National American Football Championship of Romania
Founded2010
Country Romania
Number of teams6
Level on pyramid1
Current championsBucharest Rebels
Most championshipsBucharest Rebels (5 titles)

The National American Football Championship of Romania (CNFA) (Romanian: Campionatul Național de Fotbal American) is the elite league for American football in Romania. It was formed in 2010. Playing rules are based on those of the American NCAA. Each end of season culminates with the championship game, known as the Romanian Bowl.

The popularity of American football in Romania can also be attributed to the nation's interest in the career of Romanian-born American punter for the New England Patriots of the NFL, Zoltán Meskó.[1]

History

The league is played annually, and it follows NCAA rules. A flag championship is also organized every year, to better promote the sport.

The first-ever game in the history of the championship was played on July 24, and it featured the Timişoara Lions and Cluj Crusaders.[2]

On November 21, 2010, in Bucharest, the Bucharest Warriors met the Cluj Crusaders, in the first-ever Romanian Bowl. The home team won the game, 56–12, becoming the first champion of Romania.[3][4]

Bucharest Warriors retained the CNFA title in 2011, after 14–6 and 15–20 against the same opponent from the previous year, Cluj Crusaders.[5][6]

Teams

Current CNFA teams
Bucharest Rebels
Bucharest Titans
Cluj Crusaders
Mureș Monsters
Timişoara 89ers
Reșița Locomotives
Former / inactive teams
Bucharest Dacians
Bucharest Predators
Constanța Sharks
Iaşi Sevens
Miners Baia Mare
Oradea Stars
Prahova Thunder
Scăieni Jaguars
Vaslui Wolves
Bucharest Warriors

Romanian Bowl

The Romanian Bowl is the CNFA championship game, the Romanian equivalent of the NFL's Super Bowl.

# Year Winning Team Losing Team Score
I 2010 Bucharest Warriors Cluj Crusaders 56–12
II 2011 Bucharest Warriors Cluj Crusaders 14–6 & 15–20
III 2012 Cluj Crusaders Bucharest Rebels 20–70
IV 2013 Cluj Crusaders Timișoara 89ers 14–80
V 2014 Bucharest Rebels Timișoara 89ers 18–12
VI 2015 Bucharest Rebels Cluj Crusaders 2–0
VII 2016 Bucharest Rebels Cluj Crusaders 46–18
VIII 2017 Cluj Crusaders Bucharest Warriors 17–12
IX 2018 Cluj Crusaders Bucharest Rebels 10–0
X June 15, 2019 Bucharest Rebels Timișoara 89ers 34–14
XI November 27, 2021 Mures Monsters Bucharest Rebels 30-40

See also

References

  1. ^ "New England Patriots Punter Zoltan Mesko's Long Journey From War To Glory". thepostgame.com. 2012. Retrieved 2012-04-11.
  2. ^ "Primul meci de fotbal american la Timişoara". agenda.ro. 2010. Archived from the original on 2010-07-24. Retrieved 2010-07-20.
  3. ^ "cnfa2010 bucharest warriors vs cluj crusaders stats" (PDF). warriors.ro. 2010. Retrieved 2012-04-11.[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ "Warriors a castigat primul campionat de fotbal american din Romania". gsp.ro. 2010. Retrieved 2010-11-22.
  5. ^ "Cluj Crusaders @ Bucharest Warriors". dacians.ro. 2011. Archived from the original on 2012-06-03. Retrieved 2012-04-11.
  6. ^ "Bucharest Warriors, câștigătorii RO-BOWL II". dacians.ro. 2011. Archived from the original on 2012-06-03. Retrieved 2012-04-11.
Categories