Rugby union in Moldova
Encyclopedia
Rugby union
in Moldova
is a growing sport.
(Federatia de Rugby din Moldovei).
In 1949, rugby union was forbidden in the USSR during the "fight against the cosmopolitanism
". The competitions were resumed in 1957, and the Soviet Championship in 1966. In 1975 the Soviet national team
played their first match.
Rugby union appears to have been introduced to the Moldavian SSR
in 1967
Moldova had its own rugby team in the USSR, but it was not treated as a proper national side.
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. Rugby union in Romania
is quite a major sport, going back ninety years, and as Moldova shares a language and a border with Romania
, this has helped its popularity there.
represent Moldova
at rugby union
. They have yet to qualify for the Rugby World Cup
.
website, Moldova will play in their first-ever IRB Sevens World Series event when the season reaches its climax in Scotland.
since 2007. (Current playing record).
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...
in Moldova
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...
is a growing sport.
Governing Body
The governing body in Moldova is the Moldovan Rugby FederationMoldovan Rugby Federation
The Moldovan Rugby Federation is the governing body for the sport of rugby union in Moldova....
(Federatia de Rugby din Moldovei).
Soviet Period
Rugby union was played in the Russian Empire as early as in 1908. In 1934 the Moscow Championship was started, and in 1936 the first Soviet Championship took place.In 1949, rugby union was forbidden in the USSR during the "fight against the cosmopolitanism
Cosmopolitanism
Cosmopolitanism is the ideology that all human ethnic groups belong to a single community based on a shared morality. This is contrasted with communitarian and particularistic theories, especially the ideas of patriotism and nationalism...
". The competitions were resumed in 1957, and the Soviet Championship in 1966. In 1975 the Soviet national team
Soviet Union national rugby union team
The USSR national rugby union team was a sporting side that represented the Soviet Union in rugby union until the early 1990s.-History:Although such tournaments as the Soviet Cup and the Soviet Championship existed, rugby never became a major sport in the USSR...
played their first match.
Rugby union appears to have been introduced to the Moldavian SSR
Moldavian SSR
The Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic , commonly abbreviated to Moldavian SSR or MSSR, was one of the 15 republics of the Soviet Union...
in 1967
Moldova had its own rugby team in the USSR, but it was not treated as a proper national side.
Post-independence
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. Rugby union in Romania
Rugby union in Romania
Rugby union is a fairly popular team sport played in Romania with a tradition of more than 90 years. Romania's men's national team was 18th in the IRB World Rankings as of July 2011. -Governing body:...
is quite a major sport, going back ninety years, and as Moldova shares a language and a border with Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
, this has helped its popularity there.
National team
The Moldova national rugby union teamMoldova national rugby union team
The Moldova national rugby union team represent Moldova at rugby union. They are governed by the Moldovan Rugby Federation , and have yet to qualify for the Rugby World Cup.-History:...
represent Moldova
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 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....
.
Sevens
According to the IRBInternational Rugby Board
The International Rugby Board is the governing body for the sport of rugby union. It was founded in 1886 as the International Rugby Football Board by the unions of Scotland, Wales and Ireland. England refused to join until 1890. The International Rugby Football Board changed its name to the...
website, Moldova will play in their first-ever IRB Sevens World Series event when the season reaches its climax in Scotland.
Women's rugby
Although Moldova's women have not yet played test match rugby, they have been playing international sevens rugbyWomen's International Rugby Union Sevens
Rugby Union Sevens - a short form of the sport of rugby union - was first played in 1883, with the first internationals taking place in 1973...
since 2007. (Current playing record).