Romania’s scrum half, Alin Conache, showcased his kicking prowess by scoring 16 points to lead his team to a 31-21 victory over Canada in a men’s international rugby match on Saturday at the Stadionul Arcul de Triumf. This defeat is likely to push Canada, currently ranked 24th in the world, down in the global rankings.
Following this match, Canada is scheduled to face off against Georgia, ranked 11th, in Batumi next Saturday before meeting Portugal, ranked 20th, on November 22 in Coimbra. Earlier on the same day, Georgia triumphed over the 15th-ranked U.S. Eagles with a score of 43-30 in Batumi.
Romania’s Ovidiu Cojocaru, Cristi Chirică, and Tevita Manumua scored tries for their team, while Alin Conache contributed with four penalties and two conversions. On the other hand, Mason Flesch, Piers Von Dadelszen, and Barnaby Waddell managed to score tries for Canada, who had two players sin-binned in the latter part of the game. Peter Nelson successfully converted three kicks for Canada.
Despite a strong start from Romania, Canada struggled to recover throughout the game. Romania secured an early 3-0 lead through a Conache penalty in the third minute, followed by another successful kick in the ninth minute. Conache continued his fine form, extending the lead to 9-0 in the 15th minute. Canada fought back with Flesch scoring a try in the 28th minute, reducing the deficit to 12-7. However, Romania maintained control and widened their lead to 24-7 in the second half.
Canada’s performance was marred by penalties and missed opportunities, leading to a disappointing 1-6-0 record in 2025. Despite their efforts, Canada’s struggles persisted, earning only two victories out of their last 14 matches since the beginning of 2024.
The match also marked the conclusion of Cojocaru’s international career, with the Romanian skipper being honored before the game. Romania, fresh off a South American tour in July, demonstrated their dominance against Canada, showcasing their strength in the rugby arena. In a gesture of remembrance, the Canadian team sported custom jerseys featuring a poppy on their left sleeves in honor of Remembrance Day.