Rugby in Malta
Malta has a small, friendly and very international rugby scene. This guide covers who runs the game, when the season is, the competitions, and how to start playing or watching rugby on the island.
- Season October–May
- Matches on Saturdays
- Men, women & youth
- All levels welcome
Play rugby in Malta with Stompers
We train on Tuesday and Thursday evenings in Birkirkara and welcome players of every level, whether you grew up with rugby or have never held a ball.
How rugby works in Malta
Rugby union in Malta is governed by the Malta Rugby Football Union (MRFU). The union oversees the domestic competitions and the national team, and Malta has been a member of World Rugby since 1988.
Club rugby is organised as the Malta Rugby Championship (MRC). The season runs from roughly October to May, matches are played on Saturdays, and clubs train on weekday evenings after work.
Because Malta is a small island with a large international community, rugby squads here are a real mix of Maltese players and players who have moved to the island for work or study. That makes it easy for newcomers to walk into a club and feel at home.
The rugby season in Malta
Three competitions, from October to May.
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Start of the season
MRC Ray Elliot Cup
The season opener, played in honour of Ray Elliot, one of Malta's first rugby coaches. It is contested by the winners of the league and the Prestige Cup.
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October to May
Malta Rugby Championship
The MRC league: two rounds that run the length of the season, with almost 15 games. Women's teams play in the MRC Women's League.
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End of the season
MRC Prestige Cup
A knockout cup, formerly the Knock-Out Cup. Lose a game and you are out, as every club battles for the last trophy of the season.
Fixtures and results are posted by the Malta Rugby Championship on Instagram.
Ways to play rugby in Malta
Whatever your age or experience, there is a way into rugby in Malta. Here is what Stompers Rugby Club offers.
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Men's rugby
The men's team plays fifteen-a-side rugby in the MRC league and cups. Training is on Tuesday and Thursday, 20:00–21:30, and new players of every level are welcome.
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Women's rugby
Women's rugby in Malta is growing, with the MRC Women's League. Stompers women train on Tuesday and Thursday evenings and won silverware in their very first full season.
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Youth rugby
Boys and girls aged 7 to 12 can join the Youth Academy, with coached sessions on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. No experience is needed.
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Complete beginners
Never played? The free beginners course for men and women aged 16+ starts non-contact and builds you up to joining a squad.
The Malta national rugby team
Malta's national rugby team is run by the MRFU and plays international rugby in Rugby Europe competitions. The union publishes squads, fixtures and results, so it is the best place to follow the national side.
- Malta Rugby Football Union: the governing body, national team news and fixtures
- MRFU on MaltaCVS: the union's official listing
- Rugby Europe: international competitions across the continent
- World Rugby: the sport's international governing body
Watching rugby in Malta
Come along on a Saturday. Everyone is welcome.
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Match day
MRC matches are played on Saturdays through the season. Watching Stompers is free, and the beers are always cold.
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After the game
The Stompers squad's social home is Tony's Bar on Triq Mikiel Ang Borg, San Ġiljan, one of the club's sponsors.
How to start playing rugby in Malta
Pick the route that fits you. Every one of them starts with free sessions.
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I've played before
Moving to Malta, or already here? Come and train with the squad. Playing rugby in Malta as an expat
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I'm new to rugby
Start with the free beginners course for men and women aged 16+.
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It's for my child
The Youth Academy is for boys and girls aged 7 to 12.
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I have a question
Send us a message and one of the coaches will get back to you. Contact Stompers
Rugby in Malta FAQ
Quick answers to the questions we hear most.
What rugby competitions are there in Malta?
The Malta Rugby Championship (MRC) runs the domestic competitions: the MRC league, which runs the length of the season, the MRC Ray Elliot Cup at the start of the season, the MRC Prestige Cup knockout at the end, and the MRC Women's League.
When is the rugby season in Malta?
The season runs from roughly October to May, with matches on Saturdays. Stompers Rugby Club trains on Tuesday and Thursday evenings in Birkirkara.
Who runs rugby in Malta?
The Malta Rugby Football Union (MRFU) is the governing body for rugby union in Malta. It oversees the domestic competitions and the national team, and Malta has been a member of World Rugby since 1988.
Can I play rugby in Malta if I'm not Maltese?
Yes. Expats are very welcome. At Stompers, players from France, Italy, South America and the UK train alongside Maltese players, and the club runs in English. See playing rugby in Malta as an expat.
Can women play rugby in Malta?
Yes. Women's rugby in Malta is growing, with the MRC Women's League. Stompers women train on Tuesday and Thursday evenings in Birkirkara and won the league's inaugural 2022/23 season.
Is there rugby for kids in Malta?
Yes. The Stompers Youth Academy is for boys and girls aged 7 to 12, with coached sessions on Tuesday and Thursday evenings in Birkirkara. No experience is needed.