A new rugby season is just around the corner. With the successes of last term under their belts, Stompers RFC have been holding training sessions determined to do even better in 2005-06 and resume pole position.

Last season, Stompers won the Ray Elliot Cup, were runners up in the League, runners up in the Super Cup, became the first – and so far the only – club in Malta to run a second team and maintained their lead role in developing youth rugby in the country by running its highly successful youth section for the third year

Positive recognition of Stompers’ success came at the MRFU annual dinner and awards ceremony when club captain Patrick Satariano was named as Malta’s Best Senior Male Player of the Year and the Best Youth Male Player award went to Max Galea.

These awards were echoed at Stompers’ own club dinner when Pat Satariano was called as the club’s Best Senior Male Player and young Max Galea was named as club Man of the Season.

The award for Most Improved Senior Male Player went to Dragoslav Vesic. Further demonstration of the importance Stompers place on youth rugby came with two more awards to members of the youth section: Clivens Frendo was identified as the Best Upcoming Player, while Nathan Gatt won the award for the Most Dedicated Youth Player.

Now Stompers, with the continuing vital support of their two sponsors – TGI Friday and Carlsberg again agreed for the new season – are looking to build on those successes and improve on them in the months ahead.

The club is planning a major recruitment drive to strengthen its coaching base, with a direct approach being made to former players who want to put something back into the game.

At the same time, some novel plans are being drawn up to increase the playing membership, for both the seniors and the junior section. Anyone who is interested in either returning to rugby or starting this, the best team game in the world – and remember, the Maltese International XV is currently Team of the Year and Malta’s most successful international squad – will be welcome at the weekly training sessions at the Marsa, every Tuesday and Thursday, starting at 8pm.

One may also contact club captain Patrick Satariano on 99449172, club coach Malcolm Attard on 99449196, or the Youth Officer Andrew Camillieri on 99267926