The Romania national rugby union team (Romanian: Echipa naţională de rugby a României), nicknamed The Oaks (Stejarii), is the representative side of Romania in rugby union. Long considered one of the stronger European teams outside the Six Nations, they have participated in all six Rugby World Cups, and currently compete in the first division of the European Nations Cup, where most recently in the 2008–2010 competition they finished third. Rugby union in Romania is administered by the Romanian Rugby Federation. The team plays in yellow and blue strips.
France first played Test rugby against Romania in 1924 when they tried to establish a rival to the Five Nations championship. At their best, during the 1980s, the national side defeated Wales (twice), Scotland (the 1984 Grand Slam side) and France (twice). In 1981, they lost to the All Blacks 14–6 but had two tries disallowed. Many felt it was wrong for the rugby powers to fail to bring them in to top-flight competition. There are even rumours that the Oaks were invited to join but refused because the championship took place during their winter break. However, with the subsequent deterioration of the domestic political and economic situation in the country rugby in Romania suffered.
Nonetheless, Romania played in the first seven Rugby World Cups from 1987, with their best result being a win during the pool stages. However, the likes of Georgia have challenged Romania for top spot below the Six Nations, and Georgia, along with Portugal have both won the European Nations Cup (or Six Nations B). Romania played in Pool C at the 2007 Rugby World Cup, along with Portugal, New Zealand, Italy and Scotland. They played in Pool D in the Rugby World Cup 2011.
Read more about Romania National Rugby Union Team: Honours, Current Squad, Notable Players, Notable Clubs
Famous quotes containing the words national, union and/or team:
“The national anthem belongs to the eighteenth century. In it you find us ordering God about to do our political dirty work.”
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950)
“The union of hands and hearts.”
—Jeremy Taylor (1613–1667)
“I doubt if men ever made a trade of heroism. In the days of Achilles, even, they delighted in big barns, and perchance in pressed hay, and he who possessed the most valuable team was the best fellow.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)