IRB Nations Cup Live

Bucharest is going to host the IRB Nations Cup on the 5^th, 10^th and 16^th of June, at the National Rugby Stadium which was built on the site of the Stadium Tineretuliui-Federatie, the birthplace of Rugby in Romania. This is a six nation Rugby event that will feature Romania, Georgia, Namibia, Italy Argentina and South Africa, with twenty of the players from the 2007 Rugby World Cup. The Italians will oppose the Pumas, with Italy consisting of 12 uncapped players on their squad, but have a bonus with experienced players Aaron Persico and Walter Pozzebon.

The Pumas are coached by Patricio Noriega, Santiago Phelan and Jose Orengo, and have 12 newcomers as well as Juan Fernandez Miranda, who has 28 caps, and Pablo Bouza who has 36.   The Georgians however, only have two uncapped players in their squad, 22 year old Irakli Chkouria and Elizbar Kuparadze. Ilia Zedguinidze, who coached during the 2003 Rugby World Cup and in the 2007 qualifying rounds, is listed on the roster as Team Manager. Another plus for the Pumas is the addition of Nalkhaz Urjukashvili and Beshik Khamashuridze, both of whom have 48 caps.

Namibia's Kees Lensing is one of their valued assets, along with Herman Linvelt, who has 40 caps, and Come Powell, but the squad also has six novices, though highly rated. Romania will be missing Petru Balan and former skipper Romeo Gontineac, but Marius Tincu will captain his team against the Emerging Springboks, taking the position from Sorin Socol, who bowed out due to injury. Get your membership today by clicking on the links on this page, and you can watch the Nations Cup live, from the comfort of your computer.