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Rugby in Malta on a high
Although
still only nine-years-old and with just two matches played in
the international scene, first-time Malta captain Matthew Mirabelli
told RAY ABDILLA that, despite losing their first two matches
against Moldova and Belgium, Malta still needs to continue to
participate in the international scene for the good of the sport
Matthew Mirabelli who was Malta's first ever international captain
in the away match against Moldova feels that although the locals
lost their first two World Cup matches, they should still continue
to participate against strong opponents.
"It is the same with any other sport. When a local side loses
then everyone starts moaning and groaning saying that we should
pull out. In rugby we feel we are not the underdogs and try to
play best to our knowledge. The difference between us and sides
such as Moldova and Belgium is experience and staying together
as a team," Mr Mirabelli said.
The game of Rugby has fast established itself in the local sports
arena since the local federation's inception in 1991. Following
the Malta Rugby Football Union (MRFU) affiliation with the International
Rugby Board (IRB), Malta had been invited to take part in the
Preliminary qualifying round of the 2003 World Cup to be staged
in South Africa.
Malta was drawn into the same group as Moldova, Belgium, Monaco,
Slovenia and Lithuania with the first two in the group moving
to the next phase.
Malta's participation in the qualification campaign for the Rugby
World Cup is an exciting prospect for the association but they
need the more backing to develop this sport further.
Malta's chief aim is to attract as much support as possible. The
main sponsors, Barclays Bank and the International Rugby Board,
are already helping a great deal.
The government has assigned a new playing pitch to the association
in an area earmarked for sport activities, which will be inaugurated
in season 2000-2001. Now the association is expecting funds from
the IRB and the Federation of International Rugby Associations.
Moreover, the Maltese federation is working hard to attract Mediterranean
region teams to Malta to take part in a large international tournament.
Recently the Parliamentary Secretary for sports Jesmond Mugliett
said that the MRFU has envisaged a strategy to attain the goal
in appointing a foreign professional coach. He said that this
goes a long way towards proving the willingness of the association
to compete at the highest level.
The coach, Len Ethell who reiterated his delight at being appointed
national coach of Malta.had declared himself confident that the
40 players will be up for the challenge when it comes to pitting
their wits against the strongest outfits in the group because
every player in the squad is willing to learn and to improve.
The local league
The Phoencian's Big Blue RFC, Oversea's Ryan's RFC, Stomper's
Huggins RFC, Alligators RFC, Kavalieri RFC and Tripoli Barbarians
- (Foreign Team participating in Cup games) are the sides that
make up Malta's rugby league that is played every weekend at the
Marsa Sports Club.
The National team is made up of players from the local clubs together
with players from abroad who have Maltese connections i.e. parents
or parent Maltese etc.
Malta received their baptism of fire in a historical first that
did not shed light on the dedication and sacrifice. Of the 20
strong union in managing to field a team for their IRB commitments.
Malta went down fighting in a score that clearly demonstrates
Moldovian tactical and knowledge superiority as a result of over
five years of IRB membership as well as long history of rugby
related to their proximity with Romania, a leading rugby nation,
and the Ukraine.
Economic and civil strife in the region have taken their toll
but Moldova are still a strong team regionally having also beaten
Monaco 20-in their recent RWC 2003 encounter in Monte Carlo on
28 of October. Eastern European Rugby is definitely an emerging
game and Moldova have only lost four out of 12 internationals
in the last 10 years, namely against Yugoslavia, Croatia, Latvia
and the Ukraine.
The Maltese National Rugby Team ran out on to the sun-bathed pitch
of Chisinau's Dinamo Stadium for their historic first ever Test
match against Moldova. The team's rendition of the national anthem
was emotional and unforgettable.
Malta's captain, Matthew Mirabelli won the toss, and elected to
play with the stiff breeze at his back. Malta went on the attack
from the outset, but were unable to capitalize on the good lineout
ball won by Chris Diamantino, close to the Moldovian line. The
home side cleared the danger and aided by a few Maltese handling
errors swept upfield and after some good continuity play scored
a try wide on the left. This was unconverted 5-0.
The Maltese men fought back immediately and after some good forward
play, with Robert Bonavia, Stuart Middleton, and Chris Griscti.
In the thick of things, were awarded a penalty, which Gerald Strickland
duly converted, to go into the history books as Malta's first
points scorer in International Rugby. 5-3.
Play seesawed back and forth during the early part of the game
with the Moldavians having the advantage, in terms of possession
of the ball but the determined Maltese play denied them further
scores. After 30 minutes the score was locked at 5-3.
The Czech referee was handling the game in a very even-handed
and constructive manner, which allowed for an enjoyable experience
for the players. During this middle part of the game the experienced
Moldavian side, which included six full-time professionals, who
play for Portuguese and German clubs, were able to maintain their
high tempo, and aided by some pour Maltese tackling, they scored
four tries in the ten-minute period up to half-time.
During the first half Malta's forwards scrummaged magnificently
against bigger, fitter, stronger and more experienced opponents.
This was a major factor in keeping the Islanders in the game for
such a long period. Other parts of our game are not up to speed,
but this will come in time. Some great tackling by David Gasan,
Chris Gnscti, Robert Bonavia, Kevin Davidson, James Sayer and
Sean Doublesin were highlights of the first half's play.
Terry Johnson replaced Chris Griscti at halftime and he added
some impetus to the brave Mallese effort in the forwards, who
were being well managed by the feisty Kevin Davidson. The lineout
superiority was giving their classy back lin.e a steady supply
of quality ball, and this aided by some lack lustre, Maltese tackling
led to several Moldovian tries.
The introduction of Steve Cilia, Antoine Bonello, for the hard-working
Ian Borda, Alan Agius for Robert Bonavia, David Cutajar for the
magnificent Stuart Middlelon, Chris Pace and Adrian Hillman; breathed
new life into the Maltese effort; and this culminated in Michael
Scholey being Malta's first ever try scorer, when he dived over
to score in the dying moments of tile match. Gerald Strickland,
who had worked so hard in creating the Maltese try, was not successful
with his conversion attempt and shortly afterwards Mr Tuma blew
his whistle to signify, full-time with the score 58-8.
This score-line is accurate in highlighting the gap in both experience
and skill between Malta rugby and our opponents; but the Maltese
people can be justifiably proud of the way in which these young
men conducted themselves both on and off the field while representing
their county.
The Belgium match
After losing away to Moldova, Malta faced another tough task when
they play Belgium at home. Malta lost again against what a Belgian
side, which is considered as a tougher proposition than the Moldovians
This year, the Malta Rugby Football Union achieved the important
milestone of joining the International Rugby Board and filing
application with the FIRA. This year, Maltese rugby is also represented
in the Rugby World Cup preliminaries for the first time ever.
This is the culmination of quite a long history of the game prior
to the founding of the Rugby Association of Malta, now known as
the Malta Rugby Football Union, and the Malta Rugby Football League
in 1991. The game in Malta can trace its origins to the Overseas
Rugby Club that was established in the post-war years (1946).
The members of Overseas consisted of British and Commonwealth
expatriate servicemen and Maltese civilians and military personnel
who participated in competitions against Royal Navy, Royal Air
Force and Army teams visiting or stationed in Malta over the years.
Overseas RFC saw a wealth of players including a number who went
on to play for their national sides. School sides developed, notably
St Edwards College and Tal-Handaq College but expatriates and
a few native players mostly played the game. When Malta pulled
out of NATO and the services left the island in 1979, with the
departure of the last RN warship, the game seemed to be breathing
its last were it not for a tight-knit group of die-hards who formed
a social rugby club called the Phoenicians in 1983. Since then
the game in Malta has gone from strength to strength.
Since 1991, the League soon saw a growing participation that was
sparked off by a number of University fanatics who formed the
University Rugby Football Club and the reestablishment of Overseas
after a period of dormancy. Soon, new clubs joined the fray with
the Kavallieri and Stompers being the latest additions. Now the
MRFU enjoys the membership of four clubs: Phoenicians Big Blue
Guinness RFC; Overseas Ryans Boddingtons RFC, The Alley Kavallieri
RFC and Alligators Cisk Export RFC, along with the affiliation
of the Tripoli Barbarians RFC and the junior club Stompers RFC,
participating in a healthy League, Round Robin and a number of
VIIs fixtures. The mild weather of Malta makes it an excellent
venue for visiting sides as witnessed by a growing number of touring
sides from year to year.
In recognition of the importance of youth-development for the
future of the game, the MRFU is undertaking an ambitious plan
to introduce the game formally to six secondary schools in order
to raise the MRFU membership from 150 players and 100 associate
members to 600+ players over five years. Also, new clubs are being
seeded. It is hoped that the Armed Forces will be fielding a team
soon. Participation in the RWC qualifiers will certainly be a
huge motivation. For this reason, the MRFU is actively seeking
financing and experienced personnel in order to develop the structures
such as a dedicated rugby pitch and facilities needed to improve
the level of game on the island.
The next World Cup qualifier is against Monaco in January which
will be played in Malta, followed by two away games against Slovenia
and Lithuania.
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