Moldova national rugby union team
Encyclopedia
The Moldova national rugby union team represent Moldova
at rugby union
. They are governed by the Moldovan Rugby Federation
(Federatia de Rugby din Moldova), and have yet to qualify for the Rugby World Cup
.
. 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.
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 qualify
.
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.
is growing rapidly, with well over 10,000 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.
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
. He is the first Moldovan player to sign for a professional English team.
Durango ilarduya rugby taldea
Moldova
Moldova , officially the Republic of Moldova is a landlocked state in Eastern Europe, located between Romania to the West and Ukraine to the North, East and South. It declared itself an independent state with the same boundaries as the preceding Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic in 1991, as part...
at rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
. They are governed by the Moldovan Rugby Federation
Moldovan Rugby Federation
The Moldovan Rugby Federation is the governing body for the sport of rugby union in Moldova....
(Federatia de Rugby din Moldova), and have yet to qualify for the Rugby World Cup
Rugby World Cup
The Rugby World Cup is an international rugby union competition organised by the International Rugby Board and held every four years since 1987....
.
History
Moldova played their first international on October 10, 1991 against LithuaniaLithuania national rugby union team
The Lithuania national rugby union team represents Lithuania at rugby union. They are governed by the Lithuanian Rugby Federation , and have yet to qualify for the Rugby World Cup.-History:...
. Moldova won the match, 22 points to six. The next year they played against Bulgaria
Bulgaria national rugby union team
The Bulgaria national rugby union team represents Bulgaria at rugby union. They are governed by the Bulgarian Rugby Federation, and have yet to qualify for the Rugby World Cup.-History:...
, which Moldova won, 42 points to three. Moldova played Hungary
Hungary national rugby union team
The Hungary national rugby union team represents Hungary at rugby union. They are governed by the Magyar Rögbi Szövetség , and have yet to qualify for the Rugby World Cup, although they have entered qualifiers for all the tournaments from the 1995 edition onwards...
in 1995, which they won, by three points, 17 to 14.
They played Georgia
Georgia national rugby union team
The Georgia national rugby union team represents Georgia in rugby union. The team's nickname, The Lelos, comes from lelo burti, a traditional Georgian sport with strong similarities to rugby. Lelo has been adopted as the Georgian word for "try"...
, who defeated them 47 to five. They then played Ukraine
Ukraine national rugby union team
The Ukraine national rugby union team represents Ukraine at the sport of rugby union. Ukraine have been playing international rugby union since the early 1990s. So far they have not qualified for a Rugby World Cup. They participate in the European Nations Cup....
and Latvia
Latvia national rugby union team
The Latvia national rugby union team represent Latvia at the sport of rugby union. They are governed by Latvijas Regbija Federācija and have been playing international rugby since the early 1990s. Rugby has increased in popularity in Latvia recently due to a rise in form...
and Bulgaria.
Moldova played twice in 1997, defeating Norway
Norway national rugby union team
Norway national rugby union team is a member of the FIRA - Association of European Rugby and plays in the 3B division of the European Nations Cup...
and losing to Croatia
Croatia national rugby union team
The Croatia national rugby union team are the national rugby union team of Croatia. They are governed by the Croatian Rugby Union. Croatia have been playing internationals rugby since 1992, they have yet to qualify for the Rugby World Cup.- Internationals :...
. They won a number of fixtures in 2000. They played the Netherlands
Netherlands national rugby union team
The Netherlands national rugby union team are a national sporting side of the Netherlands, representing them at rugby union. The side first played in 1930.-History:...
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 qualify
2007 Rugby World Cup - European qualification
2007 Rugby World Cup - European qualification was based around the European Nations Cup, and decided which European teams participated in the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France. The group stages counted towards both qualification and the European Nations Cup...
.
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
Germany national rugby union team
Germany is a third-tier Rugby Union playing nation. Germany currently plays at the second level of European rugby but has never managed to qualify for the Rugby World Cup...
, and thus move onto round three and enter Pool A.
Popularity
Perhaps surprisingly, the popularity of rugby in MoldovaMoldova
Moldova , officially the Republic of Moldova is a landlocked state in Eastern Europe, located between Romania to the West and Ukraine to the North, East and South. It declared itself an independent state with the same boundaries as the preceding Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic in 1991, as part...
is growing rapidly, with well over 10,000 fans regularly turning up to their home matches in the European Nations Cup
European Nations Cup (rugby union)
The European Nations Cup is the European Championship for tier 2 and tier 3 rugby union nations. The Championship is split into 7 divisions with 5 or 6 teams in each. The divisions play on a two-year cycle with the teams playing each other both home and away...
. 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 LeagueProfessional Rugby League
Professional Rugby League is the premier rugby union competition in Russia. The Professional League was formed in 2005 and succeeds the Superleague. The Superleague, in turn, was active from 1992 to 2004 and succeeded the Soviet Championship....
in 2006, scoring 16 tries in 14 matches for Moscow-area side VVA-Podmoskovye
VVA-Podmoskovye Monino
The VVA-Podmoskovje is a Russian rugby union team currently playing in the Professional Rugby League. The team plays at Gagarin Air Force Academy stadium in Monino, a garrison town just outside Moscow. VVA-Podmoskovye have strong links to the air force and also supply the bulk of Russia, with which...
.
During March 2011, Vadim Cobîlaş
Vadim Cobîlaş
Vadim Cobîlaş is a Moldovan rugby union player. He plays as a prop.He played for VVA-Podmoskovye Monino in Russia, before being assigned for Sale Sharks in the Aviva Premiership in England, in 2 March 2011. He is the first Moldovan rugby player to become a professional in England.Cobîlaş plays...
signed for Aviva Premiership side, Sale Sharks
Sale Sharks
Sale Sharks are a professional rugby union club who play in England in the Aviva Premiership.The club is an offshoot of Sale FC, which is based at Heywood Road in Sale, Greater Manchester, but Sharks currently play in Stockport at Edgeley Park, ground sharing with Stockport County F.C.Part of the...
. He is the first Moldovan player to sign for a professional English team.
Current squad
Head Coach: Sergiu MotocDurango ilarduya rugby taldea
External links
- Moldova on IRB.com
- Moldova on rugbydata.com
- Current Squad