“We want to be a force to be reckoned with,” says Rob Irimescu of Romania ahead of men’s RE Championship
Romania’s Rob Irimescu has fond memories of playing against Poland and he and his team mates are focused ahead of their men’s Rugby Europe Championship 2024 opener with those opponents on Sunday.
The clash in Gdynia will come exactly a year on from Irimescu’s debut for Romania versus Poland when he came off the bench and scored a try in a 67-27 win in Bucharest.
Since then, the hooker as become a key part of the national team squad, helping them to a third-place finish in last year’s Championship and then playing for them against the likes of eventual winners South Africa at Rugby World Cup 2023 in France.
“It has been an amazing year for me,” the 27-year-old said.
“I remember that Poland match 12 months ago very well because it was a proud moment for me and my family while I scored a try.
“I now have seven caps for Romania and, being born and raised in America to Romanian parents, Romanian culture is in my blood and my DNA.
“When I play for Romania, I represent the numerous generations of my bloodline who have come before me in Romania and it is something that a young Rob Irimescu would be ever so proud of had he known that it would come to this one day.”
Irimescu says the aim of The Oaks is to win the tournament and, certainly, if they can get off to a strong start against Poland and Belgium it would set them up nicely for their third game against fellow World Cuppers Portugal later in February.
“Personally, and as a team, we are very eager to showcase the hard work we have been putting in and the improvements we have made during this Championship,” he explained.
“Coming off a decent 2023 Championship and a disappointing World Cup, we are looking to showcase that we are better than our previous performances and are looking to do some great things this year.
“The main goal is to win the Rugby Europe Championship. There is no point in playing or competing if that is not your main goal and it sincerely is for us. That being said, we also want to show improvement and that we are a force to be reckoned with going forward.
“The squad is coming together quite nicely. Last year was a bit stressful with everything going on, but this year we are focusing on increasing our cohesion and camaraderie during this campaign and the coaches and staff have done a lovely job in assisting us in doing so.”
On March 17, the RE Championship Finals will be held at the home of Stade Français at the Stade Jean Bouin in Paris.
All eight teams will be involved in a real festival of rugby and Irimescu added: “Paris is a lovely city and it will be great to visit it for the first time, but business comes first.
“Coming away with a huge victory in the game that we are playing in on that day is all that matters and, for now, we are just thinking about match one versus Poland.”
POLAND v ROMANIA – SUNDAY 4 FEBRUARY 6.15pm CET
Where to Watch : More details to come in addition to RugbyEurope.TV
All eight teams will heading to Paris on March 17 for a very special Finals day at Stade Jean Bouin, tickets for the event are on sale now.
For more match information and tickets for the pool phases can be found from the tournament page
