Gelu Ignat

Gelu Ignat (born 26 August 1963) is a Romanian former rugby union player. He won 25 caps over a six-year career scoring 148 points (1 try, 15 conversions, 32 penalties, 6 drop goal).^[1]

Gela Ignat

Full name	Gela Ignat
Date of birth	(1963-08-26) 26 August 1963 (age 61)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Flyhalf Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 19??-19?? Steaua București - (-) Correct as of 24 January 2024 International career Years Team Apps (Points) 1986-1992 Romania 25 (148) Correct as of 24 January 2024

Career

Club

He played for Steaua București in the Liga Națională de Rugby.^[2]

International

He made his international debut against Portugal on 22 February 1986. He started at flyhalf in Romania's historic wins over Wales and France.

On 10 December 1988, Romania travelled to Cardiff Arms Park for a test match against the 1988 Five Nations Champions, Wales. Ignat lined up at 10 against Wales Captain Jonathan Davies, Ignats' tactical kicking and large boot helping him lead Romania to a famous victory, Ignat scoring 3 penalties and a conversion. A victory that was described Welsh rugby's most humiliating day, driving the likes of Jonathan Davies to switch codes.^[3] The final score was 9–15.^[4][5][6]

On 24 May 1990, Romania defeated France on French soil, for the first time ever. Ignat was labelled a hero of the match, he scored all of Romanias' points. Romania led 9–0 at the break with Ignat scoring 3 penalties, the French side came back within three points until the 73rd minute where Ignat scored a drop goal securing the win for the Eastern European side.^[7][8][9]

His final appearance came in a 25–6 loss against France in the FIRA Championship D1 on 28 May 1992.

Honours

Romania

• FIRA Trophy (3rd place): 1985-1987, 1987-1989, 1990-1992
• FIRA Trophy (Joint-champions): 1989-90

References

1. "Gelu Ignat". ESPN scrum. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
2. "Vineri se joaca a zecea partida dintre Romania si Tara Galilor". www.rugby.ro (in Romanian). Retrieved 24 January 2024.
3. "Jonathan Davies". ESPN scrum. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
4. zadminx (10 December 2015). "Acum 27 de ani, Romania obtinea o victorie istorica la Cardiff, in fata Tarii Galilor". Rugby Romania (in Romanian). Retrieved 24 January 2024.
5. Team, The Rugby Paper (5 June 2021). "Heady days before the mighty Oaks tumbled". The Rugby Paper. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
6. James, Ben (13 December 2018). "The story of Welsh rugby's most humiliating day". Wales Online. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
7. zadminx (24 May 2016). "26 de ani de victoria istorica a Romaniei in fata Frantei, pe pamant francez. "La Auch, la Auch sa batem un cocos!"". Rugby Romania (in Romanian). Retrieved 24 January 2024.
8. "REMEMBER: În urmă cu 33 de ani, România a obținut prima și singura victorie cu Franța în deplasare". www.rugby.ro (in Romanian). Retrieved 24 January 2024.
9. "Rugbyști constănțeni în echipa României din succesul istoric cu Franța, din deplasare, de acum 30 de ani (video)". ZIUA de Constanta (in Romanian). 26 May 2020. Retrieved 24 January 2024.