Romania's under-20 rugby side finished fourth at the World Rugby U20 Challenger in Santiago, Chile. On Saturday, 17 October 2026, Portugal won the bronze match 67–13 (38–8 at half-time). The try count was 11–2, according to the Romanian Rugby Federation. Fourth place is not a senior final and does not rewrite the ranking of the men's national team; it closes a development tournament that Romania entered for the first time.

The Oaks opened the scoring in the seventh minute with a penalty from captain Antonio Mitrea. Portugal then ran in tries through Tomé Lobo, Frederico C. Branco, Henrique Matias, Rodrigo Socorro and António Carmon, stretching the lead to 38–3 before Mitrea scored Romania's first try, 38–8 at the break. After half-time Luke Pereira added another; Alexandru Boldor wrote Romania's second try, then Socorro and two more Portuguese scores closed the board at 67–13.

In the pool stage Romania U20 had beaten Brazil 27–26 and lost 50–9 to hosts Chile, before facing Hong Kong China. Eight sides played in Santiago, from Europe, the Americas, Africa and Asia. Portugal took bronze; Romania leaves with fourth place and a short rest before the next target.

The European Under-20 Championship is scheduled for 8–15 November in Prague. The federation says the squad will resume preparation after returning from Chile. Saturday's result does not, therefore, announce a senior crisis: it is an age-grade fixture on a southern-hemisphere pitch, against an opponent that clearly owned the second half.

Agerpres reported the ranking, but the page returned an error on the morning of 18 October. This account follows the FRR match report, which gives the score, the scorers and the European calendar. It is not a squad assessment and it does not treat the Challenger as the World Rugby U20 Championship.

Image: Becalipleaca, Arcul de Triumf Stadium after a Romania-Tonga match, CC0, Wikimedia Commons; archive from Bucharest, not the Santiago pitch on 17 October 2026.

Sources consulted: Romania U20 finish fourth at World Rugby U20 Challenger - Rugby Romania; Romania finished fourth at World Rugby U20 Challenger - Agerpres.