U-19 selection match

The Malta Rugby Football Union youth section will be holding a selection match at the Marsa rugby ground tomorrow with the most prospective youngsters invited to join the U-19 national team.

In Malta, youth rugby is growing rapidly. Under the watchful eyes of MRFU Director of Rugby Damian Neil, the sport is blooming with significant progress registered at youth and junior competitions.

The game is also attracting a good number of beginners at grassroots level with the Alligators youth sector alone catering for around 20 hopefuls under the age of eight.

Mini-rugby is played regularly at Marsa and on Sunday the first Challenge Cup for teams with players aged between eight and 11 will be held before the trial match for U-19s.

The Falcons club are also among the trail blazers in youth rugby in Malta. They have now been established for the past four years.

"There are so many different positions in a team that no matter what shape or size you are, there is always a role that suits you," Robert Portelli, Falcons head coach, said.

Last week, the Alligators boys clinched the U-17 league for the second time in a row.

Competitions at this level, sponsored by GasanMamo Insurance, have been strongly contested these past few years.

Tomorrow's U-19 trial match starts at noon.