Rugby league is a major team sport emerging in Malta. The Maltese Rugby League Association is designed to help develop a platform for taking the game of rugby league to the nation of Malta. The Malta national rugby league team played their inaugural match on home soil playing the England Lionhearts in October 2005.
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The Maltese Rugby League Association (MRLA) was formed in April 2004 at the Russian Club in Strathfield, Australia.
Malta made their international debut on 25 September 2004 when they defeated British Defence Forces at Melita Stadium, Sydney, Australia.
Malta's first rugby league international played on home soil was on Saturday October 2005 against England Lionhearts at Marsa Sports Complex, Marsa.
The first domestic rugby league match in Malta was on Saturday 13 October 2007 between San Giljan Dragons and Birkirkara Warriors at Floriana Stadium. (Match played in nines format).
The Malta Rugby League (MRL) is the official governing body of rugby league in Malta. The MRL is an official observer of the Rugby League European Federation (RLEF) and recognised by the Rugby League International Federation (RLIF). The MRL is also a member of the Kunsill Malti ghall-iSport (KMS) - the national organisation responsible for supporting, developing and promoting sport throughout Malta and Gozo.
In October 2007, the first domestic rugby league competition, the Malta Rugby League Nines was contested with fixtures at Floriana Stadium, Floriana. Participating teams were the San Giljan Dragons, Mosta Titans, Sliema Broncos, Qormi Sharks, Birkirkara Warriors and the Siggiewi Storm along with the British Royal Logistics Corps. A Malta selection were crowned champions after defeating the Royal Logistics Corps in the final.
Between 2009 and 2010, the MRL Championship took place with four games played between "North" and "South". There is also a Wheelchair rugby league championship and an MRL Academy.
Malta's national rugby league team fixtures are aired on Maltese television whilst print and online media are also strong followers of the MRL's developments on the islands.
The match against England Lionhearts was partly the catalyst for continued rugby league development on the Maltese Islands and has helped set up a domestic competition within Malta.
A crowd of approximately 750 were in attendance for the first ever rugby league match in Malta played at Matthew Micallef St John Athletic Stadium, Marsa.
The Malta national rugby league team is made up of Malta eligible rugby league players from Malta, England and Australia. The team is nicknamed the Knights.
Malta XIII is a national representative team for the Republic of Malta. Players must satisfy international eligibility criteria or be a resident of Malta or Gozo. Eligible players of Malta XIII can be selected for Malta Knights.
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