The Malta national rugby union team are governed by the Malta Rugby Football Union (MRFU). Although Malta has yet to qualify for the Rugby World Cup, the island state has made remarkable progression since its first international in 2000.
It is currently competing in the Rugby Europe Conference, after topping the Conference 1 South for the past two seasons—2017 and 2018—yet failing to win the play-off to rise to the higher level. The national side is ranked 45th in the world (as of 13 April 2026).
History
Malta's national team played their first match on 18 November 2000, against Moldova in Chişinău, which Moldova won 58–8. They played a subsequent match against Belgium that same year in Marsa, which Belgium won 26–0. Malta played four matches in 2001, and they recorded their first win in the fourth of them, against Monaco in Marsa. This was followed by a draw 10–10 with Norway, defeating Lithuania, Austria, Luxembourg, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia-Montenegro, Latvia and Hungary. They then played Moldova in 2004.
Malta then proceeded to enter the 2007 Rugby World Cup European qualification tournament where they were grouped in Pool D of the second round. After finishing third in their pool with two wins from four pool games, Malta entered a play-off along with Denmark, Andorra and Sweden to enter round three. Malta were successful and entered Pool B of round three.
The team is currently ranked 43rd in the World Rugby world rankings. They are coached by South African Dr Phil Pretorius. Pretorius has led international and domestic teams including Tonga, Czech Republic and Blue Bulls.
Formerly they were coached by welshman Damian Neill, a former Number 8 in the Welsh Premiership with Aberavon RFC and Maesteg RFC.
Record
World Cup World Cup recordWorld Cup Qualification recordYearRound 1987Not InvitedNot Invited 1991did not enterdid not enter 1995did not enterdid not enter 1999did not enterdid not enter 2003did not qualify500527177 200710505139200 201142026670 2015410373104 2019531116197 2023Automatically eliminatedTotal0/90000002811116466648
European Competitions Season Division2001-02European Nations Cup Third Division Pool 3 3210 45 24 +21 8 1st2002-03European Nations Cup Third Division Pool B 4400 101 54 +47 12 1st2003-04European Nations Cup Third Division Pool A 4301 73 75 -2 10 2nd2006-08European Nations Cup Second Division 2B 8206 125 210 -85 12 4th2008-10European Nations Cup Second Division 2B 8404 132 156 -24 16 3rd2010-12European Nations Cup Second Division 2A 8404 146 135 +11 20 3rd2012-14European Nations Cup Second Division 2A 8404 162 179 -17 18 3rd2014-16European Nations Cup Second Division 2A 8305 153 181 -28 16 4th2016-17Rugby Europe Conference 1 South 4310 147 49 +98 17 1st2017-18Rugby Europe Conference 1 South 4400 221 48 +173 20 1st2018-19Rugby Europe Conference 1 South 4310 117 49 +68 16 1st2019-20Rugby Europe Conference 1 South 2101 58 32 +26 6 2nd2021-22Rugby Europe Conference 1 South 4301 69 40 +29 14 2nd2025-2026Rugby Europe Conference300121573191st (Promoted to Rugby Europe Trophy)
Overall
Below is a table of the representative rugby matches played by a Malta national XV at test level up until 26 September 2026, updated after match with .
Opponent Played Won Lost Drawn % Won 6 5 1 0 % 2 2 0 0 % 2 0 2 0 0% 3 3 0 0 % 3 2 1 0 % 15 5 8 2 % 9 8 1 0 % 3 0 3 0 0% 2 1 1 0 % 1 0 1 0 0% 3 2 1 0 % 1 1 0 0 % 8 7 1 0 % 7 5 2 0 % 7 4 3 0 % 1 1 0 0 % 2 0 2 0 0% 2 1 1 0 % 4 0 4 0 0% 1 0 0 1 0% 3 0 3 0 0% 3 2 1 0 % 4 3 1 0 % 4 3 1 0 % 5 2 3 0 % Total 99 56 40 3 %
Recent Matches Matches
Current squad The following players were included in the squad for the 2021–22 Rugby Europe Conference South 1 match against Israel on 13 November 2021.
Coaches Name Years Tests Won Lost DrewPhil Pretorius2025 - Present4400Dominic Busuttil20251010Keith Hopkins 2023–2024 3 3 0 0Damian Neill 2004–2023 73 38 33 2 Graham Richards 2002–2004 9 7 2 1 Nigal Ben Bennett 2001–2002 4 2 2 0 Len Ethel 2000–2001 3 0 3 0
See also List of Malta national rugby union team test matches Rugby union in Malta
References
https://www.rugbyeurope.eu/competitions/conference-1-south/slovenia-v-malta/ https://www.rugbyeurope.eu/competitions/conference-1-south/croatia-v-malta/
External links Malta Rugby Union official website Malta on rugbydata.com IRB rankings