It seems Romania has finally managed to overcome what had been some of its most troubling years after a promising opening campaign in the 2026 Nations Cup.

After suffering some of their worst results against Portugal, Uruguay, Chile and Georgia, the Stejarii pulled off a draw against Uruguay and beat Samoa at the death, showing a desire to play some of their best attacking rugby and producing 15 tries in three games.

With the wind seemingly at their backs, David Gérard and his Stejarii have broken free of their shackles and are starting to build momentum towards reaching the 2027 Men’s Rugby World Cup in their best form.

With the November chapter of the Nations Cup fast approaching, where they will face Tonga, the United States of America and Canada, Romania will be ready to unleash their might at Bucharest’s Stadionul Arcul de Triumf.

But before we step into the Nations Cup frenzy, is there any way to understand or explain how they got to the point of contending for their pool? One explanation is that adding members of the Romanian diaspora has strengthened the squad with more talent and options, with Logan Weidner, Nicolas Onutu, Taylor Gontineac, Toni Maftei and Robert Irimescu among those who heeded the call.

For the first two, although they didn’t grow up in the country they now play for, they always felt connected to Romania because of their parents, as Weidner explains.

“My Romanian side of the family came from Transylvania. Growing up, I was accustomed to hearing stories of the old country. My mother used to cook traditional Romanian dishes for us, so my siblings and I grew up knowing a bit about Romania,” stated the 24-year-old, who was born in Canada.

As for Onutu, despite being born and raised in France, his family always made an effort to spend time in Romania whenever they could.

“Each year, I came to Romania with my family. We travelled across the country to discover the beautiful landscape and culture. We kept all of Romania’s traditions while we lived in France. It’s because of that that I feel really close to my Romanian roots.”

While it took a while for Weidner to reach the point of being called up to the national team setup, the utility forward got his first chance in 2026, just a couple of months after joining the Romanian Liga Nationala.

In March, he earned his first cap, facing the Lelos in Tbilisi. Starting at lock, Weidner did his best to help his team push the former Men’s Rugby Europe Championship winners hard.

Although he deeply enjoyed the experience, he didn’t fully realise what a pivotal moment it was in his career and life.

“I didn’t fully grasp it at the time. You hear the stories of how the Stejarii once were. When I moved to Romania, I started to understand the country’s proud and brilliant rugby history. It undoubtedly puts pressure on us to be better and do better.”

Thousands of kilometres away was his mother, the defining figure in Weidner’s life. She not only nurtured his connection to Romania but also gave him the belief and resilience to keep moving forward when challenges arose.

“She was very proud of me,” says the now five-cap international. “She was gutted that she couldn’t watch my first game, but in November she will be in the stands when we face our Nations Cup rivals. It’s going to be a special day.”

As for Onutu, he says it surprised him when he was called up to represent the Stejarii, a reaction his parents shared.

“I think they were surprised and proud too. They congratulated me and gave me tips to help me focus on my game.”

The utility back claimed his first cap in the summer of 2016 after impressing in

“When they called me to play for Romania A, I never expected to get to play with the first team a few months later,” acknowledged the 30-year-old.

“I was 19, and it was a big surprise to be in the squad. I had goosebumps; it was a big moment for me because we feel the importance of wearing this jersey and the oak leaf on the heart.”

But what do players like them add to such a renowned rugby country as Romania? According to Weidner, the answer lies in their exposure to the wider rugby world, which allows them to bring fresh ideas.

“Having experienced rugby elsewhere gives us insight into what standards we should uphold and what our targets are. There’s potential in this team to reach new heights.”

While Onutu played most of his rugby in France, representing the likes of CS Vienne, ROC Valence and RC Aubenas, he agrees with his Romanian teammate.

“Yes, I think we have another vision of rugby. It can help the team, but we have to perform in each game when we come back to the national team if we really have the ambition to push our country towards a higher standard.”

With the November Test window approaching, both are determined to show that Romania has turned over a new leaf and is ready to be seen as one of the main threats. However, in Onutu’s opinion, despite the promising July results, he is certain they can go a step further.

“For me, we are not in top form yet, but we are on the right track. We had a good summer tour, but we had to be better against Chile and Uruguay to win. I can promise three big, high-level games. We need them to prove we can play our best rugby.”

As the Stadionul Arcul de Triumf prepares to welcome Tonga, the United States and Canada, Weidner hopes the Stejarii will continue their unbeaten streak.

“I can’t speak about last year, as I wasn’t with the team, but I do think we are in a better place than at the beginning of February. We have taken several steps forward, and the team has progressed, as our July run in the Nations Cup shows. We don’t want to stop here.”

At the end of the day, players like Weidner and Onutu are simply grateful to be here, representing the country of their parents and grandparents. For them, helping Romania in any way they can is one of the greatest honours of their lives.

“Anyone who has the opportunity to be here and represent their country, especially one like Romania, can only be proud. I will always wear it on my chest that I had the chance to be a Stejarii and fight for its legacy.”