Paul Popoaia

Paul Popoaia (born 29 May 2000) is a Romanian rugby union player. He plays as a wing or full-back for professional Liga Națională de Rugby club CSM Baia Mare.

Paul Popoaia
Full namePaul Popoaia
Date of birth (2000-05-29) 29 May 2000
Place of birthPașcani, Romania
Height1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Weight80 kg (12 st 8 lb; 180 lb)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Wing, full-back
Current team CSM Baia Mare
Youth career
Clubul Sportiv Școlar 2 Centrul
Național de Excelență (CSȘ 2 CNE) Baia Mare
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2019–Present CSM Baia Mare 5 (10)
Correct as of 14 January 2019
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
Romania U-20
Romania 7's
2021–Present Romania 3 (0)
Correct as of 13 March 2021

Club career

Paul started playing rugby at the age of 12, evolving between 2012 and 2014 under the guidance of Ioan Hău. Between 2014 and 2019 he was part of the Clubului Sportiv Școlar 2 Baia Mare squad. With the CSS2 Baia Mare team led by coaches Răzvan Popovici and Mircea Taloș, he won the national championship title in rugby (Under 16). With the U-17 team he won the national championship titles both in Rugby 7s and Rugby 10s . His last national title in rugby union was won with the U-19 team, and also a national vice-title with the U-17 team.[1]

At the end of both 2018 and 2019 competitional years, Paul was voted the best junior player in the country.[2][3]

In August 2019 he started his professional journey joining SuperLiga side, CSM Baia Mare.[4]

International career

Internationally, Paul Popoaia succeeded in 2018 to be present at the European Championship in Poland with the U-18 national team of Romania, the same year being present at the European Rugby Championship 7s hosted by Lithuania. With the U-20 national team he was present both at the World Championship hosted by the capital of Romania and at the European Championship U-20 held in Portugal.

Senior debut in Rugby Europe Championship

Popoaia is also selected for Romania's national team, the Oaks, making his international debut during Round 2 of 2021 Rugby Europe Championship in a test match against the Os Lobos.[5][6]

References
  1. www.rugbybaiamare.ro (1 August 2019). "Paul Popoaia un lider de generație".
  2. www.css2baiamare.ro (21 December 2018). "Rugby: Răzvan Popovici şi Paul Popoaia, printre superlativele anului în rugbyul românesc".
  3. www.2mnews.ro (25 December 2019). "SUPERLATIVE – Paul Popoaia (CSȘ 2/CSM Știința Baia Mare), pentru al doilea an consecutiv "Cel mai bun junior din rugbyul românesc"".
  4. www.newspascani.com (9 January 2020). "Doi sportivi din Topile, Ovidiu Cojocaru și Paul Popoaia, care fac parte din echipa națională de rugby se pregătesc pentru Europe Championship 2020".
  5. en.espn.co.uk (13 March 2021). "Romania Rugby Union debuts".
  6. ESPN (13 March 2021). "SIX NATIONS B - Lisbon, 13 March 2021, 13:00 local, 13:00 GMT".
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