President of the Romanian Rugby Federation visits the European Parliament ahead of World Cup qualifier in Mons, Belgium

On 6 February, the European Parliament Rugby Team (EPXV) had the honour of hosting a delegation led by Mr. Alin Petrache, President of the Romanian Rugby Federation (FRR), during an official visit to the European Parliament in Brussels. This important visit took place just before Romania’s crucial Rugby Europe Championship match against Belgium’s National XV—an encounter that would ultimately secure their qualification for the 2027 Men’s Rugby World Cup in Australia.

The visit included an engaging presentation on the FRR’s ongoing projects, a “whistle-stop tour” of the European Parliament, and highly constructive discussions about the development of rugby in Romania and across the EU. Conversations took a particularly interesting turn as both sides explored the idea of forming a dedicated parliamentary rugby team in Romania—an initiative that could further strengthen the ties between politics and sport while promoting rugby at a national level.

This occasion also offered an excellent opportunity for insightful exchanges on the recent successes of the Romanian National Team, especially in the context of World Cup qualification. President Petrache shared key moments from the team’s long campaign, highlighting the intense planning and determination that underpinned their performance.

The timing of the visit was symbolic: on 8 February, Romania faced Belgium in an international test match at Stade Tondreau in Mons. This was the second match of Group B in the Rugby Europe Championship. After a hard-fought contest, Romania emerged victorious with a decisive 31-14 win. This victory, coupled with Portugal’s 56-14 triumph over Germany, secured Romania’s prestigious qualification for the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia. It marks the “Stejarii’s” (The Oaks) tenth historic appearance in the global tournament—a testament to the resilience and strength symbolised by their nickname.

On behalf of EPXV, Barry Andrews, MEP and active player, thanked President Petrache, his colleagues, and the FRR for this most welcome visit. He said that the EPXV looks forward to collaborating very closely with the FRR on all aspects that will help grow and promote rugby values across Europe.