The article entitled ‘Malta Rugby Football Union Pitch Promises Broken’ which appeared in The Malta Independent on Sunday on 6 September has not gone down well with some of the local Equestrian sport associations who are now perplexed over their own existing facilities at the Marsa.
The Equestrian associations fully sympathise with any wishes of the Rugby fraternity and their wish to improve facilities. They say it is certainly the wish of all associations to enhance their respective sport but, on the other hand, in fulfilling their wishes, they cannot expect to claim territory that other associations have used for over a century.
Various Equestrian associations and clubs such as the Malta Racing Club (founded 1868 – Trotters, Flat Racing and Pony Races), The Malta Polo Club (oldest club in Europe) and the La Vallette Riding Club (that also caters for Riding for the Disabled) have practised their sport only and exclusively in Marsa that hosts, from time immemorial, the densest population of horses and stables on the island. The La Vallette Riding School arena and the annexed area are the only space that can cater for improved facilities for all equestrian sports and, while to date no assignment of any land has been given to any of the Equestrian associations, the Rugby Union should appreciate that while the dream of having a Rugby Football Stadium can be realised elsewhere on the island, the only possible site to enhance limited facilities for the concentration of horses in Marsa remains in this area. The MFRU have themselves confirmed that the Government has proposed alternative sites for their stadium which they have so far considered unsuitable.
All concerned trust that Government will provide a suitable pitch for The Malta Football Rugby Union and it should not be difficult for them to accept other sites, thus avoiding others that have long been committed to other sports.
The Equestrian associations cannot imagine a rugby stadium in the midst of their existing arena complex.
The Marsa Grounds have been synonymous with Equestrian sports for over 150 years. The associations believe that the sport of Rugby, which is relatively new to these islands, can definitely continue to flourish – and they all augur it does – in an alternative and more suitable area.