While the rest of the world turns its attention to South Africa, Malta Director of Rugby, Damian Neill, has thrown his local men into a big time test at the European Sevens to be held in Cyprus this weekend.

Under the patronage of FIRA/AER, the European 7s Club Champions Trophy – 6th Round is being held in Paphos, Cyprus. France, Spain, Georgia, Germany, Cyprus, Croatia, Serbia, Greece and Israel are expected to compete.

Neill has picked a comparatively young and inexperienced side with seven new caps in the ten man squad, as part of his long term policy. All the local based senior men’s teams are represented in the squad:

Joss Howland, (Overseas), Mario Fountain, (Stompers), Matthew Camilleri, (Stompers,) plus the following first caps – Matthew Von Brockdorff, (Stompers), Dario Schembri, (Kavallieri), Beppe Sammut (B’kara Alligators), Sean Gregory (B’kara Alligators), Neville Borg (Valletta Lions), Jurgen Pavanello (Valletta Lions), Paul Psaila (Valletta Lions). First caps belong to Sammut, Schembri, Pavanello, Von Brockdorf, Borg, Psaila and Gregory.

“Of course now Seven-a-Side rugby is to become an Olympic sport it is important to train a squad for the future,” commented Neill.

Realistically this inexperienced side will find the going tough, but they are all players with potential and will learn a great deal in this reward for their dedication, especially since tackling, speed and position are the most important aspects of sevens.