Cristian Stoica (1 August 1976 in Bucharest, Romania) is an Italian rugby union footballer. He is a centre. August 1 is the 213th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (214th in leap years), with 152 days remaining. ... 1976 (MCMLXXVI) is a leap year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ... Bucharest (Romanian: BucureÅŸti ) is the capital city and industrial and commercial centre of Romania. ... Image from a test-match between Ireland and the New Zealand All Blacks. ...

Stoica moved to Italy at a young age and joined minnows Pavia. He then switched to Milan Rugby in 1996 and he needed only six games in Serie A to convince the national selectors he was worthy of an international call-up.

He subsequently made his debut for the Azzurri as a 20-year-old in a 37-29 win over Ireland at Lansdowne Road in 1997. After two years at Milan, Stoica left the Italian championship to join French side Narbonne. Already one of Italy's most capped players, Stoica has represented his adopted country in every edition of the Six Nations and in both the 1999 and 2003 World Cups. He also won the Parker Pen Shield in 2004 with his current club Montpellier.