Canada Fall to Romania 31-21 in First November Test: Next Up Georgia
It was pretty much the game expected by most pundits when the 21st ranked team hosted the 24th ranked team. There wasn’t much backline brilliance and the Romanian scrum dominated the match. The first 12 points from Romania came from the boot with infractions by Canada inside their own half, one at the breakdown, one at the lineout and two at the scrum. It was actually Canada and Mason Flesch who scored the first try, 12-7 at the half.
Romania scored two tries to open the 2nd half, both off forwards dominance, one off a maul the other off a scrum. It was 24-7 at that point and credit to Canada, they could have folded then and the scoreline could have got away from them but they dug deep in the last 20 minutes to win the final quarter 14-7. Canada’s two second half tries came from the forwards, the second rows, Piers Von Dadelszen and replacement Barnaby Waddell, both as a result of prolonged pressure inside the Romanian 5 metres. Romania’s final try was scored out wide when Canada were down a player, and that again was a result of their dominant scrum.
Overall thoughts, Canada need to fix their scrum, it’s going to be a long tour with the scrum going backwards. The bench players did their job and helped Canada win the last quarter. There wasn’t much to speak of in the backline, we didn’t see much of Morra, Povey distributed the ball but didn’t challenge the line at all, Benn made a couple of errors, Noah Flesch showed a bit of spark when he came on but Spencer Jones was probably the top back on the day. Mason Flesch would probably get the nod as top Canadian player and forward in the match.
Romania got beaten by fairly substantial scores in the summer against Chile and Uruguay, so it puts this result in perspective, not a great performance by Canada, we haven’t seen anything really different from the new coach. The win over USA you could put down to the impact of Tyler Ardron (and his four tries) and Evan Olmstead.
Georgia up next, they didn’t dominate USA as expected in today’s match, it was just 26-24 for Georgia at the half and they won 43-30. Uruguay defeated Portugal 26-8 after trailing 5-3 at the half. Canada will play Portugal in their final tour match.
It will be interesting to see the lineup versus Georgia, will Cooper Coats get the start at #10, did Waddell earn a starting spot with that late try, will the backline see a shakeup and who will be selected as starting props?
Game Notes
2 minutes: Oworu runs the ball inside 22, no support, turned over, 3-0 Romania
6 minutes: lineout infraction called on Canada, marginal, 6-0 Romania
11 minutes: wing botches defending clearance kick, Canada lucky not to give up points
13 minutes: Canada scrum destroyed, penalty, 9-0
17 minutes: Canada wins a penalty inside the 22, Nelson hits the post, 9-0
23 minutes: Canada lose another scrum battle, 12-0
28 minutes: Mason Flesch crosses the line after prolonged possession inside Romania 5 metres, 12-7.
31 minutes: Canada again gives up a scrum penalty, Romania miss the penalty kick, 12-7
33 minutes: Gallagher called for going in from the side on a ruck, argues with the ref, gets another 10 metres tacked on
38 minutes: Canada finally have a promising backline move and it’s knocked on by the wing.
39 minutes: Another scrum penalty on Canada, looks like loosehead side went down
40 minutes: Romania maul running rampant, but Romania assessed a penalty from the ensuing breakdown
Canada kick to end the half 12-7
#18 Matt Tierney is on at the half, looks like Cole Keith off
#21 Jason Higgins is on at the half, looks like Brock Gallagher off
41 minutes: Povey covering at fullback can’t handle a clearing kick cleanly and gets driven out of bounds at the 5 metres
42 minutes: Romania mauls in a try, 19-7
44 minutes: Nic Benn crosses the line but Izzak Kelly called for obstruction, try called back
52 minutes: The TMO calls in a high tackle by Povey, yellow card
55 minutes: Canada scrum pushed back inside their 5 metres, #8 picks up, try scored, 24-7
Emerson Prior is in for Sam Miller
Noah Flesch is on, looks like Kyle Tremblay off
63 minutes: Noah Flesch tries a quick tap on a penalty, the ball gets into the Romania 5 metres but a knock on kills the play
Barnaby Waddell is on for Izzak Kelly
66 minutes: Romania called for penalty, Canada kicks to corner, Rumball has a rumble off the maul, Piers Von Dadelszen crosses the line, 24-14
69 minutes: A poor clearing kick from the restart gives Romania a lineout at the Canada 22
70 minutes: Romania wins a scrum at 5 metres, Matt Tierney given a yellow for popping up in the scrum, too many scrum penalties the ref explains.
73 minutes: Romania spread it wide with the man advantage, 31-14
Jack Shaw and Sion Parry get on
80 minutes: Canada win a series of penalties to end the match, prolonged pressure inside the 5 metres, Barnaby Waddell scores a try on his debut. 31-21 final score.
BUCHAREST — Scrum half Alin Conache kicked 16 points to help Romania to a 31-21 win over Canada in men’s international rugby play Saturday.
The loss at the Stadionul Arcul de Triumf is expected to drop No. 24 Canada at least one place in the world rankings.
Canada takes on No. 11 Georgia next Saturday in Batumi before facing No. 20 Portugal on Nov. 22 in Coimbra. Georgia defeated the 15th-ranked U.S. Eagles 43-30 earlier Saturday in Batumi.
Ovidiu Cojocaru, Cristi Chirică and Tevita Manumua scored tries for No. 21 Romania. Conache booted four penalties and two conversions.
Mason Flesch, Piers Von Dadelszen and Barnaby Waddell scored tries for Canada, which had two players sent to the sin-bin in the second half. Peter Nelson kicked three conversions.
Waddell, a six-foot-four, 265-pound lock who plays in Wales for Bridgend Ravens, crashed over with the clock in the red after making his debut off the bench in the second half.
Romania improved to 8-3-0 all-time against Canada. The Oaks have won eight of the last nine meetings, the exception being a 35-22 victory for Canada at Ottawa’s TD Place Stadium in July 2024. Canada’s two other victories were at the 1991 and ’95 World Cups.
Leading 12-7 at the half, Romania pulled further ahead in the 42nd minute Saturday with Cojocaru touching down behind a driving maul off a lineout for a converted try and 19-7 lead. Canada looked to have answered with a try from Nic Benn, but the score was nullified due to obstruction.
Canadian fly half Robbie Povey was yellow-carded in the 53rd minute for a high tackle. Romania came close soon after with flanker Kemal Altinok sliding over in the corner in a mass of bodies but video review could not confirm the try.
Chirică made no mistake soon after, powering his way over for a 24-7 lead. Von Dadelszen answered in the 67th minute, scoring from close-range for a converted try that cut the margin to 24-14.
Welsh referee Ben Breakspear warned Canada about a string of scrum penalties midway through the second half. That led to a 70th-minute yellow card for replacement prop Matt Tierney, who won the last of his 25 caps in October 2021.
Romania took advantage with Manumua, a Tongan-born winger, breezing over in the 73rd minute to pad the lead.
Romania started brightly off the opening kickoff and went ahead 3-0 in the third minute on a Conache penalty after No. 8 Matt Oworu was penalized for not releasing the ball when tackled in the Canadian end. Conache was on target again in the ninth minute after Canada was penalized at the lineout.
Conache made it 9-0 in the 15th minute after Canada was driven back in the scrum on its own put-in. A Nelson penalty attempt in the 18th minute just missed, hitting the goalpost.
Romania kept the scoreboard ticking over, upping the lead to 12-0 in the 25th minute after Canada was penalized at the scrum.
Flesch capped a Canadian attack in the 28th minute, crashing over from close range. Nelson’s conversion cut the Romania lead to 12-7 and pushed the fullback’s points total to 201 for Canada.
Conache finally missed a kick late in the half.
Coach Stephen Meehan’s young starting 15 came into the game with a combined 244 caps. Captain Lucas Rumball (62), fellow forward Cole Keith (41) and Nelson (32) accounted for 135 of them with nine other players having 11 or fewer caps.
There were first Saturday for prop Sam Miller and centre Kyle Tremblay, both earning their second cap.
All of Canada’s November opponents have qualified for the 2027 World Cup in Australia. Canada booked its ticket via the Pacific Nations Cup while the other three advanced via the 2025 Rugby Europe Championship.
Saturday’s game marked the international swansong of Cojocaru, the Romanian skipper and hooker who was honoured before the anthems.
Romania was coming off a three-match tour of South America in July, losing 40-16 to No. 17 Chile, 70-8 to No. 19 Uruguay and 52-14 to Argentina XV.
Canada fell to 1-6-0 in 2025, losing its fourth straight since a 34-20 win over the United States in August. It has won just two of 14 outings (2-12-0) since the start of 2024.
Saturday’s game marked the second edition of the Cernavodă Cup. Awarded in collaboration with the Canadian Embassy in Romania, it honours Romanian-Canadian co-operation in the nuclear energy sector.
In recognition of Remembrance Day, the Canadian men wore custom jerseys featuring a poppy on the left sleeve.
Canada Names Team to Face Romania on Saturday to Kick Off European Tour
Coach Stephen Meehan named his side to take on Romania on Saturday, kickoff is 7am PT and is showing on the TSN+ schedule. There are a few players on the side who have been playing BC Premier this season, Sam Miller at loosehead prop for JBAA, Izzak Kelly second row from Capilano, Lucas Rumball flanker for Ravens, Kyle Tremblay centre/fullback for Westshore, Austin Creighton hooker/flanker for JBAA, Jack Shaw wing for CW.
None of the players missing out on their National University Championships made the match squad, Cooper Coats, Morgan di Nardo, Josh McIndoe, Takoda McMullin.
Rob Povey gets the start at #10, the last start he had at #10 for Canada might have been the Brazil match in November 2023. Peter Nelson was also #15 in that match, Cole Keith was starting prop (loosehead), Izzak Kelly 2nd row, Rumball/Flesch/Oworu were the loose forwards. Missing from that November 2023 squad are the likes of Andrew Coe, Kainoa Lloyd, Ben Lesage, Andrew Quattrin, Conor Young, Kyle Baillie.
The one surprise inclusion is Barnaby Waddell, from Bridgend Ravens to Canada national squad. Jamin Hodgkins was on the Bridgend Ravens, came over to Canada to play with the Pride and hasn’t been a given a decent shot since so it will be interesting to know how coach Meehan vetted him as a walk on to the national squad. We’ll find out more about the coach’s eye for talent in the second half when he’ll likely come in to the second row.
Just as a side note, I was talking to Karl Fix this morning and he told the story of how James Pritchard got on to the Canadian side. Pritchard went on to become Canada’s leading point scorer scoring 607 points over 62 appearances between 2003 and 2015. Pritchard had a grandfather from Saskatchewan so he was Canada eligible, Canada coach David Clark told him he couldn’t put him directly on the team without seeing him play, even though he was playing high level rugby for Bedford Blues. So he came to play for the Prairie Fire in the Rugby Canada Super League that summer, Karl put him up at his house, paid him a stipend and the rest is history. A strong national summer league is certainly missed, we have the equivalent of a strong national winter league in the BC Premier, but more playing opportunities are needed. The Pritchard story is a good example.
As mentioned you can watch the game on TSN+ with a subscription, if you are outside Canada (or have a VPN) you can try RugbyPass.tv who will be showing it outside Canada. What are your match predictions, use the comment section below.
Canada Roster
1. Sam Miller (Mount Denson, NS) – Valley Rugby Union / Southern Districts (1 Cap)
2. Dewald Kotze (Edmonton, AB) – Strathcona Druids RFC / Seattle Seawolves (10 Caps)
3. Cole Keith (Sussex, NB) – Belleisle Rovers RFC / New England Free Jacks (41 Caps)
4. Piers Von Dadelszen (Vancouver, BC) – New England Free Jacks (10 Caps)
5. Izzak Kelly (White Rock, BC) – Bayside RFC / Capilano RFC (10 Caps)
6. Mason Flesch (Cobourg, ON) – Cobourg Saxons / Chicago Hounds (17 Caps)
7. Lucas Rumball (Scarborough, ON) – Balmy Beach RFC / Chicago Hounds (62 Caps)
8. Matthew Oworu (Calgary, AB) – Pacific Pride / Chicago Hounds (14 Caps)
9. Brock Gallagher (Edmonton, AB) – Strathcona Druids RFC / Seattle Seawolves (9 Caps)
10. Robbie Povey (Calgary, AB) – Rotherham Titans / Utah Warriors (17 Caps)
11. Josiah Morra (Toronto, ON) – New England Free Jacks / Toronto Saracens (11 Caps)
12. Kyle Tremblay (White Rock, BC) – Bayside RFC / Westshore RFC (1 Cap)
13. Spencer Jones (Cambridge, NZ) – Hamilton Old Boys / Utah Warriors (11 Caps)
14. Nic Benn (Caves Beach, AUS) – Utah Warriors (10 Caps)
15. Peter Nelson (Dungannon, NIR) – Dungannon RFC (32 Caps)
FINISHERS
16. Austin Creighton (Edmonton, AB) – Nor’Westers Athletic Association / James Bay AA (1 Cap)
17. Emerson Prior (Brockville, ON) – Brockville Privateers / Westshore RFC / Utah Warriors (5 Caps)
18. Matt Tierney (Oakville, ON) – Oakville Crusaders (27 Caps)
19. Barnaby Waddell (Exeter, ENG) – Okehampton RFC / Bridgend Ravens (0 Caps)
20. Siôn Parry (Cardiff, WAL) – Rhiwbina RFC / Ebbw Vale RFC (13 Caps)
21. Jason Higgins (Cork, IRE) – Cork Constitution / Chicago Hounds (25 Caps)
22. Noah Flesch (Cobourg, ON) – Cobourg Saxons / Chicago Hounds (8 Caps)
23. Jack Shaw (Oakville, ON) – RFC LA / Castaway Wanderers (1 Cap)
from Rugby Canada
Head Coach Stephen Meehan has named the match day roster for Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team ahead of this Saturday’s Cernavodă Cup clash against Romania.
Romania will host Canada at Stadionul Arcul de Triumf in Bucharest on Saturday, November 8 at 7:00 a.m. PT / 10:00 a.m. ET / 5:00 p.m. local time. The two nations last met twice in 2024, with Canada winning 35–22 in Ottawa before Romania edged Canada 35–27 later that year in Bucharest.
In recognition of Remembrance Day, Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team will wear custom jerseys featuring a poppy on the left sleeve, honouring the sacrifices of those who have served and reflecting on the significance of remembering their courage, commitment, and legacy.
This weekend marks several new combinations for Canada. Sam Miller, who debuted against Romania in 2024, will earn his first international start following a season with Southern Districts Rugby Club in Australia. Robbie Povey, returning to the national team for the first time since 2023, will start at fly half, with Peter Nelson named at fullback. Kyle Tremblay, who earned his first cap against Belgium in July, will make his first start in the No.12 jersey.
Veteran prop Matt Tierney returns to the lineup for the first time since 2021 and will come off the bench wearing No.18, bringing valuable experience back into the squad. Barnaby Waddell is in contention to make his international debut, named on the bench in the No. 19 jersey.
Peter Nelson is also nearing a personal milestone, entering the match with 198 career points. With two more points, he will reach 200 and continue to build on his position as the seventh-highest point scorer in Canadian Men’s Rugby history.
“We faced Romania twice in 2024, and we’re eager to embrace that challenge again — especially with the Cernavodă Cup at stake. It’s a meaningful trophy and an important benchmark for where we want our game to progress,” said Head Coach Stephen Meehan.
“We have players returning to the squad who’ve brought renewed energy and enthusiasm. The ten-day preparation period has been instrumental in strengthening cohesion, sharpening our combinations, and reinforcing how we want to operate as a squad. Our objective remains clear: to continue developing our ability to adapt week to week, respond to the different styles, conditions and challenges each opponent presents, and advance our identity.”
“The squad has applied itself well, and we’re looking forward to demonstrating that in Bucharest on Saturday.”
Saturday’s match marks the second edition of the Cernavodă Cup. Canada will look to claim the trophy, which celebrates decades of Romanian-Canadian collaboration in the nuclear energy sector.
For nearly 50 years, the Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant — home to two Canadian-designed CANDU reactors — has been a central pillar of the bilateral relationship between the two nations. The plant remains the largest and most significant joint project undertaken by Canada and Romania. Today, its two operational CANDU units provide approximately 18% of Romania’s total electricity, delivering safe, reliable, and affordable power with zero CO₂ emissions.
Broadcast information will be announced shortly.