Throughout the ages Malta has survived the test of time to prove that no matter how Goliath the opposition may be, with wits and great courage, victory is never impossible. Though no longer in the midst of a great battle, no other sport better instils that same sense of comradeship and heroism than the spirit of rugby. A sport embedded in pride though without pretension, it is one that the Maltese National rugby team has taken to with impressive results, having defeated the likes of Serbia, Hungary, Austria and Bulgaria in the European Nations Cup. On the back of two highly successful seasons, one of which remained unbeaten, the national team has marched into the sport with the force of a nation that is famed for her resilience and fighting spirit.

As Jonathan Callard once said, a former England rugby hero: "No matter how big or small you are, rugby is all about passion, it comes straight from the heart." On that basis, Malta has a lot of heart to give and speaking to David Gasan, Daniel Grima, two former rugby players of the year and Christoffel Diamantino, outgoing captain of the national side, one can see that this is a passionate team whose success is hard to place.

"Think about it", said Daniel Grima, a former kick boxer and wrestler who now plays in the position of flanker, the scavengers of the pack, "How can such a small population when compared to other countries which have between 5-10 million people do so well?" Never having lost a game at home since their landmark victory against Monaco in 2001 Daniel's question does make one wonder.

"We are not a big side," said David Gasan, 27 years old, whose words do not ring true to his own mighty frame of 98 kilos, "though the team spirit is excellent. We have managed to turn around games on account of it. We are also a mobile team and mentally very gelled." Introduced to the game at the early age of 12 while studying at school in the UK, David has many years of experience when it comes to handling the oval shaped ball. Why the fascination I asked? What was it that he loved most about the sport? "For me," he said, "it is the best team sport that there is, it gives you a buzz unlike any other, you depend on each other and it brings out the best in your character." Having played at university level in the UK and club level in Bologna, including a year's experience in the US super league, David jumped at the first opportunity to play for his country, once the national team was set up.

"Everything changed," said Christoffel, 32 years old, the veteran of the three, "When Malta joined the International Rugby Board in 2000. Club rugby became a lot more competitive and coaching became a lot more professional." Encouraged by his friends to try out the game on the gravel pitches at Tigné, 'Stoff' recalls his first moment with the rugby ball when he committed the major error of throwing the ball forward, much to the amusement of his team mates. That he had previously played American football might help explain the error though who would have imagined that the only way to go forward in rugby is by passing the ball backwards? A strange concept really, though one which Stoff immediately seized upon and though now retired as captain, his success record on the back of 10 successive victories, is one that will be hard to beat.

"Initially," says David Gasan: "It was a very green side though many players have taken great leaps. With respect, in the first year there was not much competition though now you have to push hard to get into the squad." Asking him whether he thought it was a sport more suited to a particular individual he replied that it is a versatile game that caters for many qualities. "While you can not replace natural talent I do think that those people who qualify for the team are those who work hard at it and give it their 100%.

With many national players based overseas in the UK, one might think that there is not much time for team training and preparation yet Stoff argues differently. "Planning our games back to back, the team is together for two intense weeks. Our schedule is full of activities whether it is swimming together, playing football, volleyball, cycling or simply eating out. It is all about team bonding and I believe that these two weeks bring the team more together than had we been playing together for three months. There is simply no time to be negative."

That the team has managed to excel in such short and limited periods of time is a testament to their impressive accomplishment and while many would like to see more local players playing at the top level, the truth of the matter is that Maltese as a rule do often prove to be good, if not great players. "We went against all odds," says Stoff, "everyone expected a small island like Malta to lose against teams like Austria or Bulgaria." Perhaps well suited to our passionate nature or our family values, it is a sport that is ingrained in teamwork and just as the Greeks proved this year at the European Football Championships, teamwork makes all the difference.

With a hard year behind them, the national team now gears up for a tough season ahead. Set to play the likes of Switzerland, Poland, Serbia and Bulgaria in the World Cup qualifying matches, all three players stress the importance of being physically on top of your game. "Training hard is a top priority in any sport," says David: "Though for some of these games you really do have to put your body on the line, it's like trench warfare." Battling it out against overgrown meaty Russians might not seem like everyone's cup of tea though rugby is a character building experience that demands no fear. "When you are not afraid," says Daniel, "you are unlikely to get injured when going into the tackle and unlike football where you are not expecting to get hit, in rugby you do and you get back up." David too states that while rugby is a contact sport it is also very much a mindset, so that while knocks are an inevitable part of the game he stresses that, "with the right coaching, the right preparation and the right technique, the risks of injury are not so high."

Preconceptions of the sport are bound to exist, particularly in the case of rugby that may seem to be little more than a simple game of thuggish behaviour.

To some the very idea of playing the sport may seem downright foolish so that families may not immediately warm to the unfamiliar sport. Daniel is a case in point, whose new found passion at the late age of 27, did not initially garner much enthusiasm on the family front. Newly married and with one a year old child he said: "When I started wrestling my parents were not happy though when I told my father that I was going to start playing rugby at the age of 27, he thought I was crazy and said that I should take care of my family first." That Daniel has already started training his one year old child, whom I am told has as many as six rugby balls to play with, may seem rebellious, though the fact is that his family are there to support him at every match. "They are all proud and are always mentioning that I play rugby," and though he says he would have liked to start rugby at an earlier stage, had he been given a chance, it would appear that his son has little choice.

With over 100 countries today vying for a place in the upcoming World cup to be held in France, the challenges ahead are immense yet surmountable and if the future is to be judged on the past, the Maltese National rugby team is set for a bright future. "Feet on the ground, eyes to the sky," said David while Stoff neatly declared: "We still have a lot of potential, this is only the beginning".

Ed. Note: Michael Farrugia graduated from Edinburgh University with an MA in Italian and European history and has recently completed his Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism from the London School of Journalism.