Bogdan Balan
Encyclopedia
Bogdan Bălan is a Romania
n rugby union
footballer. He is currently playing professionally for Lyon
in France's Pro D2. He plays at prop and has played for Romania
since 2003; including getting selected for Romania's 2007 World Cup
squad.
Balan began his rugby career playing for Brăila in his home town. He then played for Romanian clubs Timişoara, Cluj and finally Steua Bucharest. After that he moved to France
and played for Bordeaux Rugby Métropole
who were in Fédérale 1
at the time. He helped them get promoted to the Pro D2, and then joined US Montauban
in 2005. Montauban was promoted from Pro D2 to France's premier competition the Top 14 following Balan's first season with them.
in August 2010 he signed for Lyon
He was first selected for Romania in 2003 when he played against Georgia
on 30 March that year. He has played for Romania every year since then, and has participated in the European Nations Cup
, and in 2007 Rugby World Cup
finals.
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...
footballer. He is currently playing professionally for Lyon
Lyon OU
Lyon Olympique Universitaire or LOU is a French rugby union team that competes in the Top 14, the first level of the country's professional league system. They earned their spot in the Top 14 by winning the 2010–11 title of the second-tier Pro D2....
in France's Pro D2. He plays at prop and has played 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...
since 2003; including getting selected for Romania's 2007 World Cup
2007 Rugby World Cup
The 2007 Rugby World Cup was the sixth Rugby World Cup, a quadrennial international rugby union competition inaugurated in 1987. Twenty nations competed for the Webb Ellis Cup in the tournament, which was hosted by France from 7 September to 20 October. France won the hosting rights in 2003,...
squad.
Balan began his rugby career playing for Brăila in his home town. He then played for Romanian clubs Timişoara, Cluj and finally Steua Bucharest. After that he moved to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and played for Bordeaux Rugby Métropole
Bordeaux Rugby Métropole
Union Bordeaux Bègles is a French rugby union team currently preparing to join the Top 14, the first level of the country's professional league system. They earned their Top 14 place by winning the promotion playoffs that followed the 2010–11 season in the second-level Rugby Pro D2...
who were in Fédérale 1
Fédérale 1
Le championnat de France de première division fédérale, a.k.a. Fédérale 1, is a French rugby union club competition, the highest level of amateur rugby. The competition has been organised by the Fédération Française de Rugby since 2000, when it replaced the B2 Group...
at the time. He helped them get promoted to the Pro D2, and then joined US Montauban
US Montauban
US Montauban were a French rugby union club, which competed in the Top 14 competition between 2007 and 2010, after being promoted from Rugby Pro D2 for the 2006-07 season...
in 2005. Montauban was promoted from Pro D2 to France's premier competition the Top 14 following Balan's first season with them.
in August 2010 he signed for Lyon
Lyon OU
Lyon Olympique Universitaire or LOU is a French rugby union team that competes in the Top 14, the first level of the country's professional league system. They earned their spot in the Top 14 by winning the 2010–11 title of the second-tier Pro D2....
He was first selected for Romania in 2003 when he played against Georgia
Georgia national rugby union team
The Georgia national rugby union team represents Georgia in rugby union. The team's nickname, The Lelos, comes from lelo burti, a traditional Georgian sport with strong similarities to rugby. Lelo has been adopted as the Georgian word for "try"...
on 30 March that year. He has played for Romania every year since then, and has participated in 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...
, and in 2007 Rugby World Cup
2007 Rugby World Cup
The 2007 Rugby World Cup was the sixth Rugby World Cup, a quadrennial international rugby union competition inaugurated in 1987. Twenty nations competed for the Webb Ellis Cup in the tournament, which was hosted by France from 7 September to 20 October. France won the hosting rights in 2003,...
finals.