Boost for Maltese Rugby League

Malta?s rugby league efforts have been boosted by generosity and support as DOM International renews a sponsorship deal that will see them through to the completion of 2006 and Maltagenealogy.com accepts a front of jersey rights deal for the upcoming historic first rugby league match in Malta.

DOM International; a freight and logistics company with offices in Malta and Australia extended their initial back of jersey rights following the original take up of the offer last August.

The Maltese Rugby League Association is confident that the deal will see DOM International as well as Maltagenealogy.com and Maltese rugby league through a number of progressions.

Terms of the latest sponsorship deal will see DOM International hold back-of-jersey rights to the Malta national team jersey for international and sevens matches outside of Malta as well as back of jersey rights to the national team jersey for Malta?s fixture against England in Malta in October.

The MRLA are currently in negotiations in having the Malta v England international aired on a major network on Malta?s free to air television that would in turn be a major incentive to the sponsor?s alignment with Malta?s national rugby league team.

Maltagenealogy.com?s Charles Said-Vassallo is looking forward to his partnership and support of Maltese rugby league.

?Very much so looking forward to this partnership. It?s a big step for Maltagenealogy.com?

?The sole benefit (for Maltagenealogy.com) is gaining a wider audience in Malta and other countries to my research? explains Said-Vassallo.

?(the) MRLA?s audience are the young and the older Maltese. This certainly helps to tap into all ages. Though the links are another aspect of Malta, heritage and genealogical research of the Maltese nobility and those of a landed past in Malta. Providing a certain niche to those to start looking at their past and glorification of their Maltese origins?

MRLA vice-president David Axisa concluded the announcement, in announcing ?I'm very excited at the fact that we've secured two Maltese linked sponsors for the first game ever on the Islands of Malta. Our Committee is a very dedicated group of individuals & it's fantastic to see that the Maltese business community has entrusted their faith in our association at such an infant stage of our development?

In other news:

The Board of the Maltese Rugby League Association (MRLA) recently had the distinguished honour of meeting with Malta?s opposition leader and leader of the Malta Labour Party (MLP); Dr Alfred Sant and his deputy, Dr Michael Falzon, thanks to MRLA Patron and President of the Australian Maltese Chamber of Commerce (AMCC), Chev. Syd Borg.

Representatives of the Malta Labour Party (MLP) and currently in Australia strengthening relations between Malta and Australia; where Malta?s rugby league governing body is currently based, Malta?s opposition leader Dr Alfred Sant talked of his confidence in the Maltese taking on the game of rugby league.

?Rugby League is played by hitting heads, and they do say Maltese people have hard heads?

?So rugby league will be the ideal recreational activity for the Maltese? Sant joked.

Rugby league will make its introduction to the Maltese people in the weeks surrounding Saturday October 22, when the Malta Knights host England Lionhearts at Marsa Stadium in Malta, historically the first ever game of rugby league on the island that boasts a diminutive population of less than four hundred thousand.

Possessing players of ex-NRL status as well as some of rugby league?s emerging stars, the expedition onto the isles of Malta will include publicity through many mediums as well as a coaching clinic on the Wednesday leading up to the October 22 fixture with a Sevens competition also in position.

The MRLA also met with Australia?s High Commissioner to Malta, HE Richard Palk who provided great assistance in securing Marsa Stadium, also known as the Matthew Micallef St John Athletic Stadium for the historic first ever rugby league match between Malta and England.

Australia?s high commissioner in Malta, Palk is also keenly anticipating rugby league?s arrival.

MRLA Chairman Michael Borg took the opportunity of meeting with such dignitaries in presenting the MLP leader Dr Alfred Sant, MLP deputy leader Dr Michael Falzon and HE Richard Palk with the trademark Malta rugby league jersey.

Related websites:

www.malteserugbyleague.com

www.mlp.org.mt