Romania Superliga
| Date | R | Home v Away | - |
|---|
Teams
Steaua Bucuresti
Baia Mare
Dinamo Bucuresti
Timisoara
Universitatea Cluj
Politehnica Iasi
CSM Bucuresti
Tomitanii Constanta
CS Navodari
Csm Galati
CS Stiinta Petrosani
RC Gura Humorului
RC Barlad
Csm Bucovina Suceava
RC Grivita
Scm Gloria Buzau
CS Rapid Bucuresti
Csu Alba Iulia
Csm Constanta
CSU Cluj
Olimpia Bucuresti
Wikipedia - Liga de Rugby Kaufland
The Liga Națională de Rugby (Romanian pronunciation: [ˈliɡa natsjoˈnalə de ˈruɡbi]) is a professional rugby union club competition that is played in Romania. In the 2023 season there are 14 teams competing. The competition was established in 1913 and is governed by the Romanian Rugby Federation. Steaua București is the most successful club in the competition with 24 titles.
History
The first Romanian competition took place in 1914 between two Bucharest team's in Tennis Club Român and Sporting Club with Tennis Club Român taking out the first title winning both of the matches by eight and three points respectively. The competition expanded and grew in the 1920s and 1930s (with a peak in the 1970s and 1980s), after Stadiul Român and seventeen more (other) teams were founded in Bucharest-only ever since. The championship took place on an annual basis, with some gap years caused by the two World Wars mostly.
The first team set up outside Bucharest (to play the top-tier competition) was IAR Brașov in 1939, a team owned and run by the famous Braşov aircraft factory I.A.R. (Industria Aeronautică Română), but the first one to become champion of Romania was Universitatea Timișoara, only in 1972.
The European Champions Cup in its early years (1960s) used to be a Franco-Romanian affair, with RC Grivița București (1964) and Dinamo (1967) grabbing their fair share of glory. In 1995 it was Farul Constanţa the team to represent Romania in the newly born Heineken Cup (splitting with Stade Toulousain the honour of playing on home ground the first ever match of the competition), but that was to be followed by no other participation of a Romanian side ever since (as of 2020). Nonetheless, the Romanian teams turned to the European Challenge Cup although never actually advanced to the quarterfinals. To better cope with the strong clubs of the 6 Nations countries the Romanian Rugby Union pulled together an all-domestic franchise - Stejarii (The Oaks), to be later renamed Lupii București (Bucharest Wolves) - but despite the healthy idea and some gleams of success, the mighty SuperLiga clubs forced the Romanian Rugby Establishment to back off and allow again the champions of the SuperLiga to take part in the European Challenge Cup.
Typically held annually, the tournament consists of a league format where teams compete in a round-robin style, followed by playoffs to determine the champion. The Superliga not only highlights the skill and athleticism of the players but also fosters a passionate rugby culture among fans, with matches drawing significant crowds and creating an electric atmosphere.
Clubs in the Superliga are known for their rich histories and fierce rivalries, making each match a highly anticipated event. The tournament serves as a vital platform for player development, with many athletes using the Superliga as a stepping stone to represent Romania on the international stage.
In addition to the on-field action, the Romania Superliga promotes community engagement and youth development programs, ensuring the growth of rugby at all levels. With its commitment to excellence and the spirit of competition, the Romania Superliga continues to be a cornerstone of Romanian rugby, inspiring future generations of players and fans alike.