Romania secured a 31-21 victory over Canada in men’s international rugby competition with scrum half Alin Conache contributing 16 points through kicks on Saturday at the Stadionul Arcul de Triumf. The defeat is anticipated to push Canada down at least one spot in the global rankings, currently at No. 24.
Next up for Canada is a match against No. 11 Georgia in Batumi, followed by a clash with No. 20 Portugal in Coimbra on November 22. Georgia triumphed over the 15th-ranked U.S. Eagles 43-30 earlier in Batumi on the same day.
Romania, ranked at No. 21, saw tries from Ovidiu Cojocaru, Cristi Chirică, and Tevita Manumua. Conache added to the score with four penalties and two conversions. On the other side, Mason Flesch, Piers Von Dadelszen, and Barnaby Waddell scored tries for Canada, with Peter Nelson converting three.
The match ended dramatically with Waddell, a player for Bridgend Ravens in Wales, scoring a try at the last moment. This victory marked Romania’s eighth win out of 11 encounters against Canada. Notably, the Oaks have emerged victorious in eight of their last nine meetings, with Canada’s sole exception being a 35-22 win at Ottawa’s TD Place Stadium in July 2024. Canada’s other victories over Romania were during the 1991 and 1995 World Cups.
Canada Struggles to Recover from Early Deficit
The game started with Romania taking the lead 3-0 in the third minute with a Conache penalty. Canada faced challenges throughout the match, with Conache extending Romania’s lead to 9-0 in the 15th minute. Despite efforts from Canada, Romania maintained control, leading 12-0 in the 25th minute. However, Flesch managed to score for Canada in the 28th minute, narrowing the score to 12-7.
After a competitive first half, Romania continued to dominate in the second half, securing a 31-21 win. Canada faced setbacks, including a yellow card for Robbie Povey and a series of scrum penalties. Romania capitalized on the opportunities, with Cojocaru, Chirică, and Manumua scoring crucial tries to seal the victory.
The game highlighted the youth of Canada’s starting 15, with a total of 244 caps collectively. Notably, it marked the last international appearance for Cojocaru, the Romanian captain and hooker.
Canada’s Performance in 2025
With the loss, Canada’s 2025 record drops to 1-6-0. Despite tough competition, Canada’s upcoming opponents have already secured spots in the 2027 World Cup. The defeat marks Canada’s fourth consecutive loss since their previous win against the United States.
This game also commemorated the second edition of the Cernavodă Cup, celebrating Romanian-Canadian cooperation in the nuclear energy sector. Additionally, in honor of Remembrance Day, the Canadian team wore custom jerseys featuring a poppy emblem.
