Gasan Mamo Insurance Ltd yesterday announced that it had entered into a three-year sponsorship deal with the national A rugby team.

Addressing the press yesterday, Julian J. Mamo, director sales, marketing and administration, said the company was thus celebrating the MRFU’s determination and the vibrancy with which it was gaining international recognition.

Mamo said the company had acknowledged the rapid increase in the number of those practising the sport in the last five years. “Today there are nearly 200 seniors registered with the local five clubs. There are also three women’s clubs and there is also a thriving mini section with two paid coaches and regular Mal-tag competitions, a thriving U-17 section, and some 600 registered juniors.”

Mamo went on to say that all this had encouraged his company to enter into this agreement which should go a long way in the further development of the sport on these islands.

MRFU president Kevin Buttigieg thanked Gasan Mamo Insurance for their generous sponsorship, adding that this would allow it to improve the standard of its players. “This sponsorship will serve as a stepping stone for the Malta A team to play better opposition in Malta and abroad,” he pointed out.

Buttigieg said the MRFU was hoping to attract another large crowd at the Hibs Ground on Saturday week for the World Cup qualifier against Croatia. “We the need the support of as many people as possible to get a positive result, just one week before the team travels to Brussels to face Belgium,” he said.

Steve Busuttil, coach, said the MRFU was also glad to see the locals improving, so much so that seven locally based players have managed to earn a place in the squad for the Croatia match. He added that the team was going through another positive run and it is still unbeaten this year. “We have beaten Messina at home, Accademia Roma in Rome and two English clubs. Now we hope to beat Amsterdam this week to continue our positive streak. Near the end of the season, the team will be travelling to Cyprus (13 May). This will be a prestigious match, even if the Cypriots still have to be accepted in the IRB, though they have now become affiliated members of the European Union,” he added.

Gasan Mamo Insurance and the MRFU are also undertaking an ambitious plan to introduce the game formally to a number of schools. In fact, the MRFU intends to build on the success of recent years by making Malta rugby a valuable part of Maltese society.