On Saturday the Malta National Rugby team, which is supported by their major sponsor, Cisk Lager, is determined to improve on last year’s position. Although they suffered defeat against the last two opponents, Latvia and Croatia, they are rigorously shaping up to give their best performance against Andorra.
The match is again being held at the Hibernians Ground in Corradino and the manager, coach and players have appealed for the best possible support to help the local players to rise to the occasion and register a positive result.
In the IRB world rankings, Malta is in 56th position while Poland is 31st, Croatia 49th, Latvia 38th and Andorra 59th.
Addressing a news conference tomorrow morning, Juan Borg Manduca, President of Malta Rugby Football Union (MRFU), said: “The team is undergoing an intensive training programme all week at the Hibernians ground. All players are in Malta for this preparation to ensure that they are ready for the match. A special thank you goes to rugby’s main sponsor Cisk Lager for their fantastic support, which has been instrumental in the progress and achievements of rugby in Malta, as well as other main sponsors who give us their continued support.”
Mr Borg Manduca also said that the association was working on a 10-year play to ensure the future of rugby in Malta. “We have target the schools and we have been very successful, attracting over 2,000 children. What we have in mind first is to organise an inter-school league between six and seven schools and then we see what we can do to improve the set-up,” he added.
The Malta Team will be wearing Cisk Lager branded kit on Saturday. “As usual, the raucous spectators will push the players to perform even better. We urge all the rugby fans to attend and support this home game,” said Sean Doublesin, national team manager for Malta.
This match promises another sporting and entertainment spectacle for the many patriotic rugby supporters and their families. The match will start at 3pm at the Hibs Ground. Jason Zammit and Colin Fitz from XFM’s Jay and the Crew will host the entertainment which starts at 2pm.
The event is also supported by rugby sponsors Simonds Farsons Cisk, The Alley Rock Bar, XFM 100.2, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, GasanMamo Insurance Ltd, Air Malta, OnVol, Vodafone and Sundreams Travel.
Tickets at Lm3.50 will be available at the door or at Lm3 from one of the following outlets: Elite and Exotique in Valletta, Zmerc Pub in Balzan, Casa Natura, Exotique and Expressions in Sliema, Rookies Sports Bar in Bugibba and Exotique in BayStreet. Ticket hotline: 9988 1266
National coach Damian Neill said yesterday he believed the match will be tough. “We have little knowledge of our opponents but we know they have beaten Croatia recently and that makes our task even more difficult. It is because of this that we need all possible support to gather around us on Saturday to push us forward to give our very best,” he said.
The national squad announced by Neill, includes:
Leo Mifsud (Stompers RFC, Malta), Mick McArdle (Barking RFC, UK), Thomas Webb (Eton Manor RFC, UK,) Kyle Mason (Mounts Bay RFC / Royal Navy, UK), Ian Borda (Kavallieri RFC, Malta), Saviour Zarb (Easts Rugby Canberra, Australia), Luke Watts (Broadstreet Old Boys RFC, UK), Joseph Cutajar (Kavallieri RFC, Malta), Daryl Psaila (Overseas RUFC, Malta), David Borg (Kavallieri RFC, Malta), Dominic St. George (Kew Occasionals RFC, UK), Steven Kempster (Tring RFC, UK), Michael Whitney (Perth-Bayswater RFC, Australia), Guy Kennedy (Queanbeyan Whites RFC, Australia), John Dimond (Barry RFC, UK), Thomas Watts (Old Coventrians RFC, UK), Ryan Borg (Cronulla Sharks, Australia), Matthew Mirabelli (Stompers RFC, Malta), Jamie Caruana (Redruth RFC, UK), Malcolm Attard (Stompers RFC, Malta), Lee Culnane (Tuggeranong Vikings RFC, Australia), Dominic Busuttil (Beddau RFC, UK), Michael Bonavia (Kavallieri RFC, Malta), James Finlason (Hove RFC, UK), Oliver Sacco (Clifton RFC, UK).