CSM Știința Baia Mare

CSM Știința Baia Mare, commonly referred to as Știința Baia Mare (Romanian pronunciation: [ʃtiintsa baia mare]), is a Romanian professional rugby union club based in Baia Mare that competes in the Liga de Rugby Kaufland, Romania's top division of rugby.

Știința Baia Mare

Full name	Club Sportiv Municipal Știința Baia Mare
Nickname(s)	Zimbrii (The Bisons) Băimărenii (The People of Baia Mare)
Founded	1977 (1977)
Location	Baia Mare, Romania
Ground(s)	Arena Zimbrilor (Capacity: 2,300)
President	Călin Matei
Coach(es)	Eugen Apjok
Captain(s)	Nicolaas Immelman
League(s)	Liga de Rugby Kaufland
2023	2nd

History

Originally founded in 1977 as Racemin Baia Mare, Știința Baia Mare quickly rose to prominence in the Romanian rugby scene. Despite encountering formidable competition from clubs such as Steaua București and Dinamo București, Baia Mare solidified its position as a dominant force in the Romanian rugby championship.

The pinnacle of their early success came in the 1980–81 season when they clinched their first tournament victory, the Romanian Cup, in a thrilling match against Dinamo București, which left the local fans in Baia Mare ecstatic. Building on this momentum, Baia Mare secured their inaugural Romanian championship in the 1989–90 season, during what is often regarded as the golden era of Romanian rugby throughout the 1980s.

However, sustaining their initial success proved challenging, and Baia Mare experienced a period of fluctuating fortunes. They managed to add two more Romanian Cup trophies to their cabinet in 1990 and 1999, respectively, but significant championship titles eluded them until 2009 when they clinched their second championship title, two decades after their first.

In the subsequent years, Știința Baia Mare regained their dominance in Romanian rugby, winning the championship four times within the last decade. However, unlike in previous years, they faced stiff competition from USV Timișoara during their championship campaigns.

Honours

Domestic

Leagues

• Liga de Rugby Kaufland
  • Winners (9): 1989–90, 2008–09, 2010, 2011, 2014, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2021, 2022
  • Runners-up (8): 1987–88, 1990–91, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2023

Cups

• Cupa României
  • Winners (6): 1980–81, 1989–90, 1998–99, 2010, 2012, 2020
  • Runners-up (13): 1981–82, 1985–86, 1987–88, 1988–89, 1999–2000, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017–18, 2021
• Cupa Regelui
  • Winners (2) – Record: 2016, 2017
  • Runners-up (1): 2015

Continental

• Central and Eastern European Rugby Union Cup
  • Winners (2) – Record: 2009–10, 2010–11

Current squad

Știința Baia Mare Liga de Rugby Kaufland squad
Props Mihai Dico Revazi Dugladze Costel Grămadă Robert Hîncu Ciprian Sălceanu James Scott Sandro Zubashvili Hookers Robert Irimescu Levan Papidze Tristan Trollip Locks Mate Dardzulidze Nugzar Gelashvili Silviu Grădinaru Ștefan Iancu	Back row Alexandru Alexe Beka Bitsadze Nicolaas Immelman (c) Florian Roșu Andrei Schutz Scrum-halves Vlăduț Bocăneț Luka Dvalishvili Alexandru Țiglă Fly-halves Andrei Bucșa Alexandru Harasim Mihai Mureșan Luca Nichitean	Centres Anelka Barends Sione Fakaʻosilea Jason Tomane Wings Mihai Lămboiu Darin Onț Taliaʻuli Sikuea Fullbacks Kefentse Mahlo Paul Popoaia
(c) denotes the team captain, Bold denotes internationally capped players. * denotes players qualified to play for Romania on residency or dual nationality.

Coaching staff

Name	Nationality	Role
Silviu Duma	ROU	Manager
Eugen Apjok	ROU	Head coach
Paul Rusu	ROU	Assistant coach
Ionuț Pop	ROU	Strength and conditioning coach
Marius Peride	ROU	Team doctor
Codrin Despea	ROU	Masseur

See also

• Rugby union in Romania

External links

• Liga de Rugby Kaufland Squad Details (in Romanian)