In men’s international rugby action on Saturday, Romania secured a 31-21 victory over Canada, with scrum half Alin Conache contributing 16 points to the win. The match, held at Stadionul Arcul de Triumf, is likely to result in Canada dropping in the world rankings from its current position at No. 24.
Canada is set to face off against Georgia, ranked No. 11, in Batumi next Saturday, followed by a match against Portugal, ranked No. 20, on November 22 in Coimbra. Earlier on Saturday in Batumi, Georgia defeated the U.S. Eagles, who are ranked 15th, with a score of 43-30.
Players Ovidiu Cojocaru, Cristi Chirică, and Tevita Manumua scored tries for Romania, while Conache successfully converted four penalties and two conversions. On the other hand, Mason Flesch, Piers Von Dadelszen, and Barnaby Waddell scored tries for Canada, with Peter Nelson securing three conversions.
The victory improved Romania’s record against Canada to 8-3-0, with Romania emerging victorious in eight out of the last nine encounters between the two teams. Canada’s two previous wins over Romania were at the 1991 and 1995 World Cups, with the exception of a 35-22 victory for Canada in July 2024 at Ottawa’s TD Place Stadium.
In the game, Romania took an early lead through Conache’s penalty kicks, with Canada struggling to recover throughout the match. Despite efforts from both teams, Romania maintained control and extended its lead, eventually securing the win with a strong performance.
This match marked the second edition of the Cernavodă Cup, an event that celebrates Romanian-Canadian collaboration in the nuclear energy sector. Additionally, in honor of Remembrance Day, the Canadian team wore custom jerseys featuring a poppy emblem on the left sleeve.
