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Scrum-half Alin Konash scored 16 points to help Romania to a 31-21 victory over Canada in the men's international rugby match on Saturday.
The defeat at the Stade d'Arcule de Triomphe is expected to drop No. 24 Canada at least one spot in the world rankings.
Canada faces No. 11 Georgia next Saturday in Batumi before facing No. 20 Portugal on Nov. 22 in Coimbra. Earlier Saturday in Batumi, Georgia defeated the 15th-ranked USA Eagles 43-30.
Ovidiu Cojocaru, Cristi Chirique and Tevita Manumua scored the goals for Romania No. 21. Konash took four penalties and two conversions.
Mason Flesch, Piers von Dadelsen and Barnaby Waddell scored for Canada, which had two players trashed in the second half. Peter Nelson made three conversions.
Waddell, who plays in Wales for Bridgend Ravens, crashed with a red clock after making his debut from the second-half bench.
Romania improved to 8-3-0 against Canada. The Oaks have won eight of their last nine meetings, excluding Canada's 35-22 win at TD Place in Ottawa in July 2024. Canada's other two victories came at the 1991 and 1995 World Championships.
Canada fell behind early but never recovered
Romania started brightly from the opener on Saturday and took a 3-0 lead in the third minute thanks to a Conace penalty after number eight Matt Ooru was penalized for not releasing the ball during a tackle in the Canadian end. Konache scored again in the ninth minute after Canada was awarded a penalty at the lineout.
Konash made it 9-0 in the 15th minute after Canada was thrown back into the scrum for their own throw-in. Nelson missed his penalty in the 18th minute, hitting the goal post.
Romania kept the scoreboard ticking, extending their lead to 12-0 in the 25th minute after Canada were awarded a scrum penalty.
Flash capped off the Canadian attack in the 28th minute with a shot from close range. Nelson's conversion cut Romania's lead to 12-7 and increased the defender's point total to 201 for Canada.
At the end of the inning, Konash finally missed a shot.
Leading 12-7 at half-time, Romania took the lead in the 42nd minute when Cojocaru touched down behind a powerful lineout maul to convert the try to lead 19-7. Canada appeared to respond with a Nick Benn try, but an obstruction invalidated the score.
Canadian midfielder Robbie Povey received a yellow card in the 53rd minute for a high tackle. Romania soon came close as flanker Kemal Altınok slid into the corner amid a mass of bodies, but video review could not confirm the attempt.
Chirique made no mistake soon after, jumping into a 24-7 lead. Von Dadelsen responded in the 67th minute, scoring from close range and converting the try to reduce the margin to 24–14.
Midway through the second half, Welsh referee Ben Breakspear warned Canada of a penalty shootout in the scrum. This led to a 70th-minute yellow card for substitute Matt Tierney, who won the last of his 25 caps in October 2021.
Romania took advantage through Manumua, the Tongan-born striker, who stepped up to take the lead in the 73rd minute.
Coach Stephen Meehan's 15 young starters entered the game having played a total of 244 matches. Captain Lucas Rumboll (62), striker Cole Keith (41) and Nelson (32) accounted for 135 of these, while nine other players have 11 or fewer caps.
It was the first Saturday for prop Sam Miller and center Kyle Tremblay, both earning their second caps.
Canada falls to 1-6-0 in 2025.
Canada's November opponents have all qualified for the 2027 World Cup in Australia. Canada has booked its ticket to the Pacific Nations Cup, with the other three countries progressing through the 2025 European Rugby Championship.
Saturday's game marked the international swan song of Cojocaru, the Romanian captain and hooker who was feted before the anthems.
Romania completed a three-match tour of South America in July, losing 40–16 to No. 17 Chile, 70–8 to No. 19 Uruguay and 52–14 to an Argentina XV.
Canada fell to 1-6-0 in 2025, losing its fourth straight after beating the United States 34-20 in August. Since the start of 2024, he has won just two of 14 matches (2-12-0).
Saturday's game marked the second edition of the Cernavoda Cup. The prize is awarded in collaboration with the Canadian Embassy in Romania in recognition of Romanian-Canadian cooperation in the field of nuclear energy.
In honor of Remembrance Day, Canadian men wore special T-shirts with a poppy on the left sleeve.
