MRFU to be awarded Pitches 1 and 3 at Marsa – Ministry of Sport

The Malta Rugby Football Union is set to gain control on two pitches at the Marsa Grounds in a major boost for the sport, the Times of Malta can confirm.

The local rugby governing body caught the headlines in January when president Kevin Buttigieg stepped down from his post following an impasse in talks with the government over the use of two rugby pitches at the Marsa Grounds.

In the past few years, Pitch 1 and 3 where used by the Malta Rugby Football Union so that it could host its MRFU league matches as well as national team preparation.

In an interview with the Times of Malta, Buttigieg lamented over the lack of progress in talks with the government over the football and rugby stadium that had been approved in 2020 in Corradino.

He was pushing for the MRFU to have a bigger use of the facilities.

Buttigieg had told Times of Malta that the MRFU deserved more respect and that he was asking for the sport to have proper facilities like any other discipline in Malta. 

For many years we have been given a lot of promises but nothing materialised,” Buttigieg said.

“The MRFU was more interested to have its own premises in Marsa which is what we were mainly negotiating as we looked to be awarded Pitches 1 and 3.”

A spokesman from the Ministry of Sport confirmed to the Times of Malta that there has been a major progress in the negotiations and that the rugby governing body were set to be awarded a management agreement which will see them receive control on Pitch 1 and 3 among others.

“A substantial part of the newly restored 1903 building will be used by the Malta Rugby Football Union,” the spokesman told the Times of Malta.

“Moreover, Pitch 1 and Pitch 3 are to be passed on to MRFU through a management agreement similar to other agreements in place with other associations in several locations. The investment amounts to over a million euros.

“SportMalta is in close contact with MRFU and is investing over €350,000 for the national teams to prepare for GSSE 2023 and other com

The Malta Rugby Football Union is set to gain control on two pitches at the Marsa Grounds in a major boost for the sport, the Times of Malta can confirm.

The local rugby governing body caught the headlines in January when president Kevin Buttigieg stepped down from his post following an impasse in talks with the government over the use of two rugby pitches at the Marsa Grounds.

In the past few years, Pitch 1 and 3 where used by the Malta Rugby Football Union so that it could host its MRFU league matches as well as national team preparation.

In an interview with the Times of Malta, Buttigieg lamented over the lack of progress in talks with the government over the football and rugby stadium that had been approved in 2020 in Corradino.

He was pushing for the MRFU to have a bigger use of the facilities.

Buttigieg had told Times of Malta that the MRFU deserved more respect and that he was asking for the sport to have proper facilities like any other discipline in Malta. 

For many years we have been given a lot of promises but nothing materialised,” Buttigieg said.

“The MRFU was more interested to have its own premises in Marsa which is what we were mainly negotiating as we looked to be awarded Pitches 1 and 3.”

A spokesman from the Ministry of Sport confirmed to the Times of Malta that there has been a major progress in the negotiations and that the rugby governing body were set to be awarded a management agreement which will see them receive control on Pitch 1 and 3 among others.

“A substantial part of the newly restored 1903 building will be used by the Malta Rugby Football Union,” the spokesman told the Times of Malta.

“Moreover, Pitch 1 and Pitch 3 are to be passed on to MRFU through a management agreement similar to other agreements in place with other associations in several locations. The investment amounts to over a million euros.

“SportMalta is in close contact with MRFU and is investing over €350,000 for the national teams to prepare for GSSE 2023 and other competitions.”

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