Montevideo, Uruguay witnessed a historic rugby match as Uruguay’s Los Teros delivered a crushing 70-8 defeat to Romania. This record-breaking victory marks Uruguay’s largest win against a Tier 2 opponent and Romania’s most significant loss to a Tier 2 team, extending Uruguay’s winning streak against Romania to four matches.
A Dominant Performance by Los Teros
Uruguay’s performance was clinical from the outset, with flanker Santiago Civetta scoring two early tries. Fullback Juan Gonzalez also contributed significantly with two tries, while Bautista Basso and Manuel Diana added to the scoreboard, giving Uruguay a commanding 39-8 lead by halftime. The second half saw Los Teros maintain their relentless attack, keeping Romania scoreless and further extending their lead. Gonzalez completed a hat-trick, and tries from Felipe Arcos Pérez, Santiago Álvarez, Manuel Ardao, and Reinaldo Piussi solidified the historic victory.
- Uruguay’s first match of 2025, following Peñarol’s Super Rugby Americas 2025 championship.
- Romania had previously qualified for Rugby World Cup 2027.
- The match highlighted disparities in World Rugby’s qualification allocations, with South America receiving fewer direct spots than Europe.
Match Statistics and Key Players
Uruguay’s offensive prowess was evident in their scoring, with multiple players crossing the try line. Felipe Etcheverry and Santiago Álvarez were instrumental in conversions, and Etcheverry also added a penalty.
Uruguay Scoring (70 points):
- Tries: Santiago Civetta (2), Juan Gonzalez (3), Bautista Basso (2), Manuel Diana, Felipe Arcos Pérez, Manuel Ardao, Reinaldo Piussi
- Conversions: Felipe Etcheverry (3), Santiago Álvarez (3)
- Penalty: Felipe Etcheverry
Romania Scoring (8 points):
- Try: Alexandru Bucur
- Penalty: Antonio Mitrea
- Yellow Cards: Alexandru Savin, Iulian Hartig
Looking Ahead
Following this significant defeat, Romania will continue their South American tour, facing the Argentina XV in Buenos Aires. Uruguay’s Los Teros will also travel to Argentina to play against Los Pumas in Salta, their final match before the Rugby World Cup 2027 Qualifiers. This dominant win sets a strong precedent for Uruguay’s upcoming international fixtures.
Sources
- July Internationals 2025 – Uruguay vs Romania – ARN Guide, Americas Rugby News.
- Uruguay Hand Romania Record-Breaking Loss, Americas Rugby News.
