The news is a furtther blow to a country who have already lost influential centre Florin Corodeanu and prop Dragos Dima.

"Tudosa injured his rib earlier this week and was replaced by 20-year-old uncapped Ion Paulica of Universitatea Cluj," team spokesman Radu Constantin said.

Constantin added that Mersoiu, who had injured his shoulder in training, was expected to be sidelined for three weeks.

"Romania have called up Cornel Tatu of Dinamo Bucharest to replace Mersoiu," Constantin added.

Corodeanu injured his elbow during a training session and Dima has failed to recover from back surgery.

Hooker Marius Tincu, who recently underwent a knee operation, has been included in the squad in the hope that he can play in the team's final pool game on 30 October.

Romania, playing in their fifth straight World Cup, will face reigning champions Australia, Argentina, Ireland and Namibia in their pool matches.

Romania squad:

Backs: Lucian Sirbu, Iulian Andrei, Cristian Podea, Ionut Tofan, Gabriel Brezoianu, Romeo Gontineac-captain, Valentin Maftei, Cristian Sauan, Ioan Teodorescu, Vasile Ghioc, Dan Dumbrava, Bogdan Voicu, Mihai Vioreanu;

Forwards: Petru Balan, Petrisor Toderasc, Marcel Socaciu, Silviu Florea, Cezar Popescu, Marius Tincu, Cristian Petre, Cornel Tatu, Sorin Socol, Augustin Petrichei, George Chiriac, Marius Nicolae, Tudor Bogdan, Alexandru Manta, Marian Tudori, Ovidiu Tonita.