World Cup 2007 Qualifying Round Two
Malta squad to train in UK ahead of Swiss challenge
Malta's national rugby squad will have a short training camp in England in preparation for their upcoming away qualifying match against Switzerland on October 16.
A statement from the Malta Rugby Football Union (MRFU) said the unavailability of the pitch at Marsa prompted them to make alternative training arrangements for the national team.
"Considering the importance of this match and, at the added expense to the union, the squad will now be training and preparing in the UK," the statement said.
The Bath Rugby Football Club, UK, and Danny Sacco were instrumental in offering their help regarding training facilities and arrangements, the statement added.
The Maltese squad, under the temporary charge of coaches Adam Magro and Bob Watts, will be meeting and training in Bath from next Monday till Thursday before flying out to Geneva to take on the Swiss. The Maltese contingent is due to return home on Sunday, October 17.
Between October 17 and the team's next assignment at home against Poland on November 6, new national rugby coach Damian Neill is planning to holding two training sessions weekly for the national squad and the Malta A team players, presuming that the pitch will be available.
Neill will also be coaching Malta's Under-17 squad in preparation for their international training camp with Monaco and Israel due to be held between October 29 and November 1.
Malta's qualifiers this year: October 16, away vs Switzerland; November 6, home vs Poland.
Stand-in coaches Magro and Watts have called the following 22-man squad: Christoffel Diamantino; Steve Cuschieri Haycock; Dominic St George; Daniel Grima; Christian Vassallo; Tom Armeni Webb; Michael Bonavia; Jason Camenzuli Rammage; Matthew Mirabelli;
Kyle Grima Mason; Martin Cuschieri; Steve Camilleri Kempster; Steve Rota Worthington; John Caruana Dimond; Tom Buttigieg Watts; Adam Magro; Mark Cuschieri; Nick Portelli Warren; Joe Sultana; Rohan Spiteri; Dean Zammit; Charles Von Moll.
The Maltese contingent will also include team manager, Mike Beerman, Steve Cilia, the team's physiotherapist, MRFU officials Pierre Mangion and Pierre Azzopardi and Neill, development officer and national team coach designate.