With reference to Paul Stoner’s article “Promise of Land for Golf” (TMIS, 27 September), I feel the Malta Rugby Football Union (MRFU) should clarify a few misconceptions.

The MRFU is not hung-up on Marsa at all; it is simply looking for sites that have sufficient facilities to accommodate the sport, wherever they may be. The reason that Marsa is the place that comes to mind with the layman is that it is the only place that has been officially promised by the authorities. It is agreed that rugby can be played anywhere there is space large enough to site a pitch, and that is exactly what the MRFU is looking for. With reference to the luxury of having facilities promised in the electoral programme Mr Stoner should not feel hard done-by, considering that with or without an electoral promise, the Royal Malta Golf Club has not been left out. I also agree that some sports have just a fraction of what they need. Does that mean the Golf Club is also going to give up bidding for expansion?

While we are in agreement that the Parliamentary Secretary should be left to do his job, Mr Stoner should be informed that the criticisms are not coming from Malta Rugby, but rather from the general public, namely players who take their sport to heart and who simply fear the worst if facilities are not granted. I can assure Mr Stoner that the Malta Rugby Football Union is in constant discussion with the Parliamentary Secretary and no official within the MRFU doubts that he is doing his best for an agreement to be reached. May I add that the MRFU supports all sports organisations in their bid for better facilities and should the members of the Royal Malta Golf Club get theirs, nobody this end is going to be anything but pleased for them.

It is however, every sport organisation’s duty and right to make a plea for those facilities, and this should by no means be taken as “criticising the government” but merely as campaigning for one’s sport to be taken into consideration.

Gail Debono

Treasurer

Malta Rugby Football Union