RC Spartan Oradea (also known as RC Nágyvarad Spartans in Hungary) is an amateur Romanian rugby club based in Oradea. They currently play in the Nemzeti Bajnokság I of Hungary however, after having played in Romanian leagues until 2008. This makes them the second club outside of Hungary to play in the Hungarian league, after Slovakia`s Slovan Bratislava who first played in the tournament back in 2005.

Spartan Oradea
Full nameRugby Club Spartan Oradea
Nickname(s)Spartanii (Spartans)
Founded2005; 19 years ago (2005)
LocationOradea, Romania
Ground(s)Stadionul Universității (Egyetemi Stadion) (Capacity: 500)
PresidentRomania Mircea Țucudean
Coach(es)Romania Ștefan Csornai (Former Coach)
League(s)DHL Extraliga

History

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The club was founded in 2005 by Mircea Țucudean, a former soldier and bodyguard who himself had played rugby while at the University of Oradea. Prior to the foundation of the club, the rugby team at the university managed to reach Divizia A, the second level of rugby in Romania, before disbanding a few years later.

In 2008, the club withdrew from the Romanian league to play in neighboring country Hungary, citing financial reasons and inconsistencies in refereeing.[1] The Hungarian Rugby Union (MRgSz) welcomed them with open arms, as they saw the move as an attempt to help improve the quality of rugby in their country.

In 2011, Spartan Oradea promoted from the Nemzeti Bajnokság I the second division of rugby union in Hungary to the first division of rugby union in Hungary which was the DHL Extraliga.

Former squad

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Note: Flags indicate national union under World Rugby eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality.

Player Position Union
Andrei Horja Hooker   Romania
Cosmin Druta Prop   Romania
Alin Gheban Prop   Romania
Marius Prop   Romania
V. Popescu Prop   Romania
Mircea Tucudean Lock   Romania
Filip Burlau Lock   Romania
Claudiu Miheş Flanker   Romania
Ionut Sandru Flanker   Romania
I. Borani Number 8   Romania
Sebastian Filip Number 8   Romania
Player Position Union
Silviu Agape Scrum-half   Romania
Sebastian Erdei Scrum-half   Romania
Stefan Csornai Fly-half   Romania
Valentin Dat Centre   Romania
A. Dumitrescu Centre   Romania
A. Ristin Wing   Romania
Ciprian Lucaci Wing   Romania
Marius Sandru Wing   Romania
Norbert Csornai Fullback   Romania

References

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