Taylor Stefan Gontineac was not born in Romania, but in France, in the rugby town of Aurillac, on the July 16 2000.
He is the son of former international Romanian superstar, Romeo Gontineac, who also played as a centre for The Oaks. His father was part of the Romanian setup in four World Cups (1995, 1999, 2003, and 2007), and met Taylor’s mother, Lucinda, in 1995 in South Africa.
His first club was his hometown rugby team, Aurillac, playing there until 2017 before moving to ASM Clermont Auvergne.
He made his Test debut in 2019, when he faced Chile, and started in the first team, helping the Oaks defeat the Condores.
After finishing his academy years with ASM, the centre moved to Rouen Normandie where he has been a pivotal member of the ProD2 side. He scored three tries in 18 matches in the 2022-2023 campaign
In 2023 he was selected as one of the best players in the 2023 Rugby Europe Championship, after scoring six tries and producing some of the best displays throughout the competition.
Ahead of the Rugby World Cup 2023, Gontineac has been named in the squad for Romania.
SC 04/09/2023
Career
 |
Beziers Inside Centre |
2024 - present |
 |
Romania Outside Centre |
2020 - 2024 |
 |
Rouen Rugby Inside Centre |
2021 - 2024 |
