Raducanu defected from Romania at the age of 22 while in Edinburgh, on the same day he played his last international. He says that he made a "spur-of-the-moment" decision, asking a passing policeman for political asylum after dodging team security to walk out of a post-match banquet. The policeman thought that he was drunk. His move came soon after that of his compatriot Nadia Comăneci, and less than a fortnight before the overthrow of Nicolae Ceaușescu in his home country. He soon obtained his release from the Romanian Rugby Federation (RRF), allowing him to play in competitions organised by the Scottish Rugby Union. RRF officials also announced around that time that they would not object to him playing again for his country, while Raducanu had lined up an opportunity to play for the Scottish Boroughmuir club.