Moldova national rugby union team

Moldova

Nickname(s)	Haiducii (The Outlaws)
Union	Moldovan Rugby Federation
Head coach	Sergiu Motoc
Captain	Alexandru Mutean
Most caps	Andrei Romanov (46)
Top scorer	Oleg Prepelița (135)
Top try scorer	Oleg Prepelița (27)
Home stadium	Complexul Sportiv Raional Orhei
First colours Second colours
World Rugby ranking
Current	59 (as of 23 November 2020)
Highest	25 (2014)
Lowest	59 (2020)
First international
Moldova 22–6  Lithuania (Moldova; 10 October 1991)
Biggest win
Moldova 58–8  Malta (Moldova; 18 November 2000)
Biggest defeat
Sweden 80–6  Moldova (Sweden; 20 October 2018)
World Cup
Appearances	0
Website	www.rugby.md

The Moldova national rugby union team, nicknamed Haiducii, 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[]

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
	Hooker	2 February 2004	0	Confey College
	Hooker	Circa 2001	2	RC Sporting ASEM
	Prop	Circa 2000	2	RC Ciorescu
	Prop	Circa	2	RC Sergus Soroca
Maxim Cobîlaș	Prop	(1986-08-12) 12 August 1986 (age 35)	?	VVA-Podmoskovie
	Prop	(1997-02-02) 2 February 1997 (age 25)	10	Unattached
	Prop	(1993-10-04) 4 October 1993 (age 28)	5	Clonakilty RFC
	Prop	Circa 1995	7	Kavallieri RFC
	Lock	Circa 1996	4	RC Sporting ASEM
Andrei Mahu	Lock	(1991-09-03) 3 September 1991 (age 30)	24	London Irish
	Lock	(1984-12-10) 10 December 1984 (age 37)	46	Unattached
	Flanker	Circa 1996	6	Unattached
	Flanker	Circa 1993	2	CSR Sporting
	Flanker	Circa	3	LIMPS
	Flanker	Circa 1991	6	RC Sporting ASEM
	Number 8	Circa 1989	9	CR UTM
	Scrum-half	Circa 1999	2	Unione Rugbistica Anconitana
	Scrum-half	Circa 1993	14	RC Sporting ASEM
	Scrum-half	Circa 1987	3	CUS Perugia Rugby
	Fly-half	Circa 2000	1	RC Sporting ASEM
(c)	Fly-half	(1994-11-21) 21 November 1994 (age 27)	20	Unattached
	Fly-half	Circa 1989	3	RC Sporting ASEM
	Centre	Circa	1	Unattached
	Centre	Circa 1986	4	CSR Lupii Albi
	Centre	Circa 1989	9	CR UTM
	Wing	Circa	2	RC Ciorescu
	Wing	Circa	9	Unattached
	Wing	Circa 1997	8	RC Ciorescu
	Fullback	Circa 1995	9	Unattached
	Fullback	Circa 2001	1	RC Ciorescu
	Fullback	Circa 2000	2	RC Ciorescu

External links[]

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