Malta national rugby union team

Malta
Union	Malta Rugby Football Union
Nickname(s)	Il-imtaten (The Rams)
Emblem(s)	The Ram
Coach(es)	Damian Neill
Captain(s)	Domenic Busuttil
First international
	Moldova 58–8 Malta ; (2000-11-18)
Largest win
	Andorra 15–63 Malta ; (2016-10-22)
Largest defeat
	Moldova 58–8 Malta ; (2000-11-18)

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 European Division 2A and finished 2nd to promoted Netherlands in the 2013–14 season.

History

Malta's national team played their first match on November 18, 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 43rd 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.

Current squad

Note: Caps correct 8 November 2014

Note: Flags indicate national union for the club/province as defined by World Rugby.

Player	Position	Caps	Club/province
Daniel Holliday	Hooker	16
Rhodri Apsee	Prop	6
Kyle Mason	Prop	26
Clayton Cassar	Lock	18
Dragan Cerkata	Lock	9	Stompers
John Ellul	Lock	3	Stompers
Christian Schranz	Lock	7
Daniel Apsee	Flanker	12
Darren Deguara	Flanker	13
Joseph Cutajar	Number 8	8
Luke Watts	Number 8	30
Thomas Holloway	Scrum-half	16
James Morris	Fly-half	11
Dominic Busutill (c)	Centre	40
Toby Quarendon	Centre	14
Marvin Cordle	Wing	2
James Kirk	Wing	10
Vince Stivala	Wing	16
James O'Brien	Fullback	24
Matthew Camilleri	Wing	13	Stompers

Coaches

Name	Years	Tests	Won	Lost	Drew	Win percentage
Len Ethel	2000–2001	3	0	3	0	0%
Nigal Ben Bennett	2001–2002	4	2	2	0	50%
Graham Richards	2002–2004	9	7	2	1	80%
Damain Neil	2004–	43	20	23	0	73%

Records of International Matches

Malta's test match record against all nations:^[1]

Against	Played	Won	Lost	Drawn	% Won
Andorra	2	1	1	0	50
Austria	1	1	0	0	100
Belgium	2	0	2	0	0
Bosnia and Herzegovina	1	1	0	0	100
Bulgaria	2	2	0	0	100
Croatia	10	4	6	0	40
Czech Republic	1	0	1	0	0
Denmark	2	1	1	0	50
Germany	1	0	1	0	0
Hungary	1	1	0	0	100
Latvia	7	5	2	0	71
Lithuania	6	4	2	0	67
Luxembourg	1	1	0	0	100
Moldova	2	0	2	0	0
Monaco	2	1	1	0	50
Netherlands	4	0	4	0	0
Norway	1	0	0	1	50
Poland	3	0	3	0	0
Serbia	3	2	1	0	67
Slovenia	1	0	1	0	0
Sweden	4	3	1	0	75
Switzerland	3	2	1	0	67
Total	60	29	30	1	49

References

^ "Results of all Internationals" (PDF). Malta Rugby. Retrieved 2015-02-04.

External links

[1] "Results of all Internationals" (PDF). Malta Rugby. Retrieved 2015-02-04.

[1]