‘Tis the season for squad announcements, and the Romanian Rugby Federation (FRR) joined the party yesterday, announcing their final 31-man squad.
Among the familiar faces is linchpin backrower Mihai Macovei, who will again be the Oaks’ captain, a role he has held for 24 matches in a bruising international career.
Romania Announce Final Rugby World Cup Squad
Centre Florin Vlaicu, meanwhile, returns as the presumptive first-choice goal kicker. With his game in good form and 79 caps already to his name, the 29-year-old looks a good bet to be the first Romanian to pass the century mark in that category.
One of the more interesting inclusions is fullback Cătălin Fercu, a player whose on-field ability has been somewhat overshadowed by his controversial decision not to attend RWC 2011 due to a fear of flying. Rumour has it that this didn’t sit well with some of Fercu’s teammates at the time, many of whom will also be part of the 2015 squad. As a marked man whose attacking verve belies the stereotype of an Oaks team known for it’s power and size, Fercu will be one to watch in England.
This Romanian squad will also carry an international flavour, with four players being included by way of World Rugby’s contentious three-year-residency rule.
Kiwi Michael Wiringi, who as recently as 2011 was competing in New Zealand’s provincial ITM Cup, has been selected after quickly moving up the Oaks’ depth chart since joining Romanian Superliga side CSM Baia Mare in 2012.
Alongside him is Tongan-born centre Paula Kinikinilau, who also plied his trade for years at the New Zealand provincial level, making the move to the Superliga and RC Timişoara in early 2013.
In addition, lock Johannes van Heerden is likely to earn his first Romanian cap once the World Cup rolls around, but has recently returned to his native South Africa due to a death in the family.
Georgian-born prop Otar Turashvili also adds to the import contingent, though he has been playing club rugby in Romania since 2010.
According to the Romanian Rugby Federation (FFR) this is “the first time that naturalised players have been selected for the Romanian squad at a World Cup.”
It’s worth noting, of course, that Romania are merely hopping on an already-bulging bandwagon, as residency and parentage rules have for years been cheerfully utilised by most international rugby sides.
As always when it comes to squad announcements of this magnitude, there were some surprises. Selecting Daniel Carpo; for example, seems odd given that the stout number eight has been out injured for nearly a full year, and considering Romania’s strength of depth in the back row.
The inclusion of fullback Sabin Stratila, too, appears a considerable leap of faith on a 20-year-old with only one cap to his name.
Nevertheless, coach Lynn Howells has proven to be an excellent influence on Romanian rugby in his time with the program, and has surely earned some leeway for one or two curious selections.
With the final squad now in place, Romania’s final tune-up ahead of the main event will be against Tonga on September 5 at Bucharest’s Stadionul Arcul de Triumf. Their first match of RWC 2015 will be three weeks later, against France on September 18.
Romania RWC 2015 full squad:
Forwards:
Marius Antonescu
Stelian Burcea
Eugen Capatana
Daniel Carpo
Paulica Ion
Mihaita Lazar
Viorel Lucaci
Mihai Macovei
Valentin Popirlan
Horatiu Pungea
Andrei Radoi
Alexandru Tarus
Ovidiu Tonita
Otar Turashvili
Andrei Ursache
Valentin Ursache
Johannes van Heerden
Backs:
Adrian Apostol
Ionut Botezatu
Tudorel Bratu
Valentin Calafeteanu
Danut Dumbrava
Catalin Fercu
Csaba Gal
Florin Ionita
Paula Kinikilau
Madalin Lemnaru
Sabin Stratila.
Florin Surugiu
Florin Vlaicu
Michael Wiringi
“Main Photo”
