Sports Roundup

News from fencing, rugby, and football

Florin Orban, 03.03.2025, 13:45

Romania won five medals at the European Cadet and Junior Fencing Championships 2025 in Antalya, Turkey. In the juniors category, the women’s sabre team, comprising Rosemarie Benciu, Amalia Covaliu, Catinca Dumitru and Anastasia Fusea, have won the gold, while in men’s sabre Vlad Covaliu won the silver, as did Emma Şonţ, in the women’s epee. In the cadet competitions, Amalia Covaliu won the silver medal in sabre, and Natalia Constantin won the bronze in epee.

Romania’s rugby team lost the semi-final of the Rugby Europe Championship, which it played away from home against Georgia on Sunday. Georgia won 43-5, and also secured the Antim Ivireanu Cup, a trophy reflecting the results of the direct matches between the 2 teams. In the other semi-final, Portugal lost to Spain, 42-31, on Saturday, in Lisbon. Georgia and Spain will thus fight for the trophy, while Romania and Portugal will compete for third place, in the finals scheduled for Saturday, March 15. The 2 teams have already faced each other in the current edition of the competition, in the group stage, in Botoşani. Portugal won 34-6. Romania’s qualification for the semi-finals of the Rugby Europe Championship after victories against Germany and Belgium in the group stage, secured the country’s ticket for the 2027 World Cup, which will be held in Australia.

Over the weekend, matches were held counting for the 29th round of the Romanian football Super League, the last but one in the regular season. On Friday, in Clinceni, Oţelul Galaţi defeated Unirea Slobozia 1-0, while in Sfântu Gheorghe Sepsi OSK tied 1-all against CFR Cluj. On Saturday, FC Botoşani pulled off the surprise of the round, beating Universitatea Cluj 1-0 away from home. Universitatea Craiova also won 1-0 in the home game against Farul Constanţa. On Sunday, in Iaşi, Politehnica defeated Petrolul Ploieşti 1-0, and the derby of the round, pitting the Bucharest-based teams Rapid and FCSB, ended in a goalless draw. The last two matches of the round, Gloria Buzău vs UTA and Dinamo București vs Hermannstadt, are due on Monday. In the standings, FCSB are in first place, with 53 points, followed by Universitatea Craiova, with 52 points. (AMP)