Costica Mersoiu

Costica Mersoiu
Date of birth (1977-10-30) 30 October 1977 (age 47)
Place of birthFocșani, Romania
Height6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight222 lb (101 kg)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Back-row
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2000–09 Romania 39 (30)

Costica Mersoiu (born 30 October 1977) is a Romanian former rugby union international.[1]

Born in Focșani, Mersoiu was a back-rower and earned 39 Test caps for Romania, debuting in 2000.[2]

Mersoiu received a two-year prison sentence in 2001 for manslaughter, having beaten to death his mother's live-in lover.[3] Released from prison early for good behaviour, Mersoiu was rehabilitated back into the national team.[4]

At club level, Mersoiu played locally for Steaua Bucarest and won a national title with the team in 2003, after which he competed in France with CA Périgueux and then AS Béziers.[5]

Mersoiu scored a try in Romania's surprise win over Tier 1 team Italy in 2004.[6] Due to injuries, Mersoiu missed both the 2003 and 2007 Rugby World Cups. He served for a period as national captain in 2007 and 2008.[7]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Kiwi coach bringing Romanians to Hamilton". Stuff. 31 January 2009.
  2. ^ "Costica Mersoiu a fost arestat". www.rugby.ro (in Romanian). 3 September 2001.
  3. ^ Kitson, Robert (18 July 2002). "Smith gives Bath an Aussie accent". The Guardian.
  4. ^ "Romanian international returns after prison spell". ESPN.com. 18 July 2002.
  5. ^ Basescu, Mirela (14 June 2008). "Costică Mersoiu: „Avem nevoie de un rezultat bun"". Prosport (in Romanian).
  6. ^ "Romania in surprise win over Italy". The Age. 27 June 2004.
  7. ^ "Mersoiu s-a operat si rateaza CM de rugby". România Liberă. 11 August 2007.