2 ▁July ▁ 1 9 7 6 , ▁in ▁Su ce ava ) ▁is ▁a ▁Roman ian ▁retired ▁rugby ▁union ▁footballer ▁who ▁played ▁as ▁a ▁prop . ▁ ▁Before ▁moving ▁to ▁play ▁rugby ▁in ▁France ▁he ▁played ▁for ▁Din amo ▁Buch ar est ▁in ▁Roman ia , ▁including ▁playing ▁for ▁them ▁in ▁the ▁ 1 9 9 8 - 9 9 ▁European ▁Challenge ▁Cup . ▁He ▁played ▁for ▁FC ▁Gren o ble ▁in ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 2 - 0 4 ▁Challenge ▁Cup ▁and ▁European ▁Sh ield ▁compet itions . ▁He ▁moved ▁to ▁Bi ar ritz ▁for ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 3 – 0 4 ▁season . ▁He ▁was ▁a ▁part ▁of ▁the ▁team ▁that ▁won ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 4 – 0 5 ▁Top ▁ 1 6 ▁and ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 5 – 0 6 ▁Top ▁ 1 4 . ▁Also ▁with ▁Bi ar itz ▁Olimp ique ▁were ▁run ners - up ▁to ▁Mun ster ▁in ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 5 – 0 6 ▁He ine ken ▁Cup . ▁ ▁He ▁was ▁a ▁part ▁of ▁the ▁Roman ian ▁team ▁at ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 3 ▁Rugby ▁World ▁Cup , ▁playing ▁two ▁matches ▁throughout ▁the ▁tournament ▁held ▁in ▁Australia . ▁ ▁On ▁ 1 4 ▁March ▁ 2 0 0 8 ▁B ă lan ▁signed ▁for ▁North am pton ▁Sain ts ▁in ▁the ▁Gu in ness ▁Prem iers hip . ▁He ▁was ▁expected ▁to ▁join ▁the ▁club ▁for ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 8 – 0