Petru Bălan

Who is Petru Bălan?

Petru Vladimir Bălan is a Romanian rugby union footballer, currently playing for RC Timisoara in the top level of Romanian rugby. He is also a Romanian international, and has played for his national team. His usual position is as a prop.

Before moving to play rugby in France he played for Dinamo Bucharest in Romania, including playing for them in the 1998-99 European Challenge Cup. He played for FC Grenoble in the 2002-04 Challenge Cup and European Shield competitions. He moved to Biarritz for the 2003-04 season. He was a part of the team that were runners-up to Munster in the 2005-06 Heineken Cup, and won the 2005-06 Top 14.

He was a part of the Romanian team at the 2003 Rugby World Cup, playing two matches throughout the tournament held in Australia.

On 14 March 2008 Bălan signed for Northampton Saints in the Guinness Premiership. He was expected to join the club for the 2008-09 season, but back problems lead to his contract being voided. After finishing the season with Biarritz, Bălan was idle until he signed a two-year contract with Fédérale 1 club Saint-Jean-de-Luz.