Congress in Malta

At last month's European Rugby Association Congress (AER-FIRA) in Moscow, delegates from 43 countries, including the top ranking Six Nations, voted overwhelmingly for Malta to host the 2010 Congress.

This means well over 150 delegates and guests will be travelling to Malta for the international assembly.

The huge majority decision to stage the congress here, reflects the good standing and popularity of the Malta Rugby Football Union among European countries, all thanks to the spadework put in by those within the MRFU fold, past and present, since the AER-FIRA affiliation in 2000.

Malta's reputation has been enhanced thanks to the fine showings of the national team in World and European qualifiers and also the performance of the women's team in the European Sevens Championship earlier this year.

Rugby is growing fast in popularity on our islands and the number of players is rapidly increasing. The MRFU is one of the three smallest rugby organisations in Europe.

This will be the first time that the MRFU will host an international meeting of this calibre.

The 2010 European Regional Association meeting will coincide with the 68th Annual Congress by the international rugby body.