Alexandru Pop

Ioan Alexandru Pop (born 29 August 1945 in Bucharest)[1] is a former Romanian rugby union player. Played flanker and number eight. He was captain of the Romanian Rugby team in 1974 and 1975,[1][2] a period when Romania's National Rugby Team gained respect in both hemispheres of the rugby world. Alexandru led a highly motivated and talented Romanian Rugby Team to wins against France 15–10 in Bucharest,[3] the FIRA – Association of European Rugby championship, and obtained a 10–10 draw against the New Zealand Junior All Blacks[4] in Wellington.

Alexandru Pop
Birth nameIoan Alexandru Pop
Date of birth29 August 1945
Place of birthBucharest, Romania
Rugby union career
Position(s) Flanker/Number 8
Youth career
1965–1968 University of Petrosani
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1969–1979 CFR Grivita Rosie Bucharest 246 (48)
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1970–1975 Romania Romania 19
Coaching career
Years Team
1979–1981
1979–1981
1983–1984		 CFR Grivita Rosie Under-19
Romania Romania Under-19
Santa Monica Rugby Club

Alexandru Pop played rugby from 1963 to 1979. Between 1970 and 1975, he played for Romania 36 times, 19 of which were Test Matches.[1] In 1976, Alexandru retired from playing international rugby. He took the time to focus on his engineering career, play rugby for his own club, and coach the under-19 teams for both his club and his country.[5]

While the August-1975 draw against the Junior All Blacks in Wellington was a surprise to the rugby world, the New Zealand experts surmised that, "The Romanians would probably have won had they trusted their running rather than their kicking.[6][7][8]

In 1975 Alexandru Pop was awarded the Honored Master of Sport Romanian: Maestru Emerit al Sportului[9] title by the Romanian Rugby Federation.

Sponsored by former United States Eagles and Philadelphia Whitemarsh Rugby Football Club coach George Betzler, Alexandru immigrated with his family to United States in December 1982. Since 1983, he and his family have lived in Southern California.

Alexandru Pop's rugby career was covered in several Romanian rugby books such as The 15 in the Carpathians[10] and Rugby – Small Encyclopedia.[11] Pop and his son Max visited the Romanian Rugby delegation to the 2011 Rugby World Cup, in New Zealand.[2]

See also

References
  1. Alexandru Pop | Rugby Union | Players and Officials. ESPN Scrum.
  2. alexandru pop | Federatia Romana de Rugby. Frr.ro.
  3. "Rugby Union – ESPN Scrum – Romania v France at Bucharest". ESPN Scrum.
  4. "Rugby Union – ESPN Scrum – Junior All Blacks v Romania at Wellington". ESPN Scrum.
  5. Dimitrie Callimachi and Geo-Raetchi (1981). Cei 15 din Carpati, p. 86. Bucharest, Romania.
  6. Alex Versey, Stu Wilson, Bernie Fraser (1984). Ebony & Ivory, p. 164. Blandfort Press Ltd. London.
  7. The Rugby Almanack of New Zealand 1976, p. 41. Edited by Arthur H. Carman.
  8. "Povestea primului turneu in Noua Zeelanda | Federatia Romana de Rugby". Frr.ro (25 October 2012).
  9. G. Serban (2004). Rugby Club Grivita Rosie Generatia de Aur, p. 84, Bucharest, Romania.
  10. Dimitrie Callimachi and Geo-Raetchi(1981). Cei 15 din Carpati ("The 15 in the Carpathians"). p. 77–80, 83–88. Bucharest, Romania.
  11. Dumitru Manoileanu (1982). Rugby – Small Encyclopedia, pp. 203–205, Bucharest, Romania.
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