax Rugby
, in France (1978/79-1979/80). Returning to Italy, he would coach Mantova, Villadose and Belluno.
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
n rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
player and coach whose role was fullback.
Amongst the best players of Romania, he was nicknamed "Alexander the Great" (Alexandru cel Mare) in his home country.
Penciu started his youth career at Petrolul Ploieşti
Petrolul Ploiesti
Fotbal Club Petrolul Ploiești is a Romanian professional football club based in Ploiești, Prahova County, currently playing in the Liga I.-History:...
, in 1946/47.
He moved soon to PPT Bucharest, where he played from 1948/49 to 1950/51, and was promoted to the first category.
He was assigned to CAA, later called CSA Steaua Bucureşti (Rugby), the Romanian Army team, in 1952/53, where he would stay until 1968/69. He won 5 titles of the Romanian Championship, in 1952/53, 1953/54, 1960/61, 1962/63 and 1963/64. He was allowed to move to Rugby Rovigo Delta, in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, in 1969/70, where he would finish his player career in 1973/74, aged 41 years old. He took charge at Rugby Rovigo as player-coach at 1970/71, being the top scorer of the Italian Championship twice, in 1970/71 and 1971/72.
Romania was then living his first "Golden Era" of rugby and was often considered the best European team, outside the Five Nations Championship.
Penciu would be one of the most emblematic players of this era, winning 34 full caps for Romania
Romania national rugby union team
The Romania national rugby union team , nicknamed The Oaks , is the representative side of Romania in rugby union. Long considered one of the stronger European teams outside the Six Nations, they have participated in all six Rugby World Cups, and currently compete in the first division of the...
and scoring 2 conversions, 7 penalties and 4 drop goals, 37 points in aggregate.
His first game was at Brno
Brno
Brno by population and area is the second largest city in the Czech Republic, the largest Moravian city, and the historical capital city of the Margraviate of Moravia. Brno is the administrative centre of the South Moravian Region where it forms a separate district Brno-City District...
on 20 April 1955, a 3-0 win over Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia national rugby union team
The Czechoslovakia national rugby union team was the national rugby team of Czechoslovakia, before the country was split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia...
in a friendly match.
Penciu played in the first ever win of Romania over France
France national rugby union team
The France national rugby union team represents France in rugby union. They compete annually against England, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales in the Six Nations Championship. They have won the championship outright sixteen times, shared it a further eight times, and have completed nine grand slams...
, by 11-5, on 5 June 1960, in Bucharest
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
, in a friendly game where he scored 1 conversion and 2 drop goals. The large crowd of 55 000 at the Dinamo Bucharest Stadium is a remainder of the popularity of rugby union in this time. His last international game was also with France, in the 11-3 loss in Nantes
Nantes
Nantes is a city in western France, located on the Loire River, from the Atlantic coast. The city is the 6th largest in France, while its metropolitan area ranks 8th with over 800,000 inhabitants....
for the European Nations Cup
European Nations Cup (rugby union)
The European Nations Cup is the European Championship for tier 2 and tier 3 rugby union nations. The Championship is split into 7 divisions with 5 or 6 teams in each. The divisions play on a two-year cycle with the teams playing each other both home and away...
, at 10 December 1967, where he scored a penalty. It was still the second consecutive 2nd place of Romania in the competition, losing the title in a row to France, then the only continental European side at the Five Nations Championship.
After finishing his player career in Rugby Rovigo, he would be a coach for Montréal, in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
(1974/5-1977/78), then for Oyonnax Rugby
Oyonnax Rugby
Union sportive Oyonnax Rugby is a French rugby union club from Oyonnax in the Ain département of the région Rhône-Alpes, currently competing in the second level of the French league system . They play at Stade Charles-Mathon...
, in France (1978/79-1979/80). Returning to Italy, he would coach Mantova, Villadose and Belluno.