Could Timisoara/Saracens partnership lead to an opportunity for Romanian star Cătălin Fercu?

After Romanian full back Cătălin Fercu made a shock debut for Premiership table toppers Saracens in a friendly with Gloucester, could he now finally get the opportunity to prove himself on a bigger stage?

Since making his international debut as a teenager for Romania in 2005, Cătălin Fercu has consistently shone for the Oaks against all opposition and been a standout in the backline. 9 years on now aged 27 Fercu is his country's all time leading try scorer and one of the best backs outside the 6 Nations or Rugby Championship.

However despite being without doubt one of the best players in the ENC, Fercu has never moved on to a higher level and tested himself there and gained recognition from the mainstream rugby press and fans. Whereas other stars of the ENC like Marius Tincu and Mamuka Gorgodze made names for themselves across the rugby world, Fercu is much less well known outside of Romania, a particular shame as he often gets swept into the generalisation of Romanian backs as a result.

Fercu at Copthall Stadium in Barnet

There have been offers from the likes of Castres and in the Premiership in the past, but for various personal reasons, Fercu has turned them down. It seemed likely that we would never likely see him play in a better team that could offer him an easier platform to perform than Romania, and would equally not see him tested against many sides better than Tonga or Fiji.

Following Saracens confirmation of adding Romanian champions Timisoara to their Global Network though, out of nowhere, Fercu's name appeared on the Saracens teamsheet for a post season friendly game against Gloucester. It later emerged that Fercu had spent the week training with Saracens as a guest.

Although the game was essentially nothing but a one off friendly for reserves to bring a game into the City of London, it nevertheless was an opportunity for Fercu to impress at Saracens. And by the sounds of it he did just that, scoring 4 tries in his first outing in black and red.

After the match, Fercu told Romanian press how he was impressed by Saracens and that after refusing offers in the past, he now wants to go abroad and prove himself at a higher level and he is approaching the stage where it could be now or never. With Saracens in partnership with his club at home Timisoara, and having scored 4 tries he's hoping that he might get an opportunity with the European finalists. It will be interesting to see if he will be the first player from the Saracens Global Network to get an opportunity.

GIF: Against Georgia last March, with his wingers both not having
their best games, Fercu was fighting a lone standout in the backline
in getting Romania out of messy situations as illustrated. However could
the Saracens/Timisoara partnership lead to him finally getting the chance
to play in a better team offering him more chances?