Romania names initial extended squad for November tests

Romania have named 38 players in an extended training squad ahead of their upcoming test series against Tonga, Canada, and Uruguay. Head Coach David Gérard’s squad is almost entirely domestic-based with only two players included from French clubs. Nearly all have suited up for the Romanian Wolves recently in the Rugby Europe Super Cup.

Included in the selection are seven uncapped players. Among them are loosehead prop or hooker George Ilincuta, loose forwards Kemal Altinok and Eduard Cioroaba, midfielder Alexandru Prescura, and 6’4″ (1.92m) Steaua winger Rafael Florea.

Young locks Virgil Ghenea and David Trausan are called to help fill in an unusual second row component. Stefan Iancu is the only capped specialist included, with Vlad Neculau and Nicolaas Immelman both typically employed as back row forwards.

In a media release, Gérard says the group is likely to change after the Tonga test as he looks towards the Rugby Europe Championship and World Cup qualification. After some doubt as to the location of the tests, Rugby Romania has now confirmed that all three will be played at their traditional home in Bucharest – the Stadionul Arcul de Triumf.

 

FIXTURES
11/09 – vs Tonga
11/16 – vs Canada
11/23 – vs Uruguay

 

PROP
Vasile Balan (Steaua) 23 caps
Ciprian Chiriac (Timisoara) 5 caps
Iulian Hartig (Dinamo) 19 caps
George Ilincuta (Steaua) uncapped
Cosmin Manole (Dinamo) 5 caps
Alexandru Savin (Rapid) 36 caps

HOOKER
Florin Bardasu (Rapid) 16 caps
Stefan Buruiana (Castres, FR) 3 caps
Tudor Butnariu (Steaua) 13 caps
Robert Irimescu (Baia Mare) 12 caps

SECOND ROW
Virgil Ghenea (Poli Iasi) uncapped
Stefan Iancu (Baia Mare) 14 caps
Nicolaas Immelman (Baia Mare) 3 caps
Vlad Neculau (Timisoara) 22 caps
David Trausan (Rapid) uncapped

BACK ROW
Kemal Altinok (Timisoara) uncapped
Cristi Boboc (Steaua) 11 caps
Cristi Chirica (Dinamo) 37 caps
Eduard Cioroaba (Dinamo) uncapped
Adrian Mitu (Charente, FR) 3 caps
Dragos Ser (Timisoara) 23 caps
Kamil Sobota (Dinamo) 12 caps

SCRUMHALF
Vladut Bocanet (Baia Mare) 1 cap
Alin Conache (Steaua) 16 caps
Gabriel Rupanu (Timisoara) 31 caps

FLYHALF
Daniel Plai (Timisoara) 30 caps
Hinckley Vaovasa (Dinamo) 23 caps

MIDFIELD
Alexandru Bucur (Timisoara) 17 caps
Mihai Graure (Dinamo) 5 caps
Alexandru Prescura (Rapid) uncapped
Fonovai Tangimana (Dinamo) 31 caps
Jason Tomane (Baia Mare) 21 caps

OUTSIDE BACKS
Rafael Florea (Steaua) uncapped
Tevita Manumua (Timisoara) 11 caps
Ovidiu Neagu (Dinamo) 5 caps
Paul Popoaia (Baia Mare) 17 caps
Marius Simionescu (Timisoara) 39 caps
Corrado Stetco (Timisoara) 1 cap