Moldova national rugby union team

Last updated
Moldova
Moldova Rugby Logo.png
NicknameHaiducii (The Outlaws)
Union Moldovan Rugby Federation
Head coachSergiu Motoc
CaptainAlexandru Mutean
Most caps Timur Ungurean (67)
Top scorerTimur Ungurean (500)
Top try scorerOleg Prepelița (27)
Home stadium Gelu Memorial Stadium
Kit left arm.svg
Kit body.svg
Kit right arm.svg
Kit shorts.svg
Kit socks long.svg
First colours
Kit left arm.svg
Kit body.svg
Kit right arm.svg
Kit shorts.svg
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Second colours
World Rugby ranking
Current59 (as of 28 July 2025)
Highest25 (2014)
Lowest59 (2020)
First international
Flag of Moldova.svg  Moldova 22–6 Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania
(Moldova; 10 October 1991)
Biggest win
Flag of Moldova.svg  Moldova 58–8 Flag of Malta.svg  Malta
(Chișinău, Moldova; 18 November 2000)
Biggest defeat
Flag of Moldova.svg  Moldova 5–65 Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia
(10 May 1997)
Website www.rugby.md

The Moldova national rugby union team, nicknamed le steelers, 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.

Contents

History

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.

Overall Record

Below is a table of the representative rugby matches played by a Moldova national XV at test level up until 24 May 2025, updated after match with Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark.

AgainstPlayedWonLostDrawnWin percentage
Flag of Andorra.svg  Andorra 1100100%
Flag of Austria.svg  Austria 211050%
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium 725028.57%
Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria 211050%
Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia 10100%
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic 844050%
Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 211050%
Flag of Finland.svg  Finland 211050%
Flag of Georgia.svg  Georgia 10100%
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 734042.86%
Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 3300100%
Flag of Israel.svg  Israel 1100100%
Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania 3300100%
Flag of Luxembourg.svg  Luxembourg 312033.33%
Flag of Malta.svg  Malta 2200100%
Flag of Monaco.svg  Monaco 1100100%
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 321066.67%
Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 1100100%
Flag of Poland.svg  Poland 1054150%
Flag of Portugal (official).svg  Portugal 20200%
Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia 641166.67%
Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia 20200%
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 10100%
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 312033.33%
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland 20200%
Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey 2200100%
Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine 1174063.64%
Total894740252.81%

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)CapsClub/province
Alexandru Mutean Hooker (2004-02-02) 2 February 2004 (age 21)69 Flag of Ireland.svg Confey College
Marius Cardasim Hooker (2001-09-30) 30 September 2001 (age 23)2 Flag of Moldova.svg RC Sporting ASEM
Valeriu Belous Prop (2000-11-28) 28 November 2000 (age 24)2 Flag of Moldova.svg RC Ciorescu
Vlad Braniște Prop (1990-03-13) 13 March 1990 (age 35)2 Flag of Moldova.svg RC Sergus Soroca
Maxim Cobîlaș Prop (1986-08-12) 12 August 1986 (age 39)42 Flag of Russia.svg VVA-Podmoskovie
Alexandru Colev Prop (1997-02-02) 2 February 1997 (age 28)10Unattached
Ruslan Dorogan Prop (1993-10-04) 4 October 1993 (age 31)5 Flag of Ireland.svg Clonakilty RFC
Andrei Lungu Prop (1995-11-28) 28 November 1995 (age 29)7 Flag of Malta.svg Kavallieri RFC
Tudor Cojocaru Lock (2000-09-13) 13 September 2000 (age 24)4 Flag of Moldova.svg RC Sporting ASEM
Andrei Mahu Lock (1991-09-03) 3 September 1991 (age 33)24 Flag of England.svg London Irish
Andrei Romanov Lock (1984-12-10) 10 December 1984 (age 40)46Unattached
Dorin Boțan Flanker (1996-02-09) 9 February 1996 (age 29)6Unattached
Cristin Buzenco Flanker (1993-05-19) 19 May 1993 (age 32)2 Flag of Moldova.svg CSR Sporting
Petru Crețu Flanker (1995-08-20) 20 August 1995 (age 30)3 Flag of Moldova.svg LIMPS
Igor Orghianu Flanker (1991-10-31) 31 October 1991 (age 33)6 Flag of Moldova.svg RC Sporting ASEM
Sergiu Budaian Number 8 (1989-09-22) 22 September 1989 (age 35)9 Flag of Moldova.svg CR UTM
Grigore Pahom Scrum-half (1999-09-22) 22 September 1999 (age 25)2 Flag of Italy.svg Unione Rugbistica Anconitana
Vadim Preguza Scrum-half (1993-11-26) 26 November 1993 (age 31)14 Flag of Moldova.svg RC Sporting ASEM
Ion Puică Scrum-half (1987-02-21) 21 February 1987 (age 38)3 Flag of Italy.svg CUS Perugia Rugby
Dumitru Bețliu Fly-half (2000-02-25) 25 February 2000 (age 25)1 Flag of Moldova.svg RC Sporting ASEM
Mihai Golubenco (c) Fly-half (1994-11-21) 21 November 1994 (age 30)20Unattached
Alexandru Matveev Fly-half (1989-06-02) 2 June 1989 (age 36)3 Flag of Moldova.svg RC Sporting ASEM
Alexandru Bulgac Centre (1994-08-14) 14 August 1994 (age 31)1Unattached
Ion Bușilă Centre (1986-06-02) 2 June 1986 (age 39)4 Flag of Moldova.svg CSR Lupii Albi
Igor Mișin Centre (1989-10-29) 29 October 1989 (age 35)9 Flag of Moldova.svg CR UTM
Ion Dinu Wing (1989-12-27) 27 December 1989 (age 35)2 Flag of Moldova.svg RC Ciorescu
Mihail Boian Wing (1997-11-28) 28 November 1997 (age 27)9Unattached
Ion Constantin Wing (1997-01-13) 13 January 1997 (age 28)8 Flag of Moldova.svg RC Ciorescu
Adrian Adam Fullback (1995-05-31) 31 May 1995 (age 30)9Unattached
Sandu Gritenco Fullback (2001-11-28) 28 November 2001 (age 23)1 Flag of Moldova.svg RC Ciorescu
Alexei Isaac Fullback (2000-11-08) 8 November 2000 (age 24)2 Flag of Moldova.svg RC Ciorescu