Neill encouraged by local players' approach

After the bright performances of the national team in the Nations Cup qualifiers, the Malta Rugby Football Union (MRFU) competitions get underway this afternoon with the Ray Elliot Cup and the opening matches from the qualifying round of the Cisk Lager League at Marsa.

This year's campaign seems to be gripped with a bout of fresh enthusiasm, emanating not only from the fine showings against Croatia and Sweden but also through the novelties being lined up for the new domestic season.

Last month, Malta opened its Division 2B group commitments with an unlucky 18-16 defeat to Croatia at the Hibs Ground. However, a week later, Damien Neill's men bounced back to beat Sweden 9-6 in Vanersborg.

The most notable factor in those internationals was the contribution of MRFU league players Matthew Mirabelli, Christoffel Diamantino, Daryl Psaila and Ian Borda. They all managed to earn a place in the starting formation even though they lacked match practice with the MRFU league still to start.

"There has been a complete change in the culture among the locally-based players," Neill told The Times.

"Before, they used to have four months off from training in the off-season and would only start in October. The end result was that they found themselves lagging badly behind the other foreign-based players in the squad in terms of fitness and it was difficult for them to be used fully in our internationals.

"This year it was a different story though. They kept training during the summer and the difference was there to see. Players like Mirabelli, Psaila, Diamantino and Borda proved that they have the ability to perform at international level. Now, we hope that more locally-based players will follow suit."

Neill also reckons that the standard in the MRFU league has improved considerably over the past couple of years.

"Clubs seem to have stepped up a gear in terms of organisation," Neill said.

"There are teams that are playing at a much higher level than in previous years. Up to five years ago they used to manage eight or nine minutes of played rugby in each match, today that figure has gone up 200 per cent."

Neill has been in Malta for five years now and during this time he has always stressed the importance of increasing the numbers of those practising the sport.

This year his words were heeded after a new club, Valletta Lions, was launched while Kavallieri and Stompers are planning to experiment with their 'B' sides to increase the number of teams in a revamped championship.

In fact, the national league will have a new format with eight teams competing in a round-robin qualifying round. The top four will then play in the first division and the others will figure in the second division.

Besides, the MRFU will also make use of another pitch at Marsa, just across their current rugby ground, thus giving them the opportunity to hold matches concurrently from different competitions during weekends.

"I think that the league will now be an ideal tool to nurture more players," Neill remarked.

"Having more teams playing the game will add to our options."

The national team will not be in action until April 18 when they travel to Latvia for the next Nations Cup qualifier before hosting the Netherlands a week later.

However, during this lengthy break, Neill wants to give more playing time to the Malta-based players in his squad.

"Our plan is to revive the Malta 'A' side. This selection will be travelling to Sicily and Milan every six weeks to play friendlies against Italian sides. We have to see that our players are in top shape before the next qualifiers.

"I think these are exciting times for rugby in Malta. There are more players taking up the sport and the younger ones, who started in tag rugby, are now getting more involved.

"The MRFU has to make the most of these opportunities."