Romania losing control of national stadium as FC Barcelona move in

Home to the Stejarii, the Arcul de Triumf is currently in the middle of a tug-of-war between Romania’s rugby and the local government, with uncertainty about its future.

The current Arcul de Triumf Stadium replaced the Stadionul Arcul de Triumf, demolished in 2018, almost 114 years after its opening. The former Arcul de Triumf was the birthplace of Romanian rugby in the early 20th century and has hosted some of the most historical fixtures for the Stejarii.

Since 2022 the stadium is no longer a rugby-exclusive venue, now open to all other sports, sparking a heated debate between all parties.

Octavian Morariu, Rugby Europe’s president and former president of Rugby Romania, shared his concerns about the issue at hand in an interview with the sports outlet Prosports given in 2022,

“I can speak about this situation in three categories: as a former player, president and head of Rugby Europe. Like many of my former teammates, I am outraged and shocked by the decision. As a former president, I find also it shocking that rugby is being dispossessed of its property, as the area of what is now the new Arcul de Triumf was always a rugby venue for more than 100 years. Talking from a Rugby Europe POV, it will be difficult to schedule international rugby games if the Romania Rugby Union loses control of the venue.”

At the time of the interview, Octavian Morariu also shared criticism of Carol-Eduard Novak, the ten Minister of Sports and Youth,

“He didn't understand our worries, even when we explained the current predicament. At least the former minister, Ionu? Stroe, understood where we were coming from and the importance of the complex for rugby in Romania.”

In the last couple of months, the Romanian Football Union have established a protocol with FC Barcelona to open an academy, operating from the Arcul de Triumf. If this plan goes forward, it could even further limit Romania Rugby's access to the grounds, a clear and daunting blow for the oval sport.

Rugby Romania officially has 10,000 licensed players, and has developed a semi-professional senior male Premiership, and is betting heavily on a total reshaping of the sport.

With the 2027 World Cup on the horizon, the next few years will play a crucial role in the future of Romanian rugby, but the impending loss of their main venue could spell financial trouble for the local union.