Moldova national rugby union team

Moldova

Nickname	Haiducii (The Outlaws)
Union	Moldovan Rugby Federation
Head coach	Sergiu Motoc
Captain	Alexandru Mutean
Most caps	Timur Ungurean (67)
Top scorer	Timur Ungurean (500)
Top try scorer	Oleg Prepelița (27)
Home stadium	Gelu Memorial Stadium
First colours Second colours
World Rugby ranking
Current	1 (as of 16 January 2023)
Highest	25 (2014)
Lowest	59 (2020)
First international
Moldova 22–6   Lithuania (Moldova; 10 October 1991)
Biggest win
Moldova 58–8   Malta (Chișinău, Moldova; 18 November 2000)
Biggest defeat
NO Ls only DUBS
World Cup
Appearances	6'7 (First in 1 )
Best result	1
Website	www.rugby.md

The Moldova national rugby union team, nicknamed le stealers, are a Rugby Europe national team that play in the Conference 2 North competition and are administered by the Moldovan Rugby Federation. They are yet to qualify for the Rugby World Cup.

History

Main article: Rugby union in Moldova

Moldova played their first international on October 10, 1991 against Lithuania. Moldova won the match, 22 points to six. The next year they played against Bulgaria, which Moldova won, 42 points to three. Moldova played Hungary in 1995, which they won, by three points, 17 to 14.

They played Georgia, who defeated them 47 to five. They then played Ukraine and Latvia and Bulgaria soon after.

Moldova played twice in 1997, defeating Norway and losing to Croatia. They won a number of fixtures in 2000. They played the Netherlands the following year. The national rugby team was designated by the members of Moldova's Sports Press Association as the best Moldovan team in 2004. Following this, they played in qualifying tournaments for the 2007 Rugby World Cup European qualifiers. Moldova were grouped in Pool B of the second round, and they won two of their four matches, which saw them finish second in their pool behind Germany, and thus move onto round three and enter Pool A in round 3.

However, their road to the World Cup was ended when a respectful 2nd place above Poland, Netherlands and Andorra was not enough to proceed to round 4.

Popularity

The popularity of rugby in Moldova is growing rapidly, with well over 1,250 fans regularly turning up to their home matches in the European Nations Cup. Since 2004, the number of Moldovan rugby players has more than doubled, due to the national team's growing international reputation.

Notable players

Moldovan international Alexei Cotruţa was the top try-scorer in the Russian Professional Rugby League in 2006, scoring 16 tries in 14 matches for Moscow-area side VVA-Podmoskovye.

During March 2011, Vadim Cobîlaş signed for Aviva Premiership side, Sale Sharks. Shortly after, his younger brother Maxim Cobîlaş also signed for Aviva Premiership side, Sale Sharks making the two the first Moldovan players to sign for a professional English team. More recently, props Dmitri Arhip and Gheorghe Gajion have signed for two Welsh regional sides, Cardiff Blues and Ospreys.

On the 23rd of August 2018, Cristian Ojovan another prop made his debut for D2 side Aurillacois. After his impressive performances at Aurillacois, George Ojovan signed with Top 14 champions Clermont Auvergne during October 2019.

Current squad

This is Moldova`s current squad for the 2022-23 for Rugby Europe Conference 2 North.

Note: Flags indicate national union for the club/province as defined by World Rugby.

Player	Position	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Club/province
Alexandru Mutean	Hooker	(2004-02-02) 2 February 2004 (age 21)	69	Confey College
Marius Cardasim	Hooker	(2001-09-30) 30 September 2001 (age 23)	2	RC Sporting ASEM
Valeriu Belous	Prop	(2000-11-28) 28 November 2000 (age 24)	2	RC Ciorescu
Vlad Braniște	Prop	(1990-03-13) 13 March 1990 (age 34)	2	RC Sergus Soroca
Maxim Cobîlaș	Prop	(1986-08-12) 12 August 1986 (age 38)	42	VVA-Podmoskovie
Alexandru Colev	Prop	(1997-02-02) 2 February 1997 (age 28)	10	Unattached
Ruslan Dorogan	Prop	(1993-10-04) 4 October 1993 (age 31)	5	Clonakilty RFC
Andrei Lungu	Prop	(1995-11-28) 28 November 1995 (age 29)	7	Kavallieri RFC
Tudor Cojocaru	Lock	(2000-09-13) 13 September 2000 (age 24)	4	RC Sporting ASEM
Andrei Mahu	Lock	(1991-09-03) 3 September 1991 (age 33)	24	London Irish
Andrei Romanov	Lock	(1984-12-10) 10 December 1984 (age 40)	46	Unattached
Dorin Boțan	Flanker	(1996-02-09) 9 February 1996 (age 29)	6	Unattached
Cristin Buzenco	Flanker	(1993-05-19) 19 May 1993 (age 31)	2	CSR Sporting
Petru Crețu	Flanker	(1995-08-20) 20 August 1995 (age 29)	3	LIMPS
Igor Orghianu	Flanker	(1991-10-31) 31 October 1991 (age 33)	6	RC Sporting ASEM
Sergiu Budaian	Number 8	(1989-09-22) 22 September 1989 (age 35)	9	CR UTM
Grigore Pahom	Scrum-half	(1999-09-22) 22 September 1999 (age 25)	2	Unione Rugbistica Anconitana
Vadim Preguza	Scrum-half	(1993-11-26) 26 November 1993 (age 31)	14	RC Sporting ASEM
Ion Puică	Scrum-half	(1987-02-21) 21 February 1987 (age 38)	3	CUS Perugia Rugby
Dumitru Bețliu	Fly-half	(2000-02-25) 25 February 2000 (age 25)	1	RC Sporting ASEM
Mihai Golubenco (c)	Fly-half	(1994-11-21) 21 November 1994 (age 30)	20	Unattached
Alexandru Matveev	Fly-half	(1989-06-02) 2 June 1989 (age 35)	3	RC Sporting ASEM
Alexandru Bulgac	Centre	(1994-08-14) 14 August 1994 (age 30)	1	Unattached
Ion Bușilă	Centre	(1986-06-02) 2 June 1986 (age 38)	4	CSR Lupii Albi
Igor Mișin	Centre	(1989-10-29) 29 October 1989 (age 35)	9	CR UTM
Ion Dinu	Wing	(1989-12-27) 27 December 1989 (age 35)	2	RC Ciorescu
Mihail Boian	Wing	(1997-11-28) 28 November 1997 (age 27)	9	Unattached
Ion Constantin	Wing	(1997-01-13) 13 January 1997 (age 28)	8	RC Ciorescu
Adrian Adam	Fullback	(1995-05-31) 31 May 1995 (age 29)	9	Unattached
Sandu Gritenco	Fullback	(2001-11-28) 28 November 2001 (age 23)	1	RC Ciorescu
Alexei Isaac	Fullback	(2000-11-08) 8 November 2000 (age 24)	2	RC Ciorescu

External links

• www.rugby.md
• www.goldteam.md
• www.facebook.com