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Malta national rugby union team

{{Short description|Maltese national rugby union team}}

{{more citations needed|date=July 2020}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}

{{Infobox national rugby team

| Name = Malta

| image =

| Union = Malta Rugby Football Union

| Nickname = L-imtaten (The Rams)

| Emblem = The Ram

| Captain = Dominic Busuttil

| Coach = Keith Hopkins

| from =

| caps =

| top scorer =

| pattern_la1 =

| pattern_b1 =_redquarters14

| pattern_ra1 =

| leftarm1 = 000000

| body1= ffffff

| rightarm1 = 000000

| shorts1 = 000000

| socks1 = 000000

| World Rugby Rank = 44

| World Rugby Rank date = 20 March 2023

| First game = {{flagicon|Moldova}} Moldova 58–8 Malta {{flagicon|MLT}}
(18 November 2000)

| Largest win = {{flagicon|Andorra}} Andorra 3–89 Malta {{flagicon|MLT}}
(24 March 2018)

| Largest loss = {{ru|Lithuania}} 81–10 {{ru-rt|Malta}}
(19 May 2018)

| World cup apps = 0

| year =

| best =

|World Rugby max=38|World Rugby max date=7 April 2022|World Rugby min=45|World Rugby min date=2023}}

The Malta national rugby union team are governed by the Malta Rugby Football Union (MRFU). Although Malta has yet to qualify for the Rugby World Cup, the island state has made remarkable progression since its first international in 2000.

It is currently competing in the Rugby Europe Conference, after topping the Conference 1 South for the past two seasons—2017 and 2018—yet failing to win the play-off to rise to the higher level. The national side is ranked 46th in the world (as of 13 November 2022).

History

{{main article|Rugby union in Malta}}

Malta's national team played their first match on 18 November 2000, against Moldova in Chişinău, which Moldova won 58–8. They played a subsequent match against Belgium that same year in Marsa, which Belgium won 26–0. Malta played four matches in 2001, and they recorded their first win in the fourth of them, against Monaco in Marsa. This was followed by a draw 10–10 with Norway, defeating Lithuania, Austria, Luxembourg, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia-Montenegro, Latvia and Hungary. They then played Moldova in 2004.

Malta then proceeded to enter the 2007 Rugby World Cup European qualification tournament where they were grouped in Pool D of the second round. After finishing third in their pool with two wins from four pool games, Malta entered a play-off along with Denmark, Andorra and Sweden to enter round three. Malta were successful and entered Pool B of round three.

The team is currently ranked 39th in the World Rugby world rankings, their highest ever position. They are coached by Welshman Damian Neill, a former Number 8 in the Welsh Premiership with Aberavon RFC and Maesteg RFC.

Record

=World Cup=

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"

!colspan=8|World Cup record

!width=1% rowspan=25|

!colspan=6|World Cup Qualification record

Year

!Round

!{{Tooltip|P|Games played}}

!{{Tooltip|W|Won}}

!{{Tooltip|D|Drawn}}

!{{Tooltip|L|Lost}}

!{{Tooltip|F|Points scored}}

!{{Tooltip|A|Points conceded}}

!{{Tooltip|P|Games played}}

!{{Tooltip|W|Won}}

!{{Tooltip|D|Drawn}}

!{{Tooltip|L|Lost}}

!{{Tooltip|F|Points scored}}

!{{Tooltip|A|Points conceded}}

{{flagicon|AUS}}{{flagicon|NZL}} 1987colspan=7|Not Invitedcolspan=6|Not Invited
{{flagicon|GBR}}{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}}{{flagicon|FRA}} 1991colspan=7|did not entercolspan=6|did not enter
{{flagicon|RSA}} 1995colspan=7|did not entercolspan=6|did not enter
{{flagicon|WAL}} 1999colspan=7|did not entercolspan=6|did not enter
{{flagicon|AUS}} 2003rowspan=6 colspan=7|did not qualify500527177
{{flagicon|FRA}} 200710505139200
{{flagicon|NZL}} 201142026670
{{flagicon|ENG}} 2015410373104
{{flagicon|JPN}} 2019531116197
{{flagicon|FRA}} 2023colspan=6|Automatically eliminated
Total

|0/9

|0

|0

|0

|0

|0

|0

|28

|11

|1

|16

|466

|648

=European Competitions=

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"

!width=75|Season

! Division

!width=35|{{Tooltip| G| Games}}

!width=35|{{Tooltip| W| Won}}

!width=35|{{Tooltip| D| Drawn}}

!width=35|{{Tooltip| L| Lost}}

!width=45|{{Tooltip| PF| Points for}}

!width=45|{{Tooltip| PA| Points against}}

!width=45|{{Tooltip| +/−| Point difference}}

!width=45|{{Tooltip| Pts| Points}}

!width=45|{{Tooltip| Pos| Position}}

style="background:#ffffbf;"

|2001-02

European Nations Cup Third Division Pool 332104524+2181st
style="background:#ffffbf;"

|2002-03

European Nations Cup Third Division Pool B440010154+47121st
style="background:#dfdfdf;"

|2003-04

European Nations Cup Third Division Pool A43017375-2102nd
style="background:#dfffdf;"

|2006-08

European Nations Cup Second Division 2B8206125210-85124th
style="background:#ffdf9f;"

|2008-10

European Nations Cup Second Division 2B8404132156-24163rd
style="background:#ffdf9f;"

|2010-12

European Nations Cup Second Division 2A8404146135+11203rd
style="background:#ffdf9f;"

|2012-14

European Nations Cup Second Division 2A8404162179-17183rd
style="background:#dfffdf;"

|2014-16

European Nations Cup Second Division 2A8305153181-28164th
style="background:#ffffbf;"

|2016-17

Rugby Europe Conference 1 South431014749+98171st
style="background:#ffffbf;"

|2017-18

Rugby Europe Conference 1 South440022148+173201st
style="background:#ffffbf;"

|2018-19

Rugby Europe Conference 1 South431011749+68161st
style="background:#dfdfdf;"

|2019-20

Rugby Europe Conference 1 South21015832+2662nd
style="background:#dfdfdf;"

|2021-22

Rugby Europe Conference 1 South43016940+29142nd

=Overall=

Below is a table of the representative rugby matches played by a Malta national XV at test level up until 5 April 2025, updated after match with {{ru|ISR}}.

class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:90%"
width=200 | Opponent

! width=70 | Played

! width=70 | Won

! width=70 | Lost

! width=70 | Drawn

! width=70 | % Won

align="left" | {{ru|AND}}5410{{#expr:4/5*100 round 2}}%
align="left" | {{ru|AUT}}1100{{#expr:1/1*100 round 2}}%
align="left" | {{ru|BEL}}20200%
align="left" | {{ru|BIH}}3300{{#expr:3/3*100 round 2}}%
align="left" | {{ru|BUL}}3210{{#expr:2/3*100 round 2}}%
align="left" | {{ru|CRO}}15582{{#expr:5/15*100 round 2}}%
align="left" | {{ru|CYP}}8710{{#expr:7/8*100 round 2}}%
align="left" | {{ru|CZE}}30300%
align="left" | {{ru|DEN}}2110{{#expr:1/2*100 round 2}}%
align="left" | {{ru|GER}}10100%
align="left" | {{ru|HUN}}1100{{#expr:1/1*100 round 2}}%
align="left" | {{ru|ISR}}8620{{#expr:6/8*100 round 2}}%
align="left" | {{ru|LAT}}7520{{#expr:5/7*100 round 2}}%
align="left" | {{ru|LTU}}7430{{#expr:4/7*100 round 2}}%
align="left" | {{ru|LUX}}1100{{#expr:1/1*100 round 2}}%
align="left" | {{ru|MDA}}20200%
align="left" | {{ru|MCO}}2110{{#expr:1/2*100 round 2}}%
align="left" | {{ru|NED}}40400%
align="left" | {{ru|NOR}}10010%
align="left" | {{ru|POL}}30300%
align="left" | {{ru|SCG}}3210{{#expr:2/3*100 round 2}}%
align="left" | {{ru|SLO}}4310{{#expr:3/4*100 round 2}}%
align="left" | {{ru|SWE}}4310{{#expr:3/4*100 round 2}}%
align="left" | {{ru|SUI}}5230{{#expr:2/5*100 round 2}}%
class="sortbottom"

! Total !! 93 !! 50 !! 40 !! 3 !! {{#expr:50/93*100 round 2}}%

Recent Matches

class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" style="width:100%"
Matches
style="background:#cfc"

|

{{Rugbybox

|date = 30 October 2021

|time = 14:00 CEST (UTC+02)

|home = {{ru-rt|SVN}}

|score = 10–24

|report = [https://www.rugbyeurope.eu/media/qfykzjq0/213010-gamesheet-slovmal-81-xlsx-read-only.pdf Report]

|away = {{ru|MLT}}

|stadium = Oval Ljubljana, Ljubljana

|attendance = 0

|referee = Norbert Matrai (Hungary)

}}

style="background:#cfc"

|

{{Rugbybox

|date = 13 November 2021

|time = 13:00 CET (UTC+01)

|home = {{ru-rt|MLT}}

|score = 15–13

|report = [https://www.rugbyeurope.eu/media/q3hb2ezt/211113-recf1s-mltvisr-gamesheet.pdf Report]

|away = {{ru|ISR}} (1 LBP)

|stadium = Tony Bezzina stadium, Paola

|attendance = 0

|referee = Pedro Mendes-Silva (Portugal)

}}

Current squad

The following players were included in the squad for the 2021–22 Rugby Europe Conference South 1 match against Israel on 13 November 2021.{{cite news|url=https://www.rugbyeurope.eu/media/uvtc3gia/mlt-vs-isr-13-11-gamesheet-reic-21-22.pdf|title=Malta vs Israel Match Sheet|work=Rugby Europe|date=14 November 2021|access-date=23 November 2021}}

{{nat rs start}}

{{nat rs player|pos=PR|name=Rhodri Apsee|age=|caps=|club=Bridgend Ravens|clubnat=Wales}}

{{nat rs player|pos=HK|name=Patrick Martin|age=|caps=|club=Stompers RFC|clubnat=Malta}}

{{nat rs player|pos=PR|name=Dragan Cerketa|age=|caps=|club=Stompers RFC|clubnat=Malta}}

{{nat rs player|pos=LK|name=Martin Barbara|age=|caps=|club=Falcons RFC|clubnat=Malta}}

{{nat rs player|pos=LK|name=Liam Scicluna|age=|caps=|club=Falcons RFC|clubnat=Malta}}

{{nat rs player|pos=LK|name=Cameron Sultana|age=|caps=|club=Penarth RFC|clubnat=Wales}}

{{nat rs player|pos=FL|name=Benjamin Borg|age=|caps=|club=Falcons RFC|clubnat=Malta}}

{{nat rs player|pos=FL|name=Daniel Apsee|age=|caps=|club=Cowbridge RFC|clubnat=Wales}}

{{nat rs player|pos=N8|name=Mark Davey|age=|caps=|club=Tonbridge Juddian RFC|clubnat=England}}

{{nat rs player|pos=SH|name=Thomas Holloway|age=|caps=|club=Chester RUFC|clubnat=England}}

{{nat rs player|pos=FH|name=Robert Holloway|age= |caps=|club=Sedgley Park RUFC|clubnat=England}}

{{nat rs player|pos=WG|name=Brendan Dalton|age= |caps=|club=Falcons RFC|clubnat=Malta}}

{{nat rs player|pos=CE|name=Dominic Busuttil (c)|age= |caps=|club=}}

{{nat rs player|pos=CE|name=Christopher Dudman|age= |caps=|club=Rochford Hundred|clubnat=England}}

{{nat rs player|pos=WG|name=Jeremy Debattista|age= |caps=|club=Stompers RFC|clubnat=Malta}}

{{nat rs player|pos=FB|name=Richard Gum|age= |caps=|club=Stompers RFC|clubnat=Malta}}

{{nat rs player|pos=HK|name=Matthew Spiteri|age= |caps=|club=Stompers RFC|clubnat=Malta}}

{{nat rs player|pos=N8|name=Thomas Davey|age= |caps=|club=|clubnat=}}

{{nat rs player|pos=FB|name=Jethro Zammit Randich|age=|caps=|club=Kavallieri RFC|clubnat=Malta}}

{{nat rs player|pos=LK|name=Jon Jerome Micallef|age= |caps=|club=Stompers RFC|clubnat=Malta}}

{{nat rs player|pos=CE|name=Matthew Camilleri|age= |caps=|club=Stompers RFC|clubnat=Malta}}

{{nat rs player|pos=FB|name=Luke Matthew|age= |caps=|club=|clubnat=}}

{{nat rs player|pos=WG|name=Philippe Ioffe|age= |caps=|club=UM Wolves RFC|clubnat=Malta}}

{{nat rs player|pos=PR|name=Terence Galdes|age= |caps=|club=Kavallieri RFC|clubnat=Malta}}

{{nat fs end}}

Coaches

class="sortable wikitable"
Name

! Years

! Tests

! Won

! Lost

! Drew

Keith Hopkins

| 2023–present

| 1

| 1

| 0

| 0

Damian Neill

| 2005–2023

| 5

| 3

| 1

| 1

Len Ethel

| 2000–2001

| 3

| 0

| 3

| 0

Nigal Ben Bennett

| 2001–2002

| 4

| 2

| 2

| 0

Graham Richards

| 2002–2004

| 9

| 7

| 2

| 1

See also

References

{{reflist}}

https://www.rugbyeurope.eu/competitions/conference-1-south/slovenia-v-malta/

https://www.rugbyeurope.eu/competitions/conference-1-south/croatia-v-malta/

External links

  • [http://www.maltarugby.com Malta Rugby Union official website]
  • [http://rugbydata.com/malta/gamesplayed Malta] on rugbydata.com
  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20110810042746/http://www.irb.com/rankings/full.html IRB rankings]

{{National rugby teams}}

{{National sports teams of Malta}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Malta National Rugby Union Team}}

Category:European national rugby union teams

Category:Rugby union in Malta

Category:Teams in European Nations Cup (rugby union)

Rugby union