Malta will be meeting Croatia at the Hibs Ground next Saturday and MRFU president Kevin Buttigieg is expecting this World Cup qualifier to be a very significant game.
Addressing the press yesterday, Buttigieg said: “It will be another massive game for us. This year we are fighting for promotion to Pool I A which would mean facing teams like Germany, Holland, the Czech Rep and Switzerland. We have had a good year and now we intend to finish it on a top note. We do not just hope to get a good result against Croatia. We also hope to go to Belgium the week after to get another positive result over there.”
The match has added importance because rankings in the next European Cup will also depend on these results. Malta can win promotion to Pool 1 A with victories over Croatia and Belgium.
Buttigieg thanked Cisk Lager for their generous sponsorship. He said: “We are proud to be able to say that this sponsorship has been the foundation of the enormous achievements of the Maltese rugby community since the Millennium. We consider the Cisk Lager logo on our shirt a badge of honour. There is no other Maltese team who has managed to make an outstanding impact on the international scene as the national rugby team and in such a short span of time.”
Coach Damein Neil is expecting a tough match against Croatia, but hoped his players will rise to the occasion. “We will stick to our game. We know they will be a physically strong lot and we also know they have some key figures at the back. But we will be well prepared,” he said.
Neill has had the full squad at his disposal since Sunday when collective training started soon after the arrival of the foreign-based players. He said he has five new faces in the squad who are Lee Culane, Reuben Vella, Patrick Satariano, David Gasan and Eddie Zarb.
The full squad of players is:
Lee Culane, Joe Sultana, Ollie Sacco, Reuben Vella, Paul Marzella, Malcolm Attard, Jamie Caruana, Dominic Busuttil, Patrick Satariano, Rohan Spiteri, John Dimmond, Matthew Mirabelli, Dominic St George, Guy Kennedy, Steve Kempster, Steve Haycock, Robert Bonavia, David Gasan, Luke Watts, Eddie Zarb, Dean Zammit, Tom Webb, Ian Borda, Kyle Mason, Harry Collins.
The Union also thanked the Hibs ground management for keeping their commitment with them. “The pitch is in excellent condition. We just hope it will be an enjoyable afternoon for all. Prior to the big match (2pm kick-off) there will be some exhibition matches involving youth teams and women’s teams, starting at 12.45pm. We hope to attract a large number of fans once again. The Malta team appreciates the marvellous patriotic support they have had over recent years,” said Mike Turner, PRO for the Malta Rugby Football Union.