Players withdrawn through injury: Mihai Macovei, Mihai Mureșan, Paul Popoaia, Gabriel Pop, Taylor Gontineac, Hinckley Vaovasa.
Romania make three more changes to Rugby World Cup 2023 squad
- 2061
Romania make three more changes to Rugby World Cup 2023 squad
Romania have made three changes to their Rugby World Cup 2023 squad, with Luca Nichitean replacing wing/full-back Gabriel Pop, and centres Mihai Graure and Alexandru Bucur replacing Taylor Gontineac and Hinckley Vaovasa.
The Oaks face Scotland in Lille on Saturday, 30 September, after defeats by Ireland (82-8) and South Africa (76-0) in their opening two games. Their final Pool B match is against Tonga on 8 October.
Romania head coach Eugen Apjok had already been forced to make three changes to his original squad before the tournament began, with Mihai Macovei (calf tear), Mihai Mureșan (shoulder dislocation) and Paul Popoaia (subacromial bursitis and supraspinous tendinitis) replaced by Andre Gorin, Lama Sioeli and Taliauli Sikuea.
Cristi Chirica is the captain of Romania at his first Rugby World Cup, with the squad made up of 19 forwards and 14 backs.
Changes to the squad are shown in bold.
Forwards
Prop
Costel Burțilă (RC Hyères Carqueiranne La Crau)
Thomas Crețu (Stade Francais)
Gheorghe Gajion (Stade Montois)
Alexandru Gordaș (CS Dinamo)
Iulian Harțig (RC Bassin d’Arcachon)
Alexandru Savin (CSA Steaua)
Hooker
Florin Bărdașu (CSA Steaua)
Ovidiu Cojocaru (CS Dinamo)
Robert Irimescu (CSM Știința Baia Mare)
Second row
Ștefan Iancu (CSM Știința Baia Mare)
Marius Iftimiciuc (US Carcassonne)
Adrian Motoc (Biarritz Olympique)
Flanker / Number 8
Cristi Boboc (CSA Steaua)
Cristi Chirica (CS Dinamo)
Andre Gorin
Vlad Neculau (SCM USV Timișoara)
Andre Gorin
Vlad Neculau (SCM USV Timișoara)
Florian Roșu (CSM Știința Baia Mare)
Dragoș Ser (CSA Steaua)
Damian Strătilă (CSA Steaua)
Backs
Scrum-half
Alin Conache (SCM USV Timișoara)
Gabriel Rupanu (SCM USV Timișoara)
Florin Surugiu (CSA Steaua)
Florin Surugiu (CSA Steaua)
Fly-half
Tudor Boldor (CS Dinamo)
Luca Nichitean
Luca Nichitean
Centre
Tevita Manumua (SCM USV Timișoara)
Jason Tomane (CSM Știința Baia Mare)
Alexandru Bucur
Mihai Graure
Alexandru Bucur
Mihai Graure
Wing / full back
Lama Sioeli
Nicolas Onuțu (CS Vienne)
Marius Simionescu (SCM USV Timișoara)
Taliauli Sikuea
Tangimana Fonovai (CSA Steaua)
Nicolas Onuțu (CS Vienne)
Marius Simionescu (SCM USV Timișoara)
Taliauli Sikuea
Tangimana Fonovai (CSA Steaua)
