International competition for Romania and Uruguay concludes on Saturday. The contest is the second of the year between the two teams. The growing rivalry between Romania and Uruguay has seen regular international competition in recent years, particularly so since Rugby World Cup 2015.
Uruguay’s return to the Men’s Rugby World Cup in 2015, after missing out on qualifying for the 2007 and 2011 tournaments, coincides with a boom in opportunities for Los Teros against Romania. Indeed, nine of the fifteen matches between the countries have been played during this period.
Saturday’s test match had a lot on the line due to the seedings for Rugby World Cup 2027. However, with Samoa drawing their match against Belgium, an outcome is that Samoa are officially in Band 4 as are Romania while Uruguay cannot fall from Band 3.
FORM GUIDE + |
Current World Ranking: 21 (62.16 points)
2025-11-15 – Romania 18-26 USA (Bucharest, RO)
2025-11-08 – Romania 31-21 Canada (Bucharest, RO)
2025-07-18 – Argentina XV 52-14 Romania (Buenos Aires, AR)
2025-07-12 – Uruguay 70-08 Romania (Montevideo, UY)
2025-07-05 – Chile 40-16 Romania (Santiago, CL)
2025-03-16 – Portugal 07-21 Romania (Oeiras, PT)
Current World Ranking: 15 (68.52 points)
Nov 16, 2025 – All Blacks XV 45-21 Uruguay (Béziers, FR)
Nov 08, 2025 – Portugal 8-26 Uruguay (Lisbon, PT)
Sep 06, 2025 – Uruguay 18-21 Chile (Montevideo, UY)
Aug 30, 2025 – Chile 16-28 Uruguay (Santiago, CL)
Aug 23, 2025 – Uruguay 78-10 Paraguay (Montevideo, UY)
July 26, 2025 – Paraguay 00-38 Uruguay (Asunción, PY)
July 19, 2025 – Argentina 52-17 Uruguay (Salta, AR)
July 12, 2025 – Uruguay 70-08 Romania (Montevideo, UY)
|
IN | OUT |
| 2 | Tudor Butnariu | Stefan Buruiana |
| 3 | Gheorghe Gajion | Thomas Cretu |
| 4 | Marius Antonescu | Nicolaas Immelman |
| 7 | Nicolaas Immelman | Cristi Chirica |
| 8 | Cristi Chirica | Adrian Mitu |
| 13 | Nicolas Onuțu | Mihai Graure |
| 15 | Ovidiu Neagu | Gabriel Pop |
|
IN | OUT |
| 1 | Mateo Perillo | Francisco Suárez |
| 3 | Reinaldo Piussi | Ignacio Péculo |
| 5 | Manuel Leindekar | Manuel Rosmarino |
| 6 | Manuel Ardao | Santiago Civetta |
| 7 | Santiago Civetta | Lucas Bianchi |
| 8 | Manuel Diana | Manuel Ardao |
| 9 | Santiago Álvarez | Felipe Etcheverry |
| 10 | Felipe Etcheverry | Jean Cotarmanac’h |
| 11 | Juan Manuel Alonso | Franco Scaldaferri |
| 12 | Andrés Vilaseca | Juan Manuel Alonso |
Cristi Chirica (N8)
“It will be a last match with emotions for me, with adrenaline, with everything and I will give my best to win this match, to have a last match as I want it, with a beautiful game and a victory.”
- Uruguay is on a four match winning-streak against Romania.
- The teams met in Montevideo in July with Uruguay winning by a record margin.
- The corresponding fixture in November 2024 saw Uruguay winning by 2 points in Bucharest.
- Romania has had a busy 2025 against Americas opposition. The Stejarii had matches in Chile, Uruguay and Argentina in July and home matches against Canada, USA and Uruguay in November.
- Manuel Leindekar returns to lead Uruguay. The Oyonnax second-rower is one of seven Uruguayans who did not play for Peñarol in Super Rugby Americas 2025. The others are Germán Kessler (Rouen,FR), Ignacio Péculo (Chicago Hounds), Reinaldo Piussi (Miami Sharks, US), Manuel Ardao (Miami Sharks, US), Francisco González Capdevila (Pampas, AR) and Jean Cotarmanac’h (Vannes, FR).
- An agreement for player release for Rugby World Cup qualifiers saw Santiago Arata missing the November tour. Baltazar Amaya and Juan González are also notably missing names for Los Teros.
- The match is Cristi Chirica’s final appearance for Romania before retirement from international duty.
- Romania’s players based abroad are Gheorghe Gajion (Mont De Marsan, FR), Robert Irimescu (West Harbour, AU), Thomas Crețu (Dax, FR), Andrei Mahu (Massy, FR), Marius Antonescu (Narbonne, FR) and Nicolas Onuțu (CS Annonay, FR).
- 11/23 (47.83%) of Romania’s players are not homegrown. They are Gheorghe Gajion and Andrei Mahu (Moldova), Thomas Crețu and Nicolas Onuțu (France), Tevita Manumua and Fonovai Tangimana (Tonga), Nicolaas Immelman (South Africa), Robert Irimescu (USA), Iliesa Tiqe (Fiji), Jason Tomane (Australia) and Hinckely Vaovasa (New Zealand).
- Captain and lock Andrei Mahu as well as tight head prop Gheorghe Gajion were born and raised in Moldova. Both switched to Romania after formerly playing test rugby for Moldova.
- Replacement Romanian hooker Robert Irimescu is a native of New York with Romanian parents.
- Uruguay has 20/23 (86.96%) homegrown players. The exceptions are the trio of rookies Francisco Súarez (Argentina), Francisco González Capdevila (Argentina) and Jean Cotarmanac’h (France). All are parent qualified for Uruguay.
ROMANIA
1 Alexandru Savin, 2 Tudor Butnariu, 3 Gheorghe Gajion, 4 Marius Antonescu, 5 Andrei Mahu (capt.), 6 Cristi Boboc, 7 Nicolaas Immelman, 8 Cristi Chirica, 9 Alin Conache, 10 Hinckely Vaovasa, 11 Tevita Manumua, 12 Jason Tomane, 13 Nicolas Onuțu, 14 Iliesa Tiqe, 15 Ovidiu Neagu
Replacements: 16 Robert Irimescu, 17 Vasile Balan, 18 Thomas Crețu, 19 Vlad Neculau, 20 Kemal Altinok, 21 Gabriel Rupanu, 22 Paul Popoaia, 23 Fonovai Tangimana
URUGUAY
1 Mateo Perillo, 2 Germán Kessler, 3 Reinaldo Piussi, 4 Felipe Aliaga, 5 Manuel Leindekar (capt.), 6 Manuel Ardao, 7 Santiago Civetta, 8 Manuel Diana, 9 Santiago Álvarez, 10 Felipe Etcheverry, 11 Juan Manuel Alonso, 12 Andrés Vilaseca, 13 Joaquín Suárez, 14 Bautista Basso, 15 Francisco González Capdevila
Replacements: 16 Joaquín Myszka, 17 Francisco Suárez, 18 Ignacio Péculo, 19 Manuel Rosmarino, 20 Lucas Bianchi, 21 Carlos Deus, 22 Jean Cotarmanac’h, 23 Ícaro Amarillo
Qualifying for Rugby World Cup 2027 was the goal for both Los Teros and the Stejarii in 2025. Having succeeding in doing so, the second objective was to finish the year ranked as high as possible so as to increase the prospects of a friendlier draw for Australia 2027. Uruguay succeeded but Romania did not. The respective World Rankings of 21st for the home side and 15th for the visitors is different to July when Uruguay were 17th. The big win that say was against an experimental Romanian side. Nonetheless, form shown in November means Uruguay are favorites to win in Bucharest.
Venue: Stadionul National Arcul de Triumf, Bucharest, Romania
Date: Saturday, November 22
Kick-Off: 5:00pm (Romania); 12:00pm (Uruguay)
Weather: Rain. 15°C; Wind N 6km/h
Broadcast: Disney + (Uruguay); TVR Sport (Romania); Rugby Pass
Referee: Jeremy Rozier (France)
Assistant Referees: Ben Breakspear (Wales); Kevin Bralley (France)
TMO: Aled Griffiths (Wales)
| HISTORY vs (2008-2025) |
2025-07-12 – Uruguay 70-08 Romania (Montevideo, UY)
2024-11-23 – Romania 21-23 Uruguay (Bucharest, RO)
2022-11-13 – Romania 16-21 Uruguay (Bucharest, RO)
2022-07-17 – Uruguay 26-20 Romania (Montevideo, UY)
2022-07-17 – Uruguay 22-30 Romania (Montevideo, UY)
2021-11-07 – Romania 29-14 Uruguay (Verona, IT)
2018-11-24 – Romania 20-27 Uruguay (Baia Mare, RO)
2016-11-06 – Romania 36-10 Uruguay (Bucharest, RO)
2016-06-13 – Romania 40-0 Uruguay (Bucharest, RO)
2014-06-14 – Romania 34-16 Uruguay (Bucharest, RO)
2012-06-08 – Romania 29-9 Uruguay (Bucharest, RO)
2010-11-27 – Romania 39-12 Uruguay (Bucharest, RO)
2010-11-13 – Uruguay 21-21 Romania (Montevideo, UY)
2009-06-12 – Romania 17-11 Uruguay (Bucharest, RO)
2008-06-11 – Romania 10-6 Uruguay (Bucharest, RO)
| HEAD TO HEAD vs (2008-2025) |
ROMANIA Wins 9
URUGUAY Wins 5
DRAW 1
