Marin Ionescu, European junior and senior champion with Romania, spoke about the evolution of the Oaks at the Rugby World Cup in France. The ex-player, disappointed above all by the attitude of the tricolors, says that if politicians do not intervene, Romanian rugby will be on the verge of extinction.

>> WC Rugby 2023 – Two-time World Champions, eliminated from groups – Schedule of quarters

Marin Ionescu: “The state should get involved. If the politician does not intervene, we will die”

At the age of 70, Ionescu has in his resume the title of European champion among juniors (Rome – 1972), as well as among adults (FIRA European Cup in the seasons 1976/1977, 1980/1981 and 1982/1983).

In an interview with Prosport, Marin Ionescu sounds the alarm and says that Romanian rugby is going through a dark period of its existence.

“I was concerned about the attitude of many of the players, the way they presented themselves, and the way they were cheered for the anthem. We had athletes, some retired people, who still felt something about the national team.

The future in rugby looks bleak. We seem to show good results in gymnastics, yes in volleyball, but there are no prospects here. If the ruling party, the politician does not intervene, we will die. The state should get involved.

A lot of people say it’s big budget, people who don’t know rugby, but it’s the biggest and most expensive team sport. I have heard many people demanding the involvement of foreign coaches.

The problem is that we no longer have children to play this sport. The state should also be involved through programs in schools, not just financially. Let’s bring the youth back to this sport.

I did not understand why those famous trials between the Romanian players did not take place. In my time, more than 40-50 practitioners from the first division were brought to Parcul Copilului. Some stayed on the platform, others left, I saw how nervous some were as they walked to the North Station.

It was a competition, they were athletes. Now the optics have changed, we bring them from other countries, but I see that in the last match they did not impress, I did not see the mood.

The fact that we don’t have a strong championship dragged us the most, the most serious thing is that we no longer have practitioners. There are two reasons that led us to this situation,” he says Marin Ionescufor Prosport.

Romania’s results at the 2023 Rugby World Cup: Stežari lost

Ireland-Romania 82-8

South Africa-Romania 76-0

Scotland-Romania 84-0

Tonga – Romania 45-24

Who is Marin Ionescu?

– was born on August 17, 1953 in the commune of Brezoayele

– senior officer (retired lieutenant colonel), retired since 2006.

– graduated from the “Gheorghe Lazăr” Military School of Intendancy and Finance – Sibiu, 1991 graduation, “Nicolae Belcescu” Ground Forces Academy – Sibiu, specialization in organization management, 2003 graduation

– became a licensed rugby player in 1969

– rugby started in Rapid Bucharest

– first coach: Vasile Konstantin “Mao”

– advanced, both in II and III lines, under number 8

– over time, his coaches were Gheorghe Parkelabescu, Pellegrino “Rino” D’Ecclesis, Viorel Morariu, Radu Demian, Petre “Bombonel” Cosmenescu, Ion Danciu, Adrian Mateescu, Raduca Durbak, Teodor “Ragalie” Radulescu and Valeriu Irimescu

– at an older age he played in clubs: Hryvica Rosie (1972/1973), ChSA Steaua (1973-1986), Sportul Studencesk (1986-1988), Hryvica Rosie (1988/1989)

– won the title of European junior champion in Rome in 1972 (6 tackles)

– among the seniors, he was the European champion (FIRA European Cup) in the 1976/1977, 1980/1981 and 1982/1983 seasons.

– was the national champion among juniors in 1971 with Rapid.

– among the seniors won the national title in 1972/1973, 1973/1974, 1976/1977, 1978/1979, 1979/1980, 1980/1981, 1982/1983, 1983/1984, 1984/1985 (all from Steaua )

– won the Romanian Cup 1973/1974, 1977, 1978

– international player between 1980 and 1988, played 23 test matches and 8 friendlies

– Honored Master of Sports (1977)

– between 1987 and 1996 he worked as a coach of the rugby teams Sportul Studențesc (1987/1988), Domus Bucharest and Olympia Bucharest (1992 – 1996)

– has been a member and president of the Romanian International Rugby Association (AIR) since its foundation

– was vice-president of the Bucharest Municipal Rugby Association (2005 – 2009)

– Member of the French Rugby Disciplinary Commission (2009 – 2011)

– Member of the senior club since its foundation (source rugby.ro).