The Malta Independent on Sunday can reveal that a promise by the authorities to the Malta Rugby Football Union (MRFU) to have their own small stadium at Marsa have not been kept, or so it seems.

In 2003, written commitments were made by then Parliamentary Secretary for Sport, Jesmond Mugliett, to the International Rugby Board and the Malta Rugby Football Union. These were for an area of land at Marsa on which a small rugby stadium could be built.

Just before the last election, the Prime Minister, Dr Lawrence Gonzi visited the rugby pitch at Marsa and made a public promise to supply the required pitch. The MRFU produced – on request – a feasible architectural plan for this work.

However, since then, the MRFU has been fobbed off by the Ministry concerning this matter. Lately German surveyors have been reported climbing on the MRFU clubhouse roof and surveying the area of pitch 5.

Now strong rumours are circulating among the rugby fraternity that La Vallette Riding Club have been given a large chunk of this pitch because the horse racing fraternity have grabbed their land for a race horse training scheme.

Meanwhile, the MRFU are still waiting for pitch allotment agreements from the Maltese Council for Sports and the Ministry, before they can plan their league which begins shortly.

The Ministry has offered two alternative pitches, but these were considered unsuitable by the MRFU.

Rugby is considered by many as the most successful team sport in Malta, in which the men's team ranks about 50th out of 100 in the world, and the women rank a superb 13th out of 43 in Europe.

Furthermore the MRFU has twice arranged for matches to be televised and broadcast in over 100 countries, and features regularly on Total Radio around the world, which is marvellous free publicity for Malta.

A recent report has illustrated that the MRFU has generated over 1.6 million euros in sports tourism since 2004.

This summer, one of Britain's leading clubs wanted to bring their entire squad of over 50 people for a summer training camp, but had to be turned away through lack of facilities.

The AER, which is the rugby equivalent of UEFA in football, will also be holding its Annual Conference in Malta next year - another excellent contribution from rugby towards sports tourism.

The MRFU is now awaiting news on a suitable alternative pitch. The MRFU is said to be more than willing to cooperate in any feasible scheme.