The Malta Rugby Football Union annual general meeting took place on Wednesday 4th July 2007 at the Le Meridien, Phoenicia in Floriana.
Several issues where discussed, including facilities, finances, amendments to the MRFU statute and members feedback to the Director of Rugby.
The MRFU has put together a long term strategic plan to achieve it’s goals on all these points and is working hard to deliver concrete results.
Facilities - Encouraging progress is being made.
Work is underway on the upgrading of the only Rugby ground which is situated at the Marsa Sports Ground. The pitch surface was damaged at few years ago following the flooding of the Marsa Sports Grounds. This project is taking place with the collaboration of the KMS. The MRFU together with it’s clubs are also looking at other different options for training facilities.
Finances - The MRFU has put it’s biggest effort into getting it's finances up to date and in shape.
Director of Rugby - Feedback / Achievements:
Last Season
6,000 playing Tag-Rugby in Malta’s schools; Women’s National Team finished second in the European Championships and is on the verge of qualifying for the Women’s 7’s Rugby World Cup; Men’s National Team beat Andorra in the European Nations Cup; Stompers RFC and Kavallieri RFC shared top domestic honours; Sharks RFC achieved their first competitive victory in local Rugby after 3 years; Substantial increase in media coverage of Malta Rugby; First Live Transmissions of Malta’s last two Internationals; Record attendance for the MRFU Cup final at Marsa; Improvement in Refereeing; Improvement in organisation of Clubs and the Marsa Ground; A very successful first ‘Malta Rugby Awards’.
Next Season
Malta Rugby Academy is being set up for promising talents from 15 years & up; The MRFU plans to have a national side consisting of a majority of locally based players by 2012. The academy is to give each and every player one on one specialized attention in all areas of a player’s development; The MRFU is to attempt to organise mid-week Rugby 7’s and 10’s; School League to be set up.
The election for the posts of MRFU President, General Secretary and Treasurer did not take place due to no other nominees for these posts. They where all given a vote of confidence.
The confirmed MRFU council & Staff for Season 2007/08:
President - Juan Borg Manduca
Vice-President - David Smith
General Secretary - Neil Galea
Treasurer - Paul Debono
Public Relations / Marketing Officer - Nick Gatt
Deputy Public Relations / Marketing Officer - Gail Debono
Clubs Chairman - Pierre Azzopardi
Services Officer - Steven Busuttil
Youth Development Officer - Samuel Ramage
Ladies Representative - Audrey Vella
Director of Rugby / National Coach - Damian Neill
National Team Manager - Sean Doublesin
The council thanked Charles Borda, who stepped down as Services Officer, for his service to Malta Rugby and wishes Steven Busuttil all the best in his new role.
The MRFU thanked all those who made season 2006/07 one to remember. The popularity of Malta Rugby is on the rise, the future is looking very bright and the MRFU looks forward to have you all on board with them.