Rugby union in Romania

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Rugby union is a quite popular team sport played in Romania with a tradition of more than 80 years.

Contents 1 History 2 Governing body 3 National team 3.1 Rugby World Cup 3.2 European Nations Cup 3.3 Super Cup 3.4 Rainbow Cup 3.5 The Antim Cup 4 Domestic competition 5 European club tournaments 6 Popularity 7 See also 8 External links

[edit] History

Rugby union was introduced to Romania by students returning with rugby balls from their studies in Paris. The nations 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.

[edit] Governing body

Rugby union in Romania is administered by the Romanian Rugby Federation. The organisation became an official offiliate of the International Rugby Board (IRB) in 1987 when Romania were invited to take part in the inaugural Rugby World Cup. The current president is George Straton.

[edit] National team

Main article: Romania national rugby union team

The Romania national rugby union team, 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.

[edit] Rugby World Cup

Further information: Rugby World Cup

Romania have played at every World Cup so far. At each World Cup, they have won one game.

[edit] European Nations Cup

Further information: European Nations Cup (Rugby Union)

The European Nations Cup is a second-level competition for tier-two European nations. Initially started as a one-year competition, the championship is now decided over two years with each team playing each other on a home and away basis.

Romania have won the competition on three occasions 2000, 2001-2002 and 2005-2006.

[edit] Super Cup

Further information: Super Powers Cup

The Super Cup is an annual competition contested by Canada, Japan, Romania and United States.

Romania replaced Russia from 2005.

[edit] Rainbow Cup

Further information: Rainbow Cup

The Rainbow Cup is set to start in 2006. The teams will include several "A" sides from nations recognised as "Tier 1" by the sport's governing body, the International Rugby Board, as well as the full national team of Romania.

[edit] The Antim Cup

Further information: Antim Cup

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. It is named after the Romanian Orthodox Metropolitan Antim Iverianul, who came from Georgia.

[edit] Domestic competition

Further information: Romanian Rugby Championship

[edit] European club tournaments

In 1995 the first ever Heineken Cup 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 1996/7, 1997/8, 1998/9, 1999/2000, 2001/2, 2002/3, 2005/6 and will take part again in 2006/7. No Romanian teams took part in 2000/1, 2003/4 and 2004/5.

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 2004/5 and the Challenge Cup in 2205/6.

[edit] Popularity

Like other sports during the Communist era, rugby union was used as an instrument for propaganda by the regime. After the fall of Communism, Romanian rugby union suffered a drastic financial shortfall, its popularity - which never had been comparable with that of football, however, was not diminished.

[edit] See also

• Romania national rugby union team
• Romanian Rugby Federation

[edit] External links

• (Romanian) Federaţia Română de Rugby (official site)
• (Romanian) (French) (English) www.rugby.ro
• Planet-Rugby news for Romania
• Weathered Oak: Romanian rugby (from BBC News)
• From riches to rags (from BBC News)