A new season is approaching, and pre-season is in full-swing as both the UM Wolves RFC Men’s Team and Women’s Team put in the hard work to retain their respective league titles.
The University of Malta-affiliated club is coming off the back of an historic season: the Men’s Team had a full unbeaten season on the way to a dominant league title and victory in the MRFU Prestige Cup – making it a domestic double and a first set of men’s trophies in the club’s history.
The Women’s Team meanwhile had to wait until the final outcome of last season’s league championship was known, but the wait was worth it as they were confirmed as champions for the second season running.
This means that UM Wolves RFC won every competition that it participated in during the 2024/25 season.
While this wrote a new page in the club’s short history, it has also set a high bar for the 2025/26 season which will get underway in a month’s time.
Both teams have been training hard since July, and with September now in full-swing, they have plenty to look forward to as the pre-season preparations reach their peak.
This weekend, first and foremost, the UM Wolves RFC Women’s Team will be travelling to Lithuania in order to participate in a Rugby Sevens tournament over there. A 15-strong contingent, including staff, will be making the trip to the Baltics to face several teams in a tournament which will be played on Sunday 14 September.
Speaking about the tournament, the Women’s Team captain Raisa Farrugia said: “We’re looking forward to representing UM Wolves at the upcoming tournament in Lithuania. This tournament is not just about competition, but about bringing us together as one team.”
The team has recruited well over the summer, with several new faces joining the greater squad. A couple of those new faces will be in the travelling contingent to Lithuania.
“This is about welcoming new players, strengthening our bonds, and preparing ourselves for the season ahead. I’m truly grateful to my teammates for their hard work, dedication, and commitment, and to UM Wolves for giving us this amazing opportunity,” Raisa said.
Meanwhile, the Men’s Team will have two appointments to look forward to during the month of September.
The first is the annual traditional Gozo Training Camp, where 30 players have been selected for an intense weekend of training and teambuilding on the sister island.
“The Gozo Training Camp is always a staple of our preseason. After weeks of hard work, it’s the perfect way to bring the squad together, strengthen our bond, and make sure our skills and strategies are sharp heading into the season,” Men’s Team captain Gabriel Seychell said on the upcoming training camp.
The Men’s Team will then travel to Sicily on Saturday 27 September in order to play in a pre-season friendly match against CUS Catania.
CUS Catania are Sicily’s highest ranked rugby club, having finished in 3rd place in their regional Serie B group last season, and are affiliated with the Università degli Studi di Catania, making the fixture extra special as it will be the first time that UM Wolves RFC meets a team from another University on the pitch.
A 27-strong contingent, including staff, will travel to Sicily with the support of VisitMalta in order to participate in what will be the team’s only friendly before the much-awaited season curtain raiser – the Ray Elliot Cup.
“The upcoming preseason clash against CUS Catania will provide a valuable opportunity for the squad to gain essential game time and prepare for the season ahead. The fixture will allow the team to focus on key areas of their game, sharpen their performance, and address any mistakes in a competitive setting. Facing a side of CUS Catania’s calibre will offer both a strong challenge and a clear benchmark for what the Wolves aim to achieve this year,” Keenan Kleinsmith, head coach of the UM Wolves RFC Men’s Team, said on the fixture.
“The match will also give players the chance to shake off any preseason rust and ease back into match rhythm. Beyond rugby, the encounter will be significant in building a new connection with CUS Catania, opening the door for future preseason fixtures and strengthening ties between the clubs,” he said.
“It will be an exciting opportunity to see how the Wolves match up against tough opposition from Sicily,” he concluded.
Speaking about the month ahead and the work that has gone on in pre-season, UM Wolves RFC President Albert Galea said that he was satisfied with what he has seen from both squads so far.
“The buy-in from the players – both those who have been around for a few seasons now and those who have just joined up this summer – has been really good, and our sessions frequently number 50 to 60 players when taking into consideration both the Men’s and Women’s teams,” Galea said.
He said that the opportunity for both squads to test themselves abroad this month will be a crucial part of preparations for the coming season.
“Maintenance works down at Marsa over summer meant that we had to think a little bit outside of the box in how we can get some game time for both our squads, and I’m incredibly proud of and grateful for the team of people who have organised the upcoming matches and experiences that our players are going to partake in. We cannot wait for the new season to begin and for rugby to return,” Galea concluded.
