The Malta Rugby League (MRL) and Time International (Sports) Ltd. ,through its franchise Urban Jungle, have announced a three year deal that sees the sportswear supplier become the national team's official technical partner until the end of 2014.

National team players paraded the new Nike kit design at Tigne today as officials announced the team would take on Denmark at home this summer.

Maltese coach Roderick Attard is in Dublin to complete his Level 2 RLEF Coach Certificate this week.

The Maltese born and bred former Gateshead Thunder player completed phase one of the three phase course at London’s Brunel University last year and will take the number of level two coaches in Malta to three.

Gozo will host its first official rugby fixture when Calderdale College visit from England this February.

The Gozitans, who debuted in the MRL Championship in 2011, will field their open age side against the Calderdale College U19’s from West Yorkshire in England’s north.

Player-coach Clifford Debattista agreed to the fixture in Gozo along with Gozo RL secretary Eman Borg who confirmed the match was locked in to the club's calendar.

Gozo RL made their debut in the MRL Championship last season and secretary Eman Borg is excited at the idea of the club hosting a rugby league international friendly at home.

English bookmakers have labelled Australia as 1/4-on favourites to win the 2013 Rugby League World Cup.

The odds released this week suggest that only New Zealand and England are any hope of defeating the Kangaroos to the game's ultimate crown.

The Cook Islands have been labelled as the rank outsiders at 250/1 and the quartet of Pacific Island nations Samoa, Fiji, Tonga and Papua New Guinea have been tagged with Italy at 66/1.