2004
The Malta Rugby League (MRL) was formed as the Maltese Rugby League Association (MRLA) on the 1st of April 2004 at Strathfield's Russian Club in Sydney, Australia.

The founding directors were;
Mr George Tonna (President)
Mr Michael Borg (Secretary)
Mr Matthew Smith (Treasurer)
Mr Joe Grima (Board Member)
Mr Anthony Micallef (Board Member)

The MRLA Board of Directors implemented the mission statement, ‘to promote and develop Rugby League within the Maltese community’ and registered the MRLA with the appropriate Australian authorities.

Along with an eye catching logo featuring the a Maltese Knight which would become the moniker of the national team, the MRLA selected to play in a red and white jersey that boasted a recognisable Maltese cross emblazoned across it.

A website was designed and maintained by Mr Steve Birchall from the Australian Rugby League (ARL). The website would serve as the online home of Maltese Rugby League and would keep the many supporters across Australia's Maltese community abreast of the developments of arguably one of the tiniest rugby league nations.

Mr Mark Sultana and Mr David Axisa joined the MRL Board of Directors shortly before Malta’s inaugural fixture against the British Defence Forces in September 2004 at Melita Stadium, Sydney. Malta would go on to win its inaugural fixture 78-0.

Paul Galea and Rohan Spiteri (pictured above right) were among the Malta Knights’ pioneering players; Paul, from Wollongong, scored five tries on debut.

Malta’s debut captain was ex Parramatta Eel Dallas Weston. Weston suffered a long term injury in the match and the national team captaincy was then handed to ex Cronulla Shark Ben Sammut.

The MRLA introduced Chev. Sydney JP Borg as its inaugural Patron, along with Mr Mario Fenech and Ms Candice Falzon as ambassadors of the MRLA.

The MRLA’s founding sponsor was Penrith Subaru, later to be taken over by Camsons Pty Ltd.

2005
In 2005, the same year as Malta’s inaugural participation in Sevens Rugby League by way of the Orara Valley Sevens, the MRLA staged the first ever game of Rugby League on Maltese soil with a friendly international against the England Lionhearts at Marsa’s Matthew Micallef St John Athletic Stadium.

Malta head coach Joe Grima named Qormi Sharks RFC prop Robert Bonavia, who would be selected as the fourth reserve and played a notable part in the match as well as becoming the first Maltese born and bred player to represent the Malta Knights. Bonavia played 25 minutes on a warm afternoon, most of the crowd cheering on the pioneer in an unknown code of rugby to the delight of local media.

The Malta Knights, whose squad was made up of Australian-Maltese players and officials, won 36-6 with a crowd of 500 people in attendance and Super League referee Mr Ashley Klein; later a referee in the NRL, was appointed as referee for the historic fixture. Klein dismissed two players (Daniel Spiteri - Malta and Brendan Lewis - England) within the opening 90 seconds of play for their part in an all-in brawl.

2006
In 2006, the MRLA appointed a committee in Malta known as the Kumitat Nazzjonali ta Rugby League f’Malta (KNRLM) to oversee rugby league activity on the Maltese Islands.

The founding members of the KNRLM were;
Mr Nikki Vella
Mr John Micallef Moreno
Mr Andrew Zammit Manduca
Mr Simon Sullivan

2007
In 2007, Maltese Rugby League was represented for the first time at a Rugby League European Federation (RLEF) assembly and was later granted Official Observer status to the European governing body.

In the late summer of 2007, a second touring party of Australian-Maltese would see the staging of both a Nines rugby league tournament and a friendly international against the touring British Defence Forces.

The Maltese All-Stars won the Nines tournament and then, under the direction of caretaker coach Tony Farr, Penrith Panthers star Jarrod Sammut would score the winning try for a Maltese team whose majority of players hailed from the Mediterranean island itself, against the British Defence Forces.

2008
In 2008, the Rugby League European Federation (RLEF) in collaboration with the Maltese Rugby League Association (MRLA), appointed Mr Anthony Micallef, an Australian-Maltese, as the chief operating officer for rugby league on the Maltese Islands.

The MRLA and KNRLM would amalgamate and be from then on represented as the Malta Rugby League (MRL).

2009
In 2009, the MRL hosted its first incoming tour by way of the Scotland U18s and Gateshead U18s. The teams held a training camp in Malta before a friendly international against the Malta XIII.

2009 was a year of many firsts; the MRL set up a local bank account and achieved recognition by the Maltese Government through the Kunsill Malti ghall is-Sport (KMS).

In October 2009, the Malta Knights, under the direction of caretaker national team coach Anthony Micallef, defeated Bamber Bridge 36 to 28 at Hamrun's Victor Tedesco Stadium. The win labelled a new home for Maltese Rugby League and marked the beginning of an era that would see the progression of Maltese domestic players into the national team at a greater rate. 

To cap off a memorable year the MRL opened a portfolio of Official Partners that included Code13 Sports Media as its Official Web Partner.

2010
Another year of achievements, 2010 saw the South RL win the MRL Championship over the North RL in a two-team competition. In developments with the Inspire organisation, the MRL introduced Wheelchair Rugby League and the 'Knights' won the inaugural four team championship.

2011-2012
Gozo Rugby League became a foundation club of the MRL when they entered the MRL Championship. The Gozitans failed to win a match in their inaugural season but earned the respect of the Maltese rugby community. The summer competition, compounded by a hot Mediterrean summer, proved a failure in the eyes of MRL chief Anthony Micallef as Maltese teams; South RL and North RL, merged to form Malta Origin. Malta Origin won the MRL Championship in again a two-team competition.

The MRL partnered with Malta Tag Rugby to introduce tag rugby at adult level and three teams from England, Scotland and France featured in the island's first Malta International Tag Rugby Festival - later won by London's Try Tag Rugby All-Stars.

The MRL expanded its corporate portfolio when it announced major signings with Nike and Urban Jungle as the MRL's Official Kit Partner for three years (2012-2014) and Dove Men+Care as the MRL's Official Major Sponsor for 2012; this, in addition to Papier Plus Studio as the Official Print Partner of the MRL.

In May 2012, the MRL Championship will expand to four teams that will play out of Balzan FC over four match days before a home and away series against Denmark (June 9 at Hamrun, Sept 29 at Copenhagen).