Antim Cup
Georgia–Romania rugby cup

The Antim Cup (Georgian: ანთიმოზ ივერიელის თასი, romanized: antimoz iverielis tasi; Romanian: Cupa Antim Ivireanul) is contested between the rugby union teams of Romania (The Oaks) and Georgia ("The Lelos"). It is named after the Metropolitan of Wallachia Anthim the Iberian, who was originally a Georgian.

The Antim Cup is contested each time Georgia and Romania meet in a senior international match other than World Cup matches. The holder retains the cup unless the challenger wins the match in normal time.[1]

History

There was a motion from the Georgia Rugby Union just before the 2000 European Nations Cup decider in Tbilisi, to establish a challenge cup along the lines of the Calcutta and Bledisloe Cups to be annually played for between the Oaks and the Lelos.

It was decided that the cup should be named after Antimoz Iverieli (Georgian version) – Antim Ivireanul (Romanian version) (c. 1650–1716). The Rugby Supporters' League (RML) of Georgia approached the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Ilia II through influential go-betweens and received his blessing for the use of the name 'Antim'.[2][3]

The trophy was made by Georgian sculptor and former rugby union player Gia Japaridze, who cast the cup in gilded bronze.

The current holder is Georgia, who defeated Romania 43–5 on 2 March 2024 in Tbilisi.

Results

Year Date Home Score Away Cup holder[a] Venue
2002 6 April Georgia 23–31 Romania  Romania Tbilisi
2003 30 March Georgia 6–19 Romania  Romania Tbilisi
2004 27 May Romania 25–18 Georgia  Romania Iași
2005 12 March Georgia 20–13 Romania  Georgia Tbilisi
2006 25 February Romania 35–10 Georgia  Romania Bucharest
2007 3 February Romania 17–20 Georgia  Georgia Bucharest
2008 9 February Georgia 22–7 Romania  Georgia Tbilisi
2009 14 March Georgia 28–23 Romania  Georgia Tbilisi
2010 13 March Romania 22–10 Georgia  Romania Bucharest
2011 12 March Georgia 18–11 Romania  Georgia Tbilisi
2012 10 March Romania 13–19 Georgia  Georgia Bucharest
2013 16 March Romania 9–9 Georgia  Georgia[a] Bucharest
2014 15 March Georgia 22–9 Romania  Georgia Tbilisi
2015 21 March Romania 6–15 Georgia  Georgia Bucharest
2016 19 March Georgia 38–9 Romania  Georgia Tbilisi
2017 19 March Romania 8–7 Georgia  Romania Bucharest
2018 18 March Georgia 25–16 Romania  Georgia Tbilisi
2019 9 February Romania 9–18 Georgia  Georgia Cluj
2020 1 February Georgia 41–13 Romania  Georgia Tbilisi
2021 28 March Georgia 28–17 Romania  Georgia Tbilisi
2022 12 March Romania 23–26 Georgia  Georgia Bucharest
2023 4 March Georgia 31–7 Romania  Georgia Tbilisi
12 August Georgia 56–6 Romania  Georgia Tbilisi
2024 2 March Georgia 43–5 Romania  Georgia Tbilisi
2025 2 March Georgia 43–5 Romania  Georgia Tbilisi
  1. ^ a b In the event of a draw, the previous winner retains the trophy.

Summary

Venue Played Won by
 Georgia 		Won by
 Romania 		Drawn Georgia points Romania points
In Georgia 15 13 2 0 444 190
In Romania 10 5 4 1 152 167
Overall 25 18 6 1 593 357

Honours

  •  Georgia (19): 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 (2), 2024, 2025
  •  Romania (6): 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2010, 2017

See also

References

  1. ^ Dolidze, Giorgi (8 February 2009). "Rugby Tropies: A History". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 3 November 2025.
  2. ^ "Antim Cup battle illustrates gulf in class". en.espn.co.uk. 6 February 2017. Archived from the original on 6 February 2017. Retrieved 3 November 2025.
  3. ^ Traicu, George (25 September 2020). "Cum a ajuns o competiţie de rugby să poarte numele unui sfânt" [Antim Ivireanul Cup - How a rugby competition came to bear the name of a saint]. Stiripesurse (in Romanian). Archived from the original on 27 September 2020. Retrieved 3 November 2025.
  • Trophies from rugbyfootballhistory.com
  • Barker, Clive (7 February 2007). "Antim Cup battle illustrates gulf in class". ESPN. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
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