Rugby union in Romania
Encyclopedia
Rugby union
is a fairly popular team sport played in Romania
with a tradition of more than 90 years. Romania's men's national team was 18th in the IRB World Rankings
as of July 2011. http://www.irb.com/rankings/full.html
.
The current president is George Straton.
Romania is a country which has historically had close ties with France, even down to the design of its national flag
, and it was from there that the game was introduced to Romania at the turn of the twentieth century by students returning with rugby balls from their studies in Paris
. Romanian rugby took root in Bucharest
, established by students who had been to French universities, and by the capital's burgeoning middle class. Stadiul Roman and seventeen other teams would be formed in Bucharest from 1913 onwards. The Romanian Rugby Championship
was first contested in 1914. Romania played their first international against France in 1924.
The nation's first international was played against the USA in 1919 six years after the game was first introduced. In 1931 a governing body was formed, the Federaţia Română de Rugby
.
The first team outside Bucharest was formed at an aircraft factory in Braşov
in 1939.
For the first half of the twentieth century, Romanian rugby was fairly isolated, having most of its contact with France, and to an extent, the Iron Curtain
in the second half did not help either. However, this "isolation" was broken when Rowe Harding
took the Welsh team Swansea
touring there, to play national champions, Locomotavia. On his return to the UK, Harding spoke highly of the Romanian game, speaking of its consistently high standard, and of the passion of both the fans and the players, which he thought unparallelled in Europe outwith the Five Nations. Harding's praise, and tour, effectively opened up Romanian rugby to the rest of western Europe, sparking a number of tours travelling to and from the country. In 1955, a Romanian side toured England and Wales, playing Swansea, Cardiff, Bristol and the Harlequins, winning one, drawing two, and losing one. Later in 1955, the Romanians defeated Llanelli in Moscow
, and then beat both Cardiff and Harlequins in Bucharest
. Only France, who played Romania before almost 100,000 fans in Bucharest could beat the Romanians, and that was only after an epic 16-15 battle.
A generation of French school trained coaches from late ’40s, and ’50s built a system and led the national team to success of the 1960s, ’70s and early ’80s. Home nations sides began to award international caps for matches against Romania in 1983. The national side recorded wins over Wales
, Scotland
and France. Romania was often considered the sixth best team from Europe and it was rumoured that they were even invited to join Five Nations
.
However, since the 1950s, Romania has not delivered on its early promise, except in a fitful manner. In 1984, and 1991, they beat Scotland twice, and in 1983 and 1988, they beat Wales (the latter at home in Cardiff). Between 1924 and the 1990s, Romania beat France eight times, the most famous being in 1990, when the legendary French based no. 8 Hari Dumitras led Romania to a 12-6 victory. Canadian
second row, Norm Hadley
reckon the 1991 Rugby World Cup
game against Romania was more physically sapping than playing either France or New Zealand.
The communist regime used rugby union like it used other sports, as a propaganda tool during the cold war with the West. Every international success was presented as a direct result of the righteousness of the communist rule and ideology. All the financial resources were directed toward the preparation of the national team to the detriment of domestic development. Top players were employed in the army or the police, whose sides Steaua and Dynamo sides who practised six days a week in superb sporting centres. This infrastructure bred a talented national side.
Romanian rugby's reputation has been seriously damaged by its association with Communist dictator, Nicolae Ceauşescu
and his regime, and this is perhaps one of the reason that the game has not performed so well in the post-Communist era (despite being associated with the bourgeoisie
early on) In addition, many of the Communist era players were really "Shamateurs", for example during the 1991 Rugby World Cup, nearly half of the players had their profession down as "locksmiths". Romanian rugby became associated with the totalitarian police and military - many players being killed in civil disruption that followed the collapse of the system.
Rugby union like many other sports, was long to be connected in the public mind with the less savoury aspects of Communism:
The former All Black scrum half Chris Laidlaw
, writing at the end of the 1970s, saw rugby as a positive force in east-west relations at the time:
Chris Laidlaw writing of the open secret of shamateurism in Soviet sport said:
In 1995 the first ever Heineken Cup
match took place in Romania with Toulouse taking on Farul Constanţa.
Romania first got regular international competition when they joined the newly formed European Nations Cup
in 2000. The national side
lost to England by 138-0 in 2001 and Dinamo Bucharest lost 151-0 to Saracens in the European Rugby Shield.
Bucureşti Rugby
was formed to represent Romania in European club competitions in 2004. In recent years they have achieved respectable results, including a win in 2010 against an Italian super 10 side.
Romania replaced Russia in the Super Cup
in 2005.
, nicknamed The Oaks, have long been one of the stronger European teams outside of the Six Nations
tournament. They take part in international competitions, notably the Rugby World Cup
, the European Nations Cup
and the Super Powers Cup
.
Romania have played at every World Cup
so far and won one game at each World Cup, except for 1995
when they lost all the games.
Romania play in the European Nations Cup
, a second-level competition for second and third tier European nations. Romania have won the competition on three occasions 2000, 2001–2002 and 2005-2006.
The Antim Cup
is contested between Georgia and Romania. The cup is contested each time Georgia and Romania meet in a senior international match other than World Cup matches or qualifiers. The holder retains the cup unless the challenger wins the match in normal time.
Romania replaced Russia in the Super Cup
in 2005. Other participants include Canada
, Japan
and the United States
.
match took place in Romania with Toulouse taking on Farul Constanţa. Since the inaugural season, Romanian teams have not taken part in the Heineken Cup.
A Romanian team has taken part in the European Challenge Cup
in 1996−97, 1997−98, 1998−99, 1999−2000, 2001−02, 2002−03, and each season since 2005−06. No Romanian teams took part in 2000−01, 2003−04 and 2004−05.
Bucureşti Rugby
is a team that is formed to play in European competition, consisting of rugby union players playing in the domestic Romanian leagues. They played in the European Shield
in 2004−05, and have played in each Challenge Cup since the 2005−06 edition..
After the fall of Communism, Romanian rugby union suffered a drastic financial shortfall, its popularity - which never had been comparable with that of football or handball, however, was not diminished.
According to the International Rugby Board
Romania has 52 rugby union clubs; 142 referees; 1,200 pre-teen male players; 4,100 teen male players; 1,375 senior male players (total male players 6,675) as well as 150 pre-teen female players; 200 teen female players; 125 senior female players (total female players 475).
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...
is a fairly popular team sport played in Romania
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...
with a tradition of more than 90 years. Romania's men's national team was 18th in the IRB World Rankings
IRB World Rankings
The IRB World Rankings is a ranking system for men's national teams in rugby union, managed by the International Rugby Board , the sport's governing body. The teams of the IRB's member nations are ranked based on their game results, with the most successful teams being ranked highest...
as of July 2011. http://www.irb.com/rankings/full.html
Governing body
Rugby union in Romania is administered by the Romanian Rugby Federation. (Federaţia Română de Rugby) which was founded in 1914, and joined the IRB in 1987, when Romania were invited to take part in the inaugural Rugby World CupRugby World Cup
The Rugby World Cup is an international rugby union competition organised by the International Rugby Board and held every four years since 1987....
.
The current president is George Straton.
Early history
Flag of Romania
The national flag of Romania is a tricolour with vertical stripes: beginning from the flagpole, blue, yellow and red. It has a width-length ratio of 2:3....
, and it was from there that the game was introduced to Romania at the turn of the twentieth century by students returning with rugby balls from their studies in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. Romanian rugby took root 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....
, established by students who had been to French universities, and by the capital's burgeoning middle class. Stadiul Roman and seventeen other teams would be formed in Bucharest from 1913 onwards. The Romanian Rugby Championship
Romanian Rugby Championship
The Divizia Naţională is the main domestic competition for rugby union clubs in Romania. The current champions are Ṣtiinṭa Baia Mare.Stadiul Roman and seventeen other teams were formed in Bucharest from 1913 onwards. The championship has been contested on an annual basis since 1914...
was first contested in 1914. Romania played their first international against France in 1924.
The nation's first international was played against the USA in 1919 six years after the game was first introduced. In 1931 a governing body was formed, the Federaţia Română de Rugby
Federatia Româna de Rugby
The Romanian Rugby Federation is the governing body for the sport of rugby union in Romania.It is registered with the IRB under their English name and only use their Romanian name inside Romania.They have 7,000 members and 80 clubs.-History:...
.
The first team outside Bucharest was formed at an aircraft factory in Braşov
Brasov
Brașov is a city in Romania and the capital of Brașov County.According to the last Romanian census, from 2002, there were 284,596 people living within the city of Brașov, making it the 8th most populated city in Romania....
in 1939.
Communist period
Iron Curtain
The concept of the Iron Curtain symbolized the ideological fighting and physical boundary dividing Europe into two separate areas from the end of World War II in 1945 until the end of the Cold War in 1989...
in the second half did not help either. However, this "isolation" was broken when Rowe Harding
Rowe Harding
W. Rowe Harding was a Welsh international rugby union wing who played club rugby for Swansea. An intelligent player, Harding played for several teams at club and international level. In 1926 he attended Cambridge University and played for Cambridge in a varsity match...
took the Welsh team Swansea
Swansea RFC
Swansea Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union team which plays in the Welsh Premier Division. Its home ground is St Helens Rugby and Cricket Ground in Swansea. The team is sometimes known as The Whites because of the primary colour of the team strip...
touring there, to play national champions, Locomotavia. On his return to the UK, Harding spoke highly of the Romanian game, speaking of its consistently high standard, and of the passion of both the fans and the players, which he thought unparallelled in Europe outwith the Five Nations. Harding's praise, and tour, effectively opened up Romanian rugby to the rest of western Europe, sparking a number of tours travelling to and from the country. In 1955, a Romanian side toured England and Wales, playing Swansea, Cardiff, Bristol and the Harlequins, winning one, drawing two, and losing one. Later in 1955, the Romanians defeated Llanelli in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
, and then beat both Cardiff and Harlequins 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....
. Only France, who played Romania before almost 100,000 fans in Bucharest could beat the Romanians, and that was only after an epic 16-15 battle.
A generation of French school trained coaches from late ’40s, and ’50s built a system and led the national team to success of the 1960s, ’70s and early ’80s. Home nations sides began to award international caps for matches against Romania in 1983. The national side recorded wins over Wales
Wales national rugby union team
The Wales national rugby union team represent Wales in international rugby union tournaments. They compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland, Italy and Scotland. Wales have won the Six Nations and its predecessors 24 times outright, second only to England with...
, Scotland
Scotland national rugby union team
The Scotland national rugby union team represent Scotland in international rugby union. Rugby union in Scotland is administered by the Scottish Rugby Union. The Scotland rugby union team is currently ranked eighth in the IRB World Rankings as of 19 September 2011...
and France. Romania was often considered the sixth best team from Europe and it was rumoured that they were even invited to join Five Nations
Six Nations Championship
The Six Nations Championship is an annual international rugby union competition involving six European sides: England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales....
.
However, since the 1950s, Romania has not delivered on its early promise, except in a fitful manner. In 1984, and 1991, they beat Scotland twice, and in 1983 and 1988, they beat Wales (the latter at home in Cardiff). Between 1924 and the 1990s, Romania beat France eight times, the most famous being in 1990, when the legendary French based no. 8 Hari Dumitras led Romania to a 12-6 victory. Canadian
Canada national rugby union team
The Canada national rugby union team represents Canada in international rugby union. They are governed by Rugby Canada, and play in red and black. Canada is classified by the International Rugby Board as a tier two rugby nation. There are ten tier one nations, and seven tier two nations, the...
second row, Norm Hadley
Norm Hadley
Norman Hadley is a former professional rugby union player."Stormin' Norman" was a massive 6 foot 7", 21-stone lock. He played professionally first for London Wasps and then Bedford Blues in the 1990s. In Canada he played for James Bay and UBCOB Ravens . He earned an M.B.A...
reckon the 1991 Rugby World Cup
1991 Rugby World Cup
The 1991 Rugby World Cup was the second edition of the Rugby World Cup, and was jointly hosted by England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland and France; at that time, the five European countries that participated in the Five Nations Championship making it the first Rugby World Cup to be staged in the...
game against Romania was more physically sapping than playing either France or New Zealand.
The communist regime used rugby union like it used other sports, as a propaganda tool during the cold war with the West. Every international success was presented as a direct result of the righteousness of the communist rule and ideology. All the financial resources were directed toward the preparation of the national team to the detriment of domestic development. Top players were employed in the army or the police, whose sides Steaua and Dynamo sides who practised six days a week in superb sporting centres. This infrastructure bred a talented national side.
Romanian rugby's reputation has been seriously damaged by its association with Communist dictator, Nicolae Ceauşescu
Nicolae Ceausescu
Nicolae Ceaușescu was a Romanian Communist politician. He was General Secretary of the Romanian Communist Party from 1965 to 1989, and as such was the country's second and last Communist leader...
and his regime, and this is perhaps one of the reason that the game has not performed so well in the post-Communist era (despite being associated with the bourgeoisie
Bourgeoisie
In sociology and political science, bourgeoisie describes a range of groups across history. In the Western world, between the late 18th century and the present day, the bourgeoisie is a social class "characterized by their ownership of capital and their related culture." A member of the...
early on) In addition, many of the Communist era players were really "Shamateurs", for example during the 1991 Rugby World Cup, nearly half of the players had their profession down as "locksmiths". Romanian rugby became associated with the totalitarian police and military - many players being killed in civil disruption that followed the collapse of the system.
Rugby union like many other sports, was long to be connected in the public mind with the less savoury aspects of Communism:
- "In fact, since the end of the Second World War, the East European (and world communist) sports system was dominated by clubs of the security forces (often in Eastern Europe bearing the Soviet name Dinamo) and the armed forces. Most sports heroes, therefore, have officially been soldiers or police officers, guardians of public order and role models for a disciplined, obedient and patriotic citizenry. So to many people, élite sport was identified with paramilitary coercion."
The former All Black scrum half Chris Laidlaw
Chris Laidlaw
Christopher Robert Laidlaw , Rhodes Scholar, All Black, diplomat, MP, talk radio host, author, is a 20th century New Zealand figure.-Academic and Rugby Union:...
, writing at the end of the 1970s, saw rugby as a positive force in east-west relations at the time:
- "Rugby has become the ping-pong of outdoor sports in its capacity to spread goodwill between East and West. Over the last 30 or 40 years it has spread through Eastern Europe, establishing itself strongly in Rumania and YugoslaviaRugby union in YugoslaviaPlease note, this article refers to the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia . For rugby in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, post-1992, please see rugby union in SerbiaRugby union in Yugoslavia was a moderately popular sport...
, HungaryRugby union in HungaryRugby union in Hungary is a minor but growing sport.-Governing body:The Hungarian union was founded in 1990, and affiliated to the IRB in 1991.-History:...
and into the USSR. The fact that a Russian team [sic] has finally played a full-scale, if unofficial Test match against speaks for itself.
- "Rugby tours between countries on either side of the Iron CurtainIron CurtainThe concept of the Iron Curtain symbolized the ideological fighting and physical boundary dividing Europe into two separate areas from the end of World War II in 1945 until the end of the Cold War in 1989...
have generated considerable political interest among the governments concerned, and the results can be quite astonishing. The recent n tour of New Zealand, for instance, germinated other contacts between the two countries and was partly instrumental in the establishment of new trade agreements which otherwise might not have begun."
Chris Laidlaw writing of the open secret of shamateurism in Soviet sport said:
- "So far as the East Europeans and the RussiansRugby union in RussiaRugby union in Russia is a growing sport. Russia is ranked 19th worldwide by the International Rugby Board , having over one hundred clubs and close to 20,000 players nationally. Russia has a professional domestic competition.-Governing body:...
are concerned, who knows where the incentives lie? In such societies rugby, like many other sports before it, is becoming an expression of national achievement and therefore the subject of careful nurturing. Yet, is the risk of the double standard, so evident in the athletic arena, permeating the East Europeans' approach to rugby so great as to justify the exclusion of the Communist world indefinitely from regular rugby competition?"
- "Much to everyone's surprise, Eastern Bloc countries are among the game's vigorous participants, seemingly oblivious to rugby's capitalist class-ridden origins. Russia emerged from behind the Iron Curtain and came under international scrutiny when they played France in Toulouse in November 1978. Romania, Poland and Czechoslovakia are members of the Federation Internationale de Rugby Amateur, the governing body for those countries not in the IBInternational Rugby BoardThe International Rugby Board is the governing body for the sport of rugby union. It was founded in 1886 as the International Rugby Football Board by the unions of Scotland, Wales and Ireland. England refused to join until 1890. The International Rugby Football Board changed its name to the...
."
Post-Communism
After the fall of Communism in 1989, Romanian rugby union suffered a drastic financial shortfall.In 1995 the first ever Heineken Cup
Heineken Cup
The Heineken Cup is one of two annual rugby union competitions organised by European Rugby Cup involving leading club, regional and provincial teams from the six International Rugby Board countries in Europe whose national teams compete in the Six Nations Championship: England, France, Ireland,...
match took place in Romania with Toulouse taking on Farul Constanţa.
Romania first got regular international competition when they joined the newly formed 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...
in 2000. The national side
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...
lost to England by 138-0 in 2001 and Dinamo Bucharest lost 151-0 to Saracens in the European Rugby Shield.
Bucureşti Rugby
Bucuresti Rugby
Bucureşti are a rugby union team from Bucharest, Romania, that competes in the European Challenge Cup. The side is a team that is formed every season to play in the Challenge Cup, consisting of footballers playing in the domestic Romanian leagues...
was formed to represent Romania in European club competitions in 2004. In recent years they have achieved respectable results, including a win in 2010 against an Italian super 10 side.
Romania replaced Russia in the Super Cup
Super Powers Cup
The Super Cup was an annual international rugby union competition contested by national teams from Canada, Japan, Russia and the United States. It was previously known as the Super Powers Cup....
in 2005.
National team
The Romania national rugby union teamRomania 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...
, nicknamed The Oaks, have long been one of the stronger European teams outside of the Six Nations
Six Nations Championship
The Six Nations Championship is an annual international rugby union competition involving six European sides: England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales....
tournament. They take part in international competitions, notably the Rugby World Cup
Rugby World Cup
The Rugby World Cup is an international rugby union competition organised by the International Rugby Board and held every four years since 1987....
, 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 the Super Powers Cup
Super Powers Cup
The Super Cup was an annual international rugby union competition contested by national teams from Canada, Japan, Russia and the United States. It was previously known as the Super Powers Cup....
.
Romania have played at every World Cup
Rugby World Cup
The Rugby World Cup is an international rugby union competition organised by the International Rugby Board and held every four years since 1987....
so far and won one game at each World Cup, except for 1995
1995 Rugby World Cup
The 1995 Rugby World Cup was the third Rugby World Cup. It was hosted and won by South Africa, and was the first Rugby World Cup in which every match was held in one country....
when they lost all the games.
Romania play 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...
, a second-level competition for second and third tier European nations. Romania have won the competition on three occasions 2000, 2001–2002 and 2005-2006.
The Antim Cup
Antim Cup
The Antim Cup is contested between the rugby union teams of Romania and Georgia . It is named after the Romanian Orthodox Metropolitan Anthim the Iberian, who came from Georgia....
is contested between Georgia and Romania. The cup is contested each time Georgia and Romania meet in a senior international match other than World Cup matches or qualifiers. The holder retains the cup unless the challenger wins the match in normal time.
Romania replaced Russia in the Super Cup
Super Powers Cup
The Super Cup was an annual international rugby union competition contested by national teams from Canada, Japan, Russia and the United States. It was previously known as the Super Powers Cup....
in 2005. Other participants include Canada
Canada national rugby union team
The Canada national rugby union team represents Canada in international rugby union. They are governed by Rugby Canada, and play in red and black. Canada is classified by the International Rugby Board as a tier two rugby nation. There are ten tier one nations, and seven tier two nations, the...
, Japan
Japan national rugby union team
The Japan national rugby union team represent Japan in international rugby union competitions. Japan is traditionally the strongest rugby union power in Asia but has both enjoyed and endured mixed results against non-Asian teams over the years...
and the United States
United States national rugby union team
USA Rugby's men's national rugby union team, nicknamed the Eagles, represents the United States in the sport of rugby union. The Eagles are currently ranked 17th by the IRB World Rankings. Their highest ranking was from November 2, 2006 – September 10, 2007 at the 14th position...
.
Domestic competitions
The Romanian Rugby Championship, which has been contested since 1914 is the main domestic competition.European club tournaments
In 1995 the first ever Heineken CupHeineken Cup
The Heineken Cup is one of two annual rugby union competitions organised by European Rugby Cup involving leading club, regional and provincial teams from the six International Rugby Board countries in Europe whose national teams compete in the Six Nations Championship: England, France, Ireland,...
match took place in Romania with Toulouse taking on Farul Constanţa. Since the inaugural season, Romanian teams have not taken part in the Heineken Cup.
A Romanian team has taken part in the European Challenge Cup
European Challenge Cup
The European Challenge Cup, currently known for sponsorship reasons as the Amlin Challenge Cup, is one of two annual rugby union competitions organised by European Rugby Cup. The cup was known as the Parker Pen Shield from 2001 to 2003 and Parker Pen Challenge Cup from 2003 to 2005. The European...
in 1996−97, 1997−98, 1998−99, 1999−2000, 2001−02, 2002−03, and each season since 2005−06. No Romanian teams took part in 2000−01, 2003−04 and 2004−05.
Bucureşti Rugby
Bucuresti Rugby
Bucureşti are a rugby union team from Bucharest, Romania, that competes in the European Challenge Cup. The side is a team that is formed every season to play in the Challenge Cup, consisting of footballers playing in the domestic Romanian leagues...
is a team that is formed to play in European competition, consisting of rugby union players playing in the domestic Romanian leagues. They played in the European Shield
European Shield
The European Shield was a reprechage tournament for teams knocked out in the first round of the European Challenge Cup in 2002-03 and 2003-04. The name "European Shield" had previously been used for the now renamed European Challenge Cup....
in 2004−05, and have played in each Challenge Cup since the 2005−06 edition..
Popularity
Like other sports during the Communist era, rugby union was used as an instrument for propaganda by the regime. In the 1980s the country had more than 12,000 players in 110 clubs.After the fall of Communism, Romanian rugby union suffered a drastic financial shortfall, its popularity - which never had been comparable with that of football or handball, however, was not diminished.
According to the International Rugby Board
International Rugby Board
The International Rugby Board is the governing body for the sport of rugby union. It was founded in 1886 as the International Rugby Football Board by the unions of Scotland, Wales and Ireland. England refused to join until 1890. The International Rugby Football Board changed its name to the...
Romania has 52 rugby union clubs; 142 referees; 1,200 pre-teen male players; 4,100 teen male players; 1,375 senior male players (total male players 6,675) as well as 150 pre-teen female players; 200 teen female players; 125 senior female players (total female players 475).
External links
Federaţia Română de Rugby (official site) www.rugby.ro- Adevarul rugby
- Planet-Rugby news for Romania
- Weathered Oak: Romanian rugby (from BBC News)
- From riches to rags (from BBC News)
- http://www.ici.ro/romania/en/sport/index.html
- Romanian flanker charged with murder
- OVER-40'S TAKE ON ROMANIA'S FINEST - BY ACCIDENT!
- No Hanging Up the Boots Archives du Rugby: Roumanie
See also
- Romania national rugby union teamRomania national rugby union teamThe 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...
- Romanian Rugby Federation
- Sport in RomaniaSport in RomaniaThe most popular sport in Romania is football. Other popular sports include team handball, basketball, rugby union, tennis and gymnastics.-Football:...