The Malta Rugby League (MRL) has named a 36-man train on squad for the 2010 European Bowl.

The Rugby League European Federation (RLEF), on Monday, announced Malta’s entry into European competition meeting Norway on June 4 in Malta.

Malta coach Anthony Micallef, covering for head coach Joe Grima - busy with Sharks commitments in Australia, has named some surprise selections in the squad that include 18-year-old Parramatta Eels centre Charlie Bonanno and Michael Vella the skipper of Super League club Hull KR.

The Knights have been through an injury crisis recently, with Daryl Psaila and Roderick Attard ruled out with season-ending injuries but Micallef has still named a squad that sees 19 Maltese based players including some new additions.

Clayton Cassar, Joss Howland, Graham Attard, Jonathan Bonnici and Dario Schembri are all new faces from the MRL Championship.

Ex NRL halfback Luke Branighan will hope to return to Malta for his third national team outing while Toulouse back-rower Pierre Camilleri becomes the first French based player to be considered for the Maltese team.

Malta caretaker coach Anthony Micallef said “The squad is a sure sounding out of players the MRL has in its sights for the competition”

“We’re well aware a number of these players will not be able to play due to their club commitments and on the other hand, there is a number of new faces in the squad that will be pushing for selection”

“Domestically, national team training commenced the other week and the train-on squad is certainly not to say that a number of other players won’t come into contention between now and match day on June 4”

Micallef added that the Maltese players have high expectations for the European Bowl.

“We’re giving the European Bowl all the respect it deserves, however rightly so, Malta will hold high expectations for the competition. In the same breath however this will be a learning curve for many players who may become a prominent member of our squad over the coming years”

“We have a squad that boasts enough wise heads, along with an exciting mix of youth. And we’re looking to get the services of a couple of overseas based players also”

There are in all 15 potential debutants brought to the Malta fold whilst Welsh based Paul Bartlett and English based Paul Borg and Chris Parker are also named.

With Malta based players already in training (pictured above), the Malta Knights train-on squad is as follows.

MALTA KNIGHTS 36-MAN-SQUAD