USA finishes year with win over Romania in Bucharest

The USA ended their 2025 campaign on a winning note, claiming a 26-18 result over Romania on Saturday. It was their fifth victory in Bucharest since 2012. The victory sees the Eagles lifting the Pershing Cup and, critically, securing a spot in the third Band for the Rugby World Cup 2027 draw in December.

VS MATCH REPORT

The USA Eagles converted a 16-8 half-time lead into a 26-18 victory over Romania. The visitors enjoyed a solid opening start to the contest. Pressure brought an opportunity and fly half Luke Carty took it to kick a penalty.

In addition to conceding early points, the Stejarii suffered an injury set-back with fullback Gabriel Pop forced off in just the 5th minute. Meanwhile, the Eagles scored further points with Carty adding a second penalty on 12 minutes.

Romania opened their scoring in response. Scrum-half Alin Conache slotted a penalty for a 6-3 scoreline. However, any joy was quickly balanced out as a second injury saw Romania forced to replace N8 Adrian Mitu.

The opening try of the game came in the second quarter. It came with the Eagles playing with 14-men after Carty was yellow carded for making shoulder to head contact. Strong carries from Marno Redelinghuys, Ezekiel Lindenmuth and captain Jason Damm got the Eagles within inches. Old Glory DC flanker Cory Daniel then drove over and Ruben Du Haas converted in place of Carty.

Before Du Haas lined-up the conversion, referee Sam Grove-White yellow carded Dragos Ser for Romania having conceded too many defensive penalties at their own end.

The Stejarii looked to their forwards in response. A rampaging series of phases saw Romania work their way deep into Eagles territory. Eventually advantage was awarded and Romania went left with Tongan import Tevita Manumua forcing his way over Toby Fricker to score. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful.

With Carty back for the USA, the Eagles looked to extend their lead on 37 minutes. However, Carty’s regulation attempted shot at goal struck the posts. Fortunately for his team, the Eagles recovered the ball. Raids inside the Romanian 22 followed and another penalty was awarded. This time Carty made no mistake.

Conache eroded the Eagles’ 16-8 half-time lead on 45 minutes. His penalty was the only score of the third quarter.

The Eagles came back to live on 62 minutes with a powerful carry from Marno Redelinghuys. The South African was stopped less than five meters from the Stejarii try zone. Quick ball from du Haas saw Carty passing a rapid-fire ball to the left to Rufus McLean. The former Scotland winger shrugged off a defender to score. Cartery converted from near the corner.

The Eagles then sealed the win. An attacking lineout on 69 minutes saw the Eagles going close. A penalty resulted from which Carty kicked the USA to a 15 point lead with ten minutes remaining on the match clock.

Jason Damm’s players had the result secured but the Stejarii ended on a high. An attacking scrum with time up saw Sam Grove-White awarded the home side with a penalty try. With it came the final whistle and the end of the USA Eagles’ international competition for the year.

WORLD RANKINGS AND RWC 2027 DRAW

The win in Bucharest sees the USA Eagles completing a rankings’ gain of 0.86 points in the exchange with Romania. In doing so, the USA hold their spot in Band 3 (13th to 18th in World Rankings). The USA are now 16th and Romania 21st.

As it stands the USA join Uruguay and Chile in Band three, giving the Americas three of the six slots. Uruguay are ranked 15th and Chile are 18th. The teams face Romania and Chile next weekend, respectively. Canada are in Band 4 and ranked 24th in the world while Argentina are in Band 1 and ranked 6th.

Chile’s match against Italy will have no impact on rankings due to the gap between the sides. That is to say, Italy cannot take points off Chile. On the other hand, Uruguay are almost assured of their spot in Band 3. Retaining it will require either a win over Romania, a draw or a loss by fewer than 15 points.

ROMANIA (18)
TRY – T Manumua (31′); Penalty Try (80′)
CON –  No Kick (80′)
PEN – A Conache (18′, 45′)
YC – D Ser (29′)

USA (26)
TRY – C Daniel (28′); R McLean (63′)
CON – R Du Haas (29′, 64′)
PEN – L Carty (3′, 12′, 39′, 70′)
LC – L Carty (24′)

ROMANIA
1 Alexandru Savin, 2 Stefan Buruiana, 3 Thomas Cretu, 4 Nicolaas Immelman, 5 Andrei Mahu (capt.), 6 Cristi Boboc, 7 Cristi Chirica, 8 Adrian Mitu, 9 Alin Conache, 10 Hinckley Vaovasa, 11 Tevita Manumua, 12 Jason Tomane, 13 Mihai Graure, 14 Iliesa Tiqe, 15 Gabriel Pop

Replacements: 16 Tudor Butnariu, 17 Joji Sikote, 18 Vasile Balan, 19 Marius Antonescu, 20 Dragos Ser, 21 Matthew Tweddle, 22 Gabriel Rupanu, 23 Nicolas Onutu

USA
1 Ezekiel Lindenmuth, 2 Kaleb Geiger, 3 Tonga Kofe, 4 Marno Redelinghuys, 5 Tevita Naqali, 6 Paddy Ryan, 7 Cory Daniel, 8 Jason Damm (capt.), 9 Ruben de Haas, 10 Luke Carty, 11 Rufus McLean, 12 Tavite Lopeti, 13 Dom Besag, 14 Mark O’Keeffe, 15 Toby Fricker

Replacements: 16 Mike Sosene-Feagai, 17 Payton Telea-Ilalio, 18 Maliu Niuafe, 19 Nafi Ma’afu, 20 Vili Helu, 21 Makeen Alikhan, 22 Mitch Wilson, 23 Michael Baska

Referee: Sam Grove-White (Scotland)
Assistants: Saba Abulashvili (Georgia); Peter Martin (Ireland)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)