SportsCatch
EN

Simionescu returns from nine-month injury lay-off in Romania's Nations Cup squad

Fullback Marius Simionescu, one of Romania's standout performers at the 2023 Rugby World Cup, has been named in a 32-man squad for the Nations Cup after more than nine months out injured. New cap Iacopo Bianchi is also included, while six players miss out through injury.

1 min read
Simionescu returns from nine-month injury lay-off in Romania's Nations Cup squad
Share

Marius Simionescu has been named in Romania’s 32-man squad for the Nations Cup after more than nine months away from the game through injury, head coach David Gérard confirmed. The fullback, who was one of the Stejarii’s brightest performers at the 2023 Rugby World Cup despite the side suffering four defeats, is joined in the squad by several other notable returnees as Romania prepare to face Chile, Uruguay and Samoa.

Alongside Simionescu, Hinckley Vaovasa (SO Chambéry), Jason Tomane (Baia Mare) and Adrian Mitu (Soyaux-Angoulême XV) are also back in contention after their own absences.

The squad also features a handful of uncapped players set to earn their first Romania appearances. Italian-born flanker Iacopo Bianchi, who has spent six seasons at Zebre and previously represented Italy ‘A’, qualifies for Romania through his parents and is in line to make his debut against Chile on 4 July. Prop Jean-Pierre Smith (CS Dinamo), hooker Adria Tala (Union Barbezieux), lock Keanan Murray (CS Dinamo) and back-rower Etienne Terblanche (CS Dinamo) are the other new additions.

The injury news is not all positive, however. Toni Maftei, Mihai Popescu, Adrian Moșoc, Matthew Tweddle and Serge Le Mezec are all unavailable through injury, as is Jondré Williams — who made an immediate impact on debut against Spain in March — and is now expected to miss the next eight months. Taylor Gontineac (Castres), Atila Septar (Nice Rugby), Thomas Crețu (US Dax) and Gheorghe Gajion (Stade Montois) are also unavailable for the July window.

Speaking to Rugby Romania, Gérard was clear about the team’s ambitions for the tournament. “We want to win all the matches, increase the level of play and especially use all the experience from these matches to grow both individually and, above all, as a group.”

The Nations Cup comes after Romania finished fourth in the 2026 Men’s Rugby Europe Championship, and the three fixtures represent a significant opportunity to build momentum ahead of the country’s 10th Rugby World Cup appearance.

Share