Malta and Denmark will meet in the Dove Men+Care International Series this summer with the Danes travelling to Malta next month for the first of the two match series.

Malta will open the series with a home international on June 9 at Hamrun’s Victor Tedesco Stadium, the Danes hosting the Maltese, ranked 20th in the international rankings, in the return leg on September 29.

The teams hold a somewhat similar record on the European circuit, both accounting for Norway within the last 12 months and both nations fighting for valuable international ranking points.

Denmark Rugby League Federation President Rune T. Nordvang said there is excitement surrounding his Danish Lions at taking on their opponents on Maltese soil.

“The Danish players are looking much forward to this series. The match in Malta will be the first ever game the Danish Lions play as a national team for world ranking points. The previous games have taken the players up a steep learning curve and they look forward to take on Malta”

“They know they'll have to raise their game but that is what they have been doing so far and I've seen them at the national gatherings - they are not prepared to lie down without a fight” said Nordvang.

Malta vice-captain Clifford Debattista is just as excited about the series, also from a personal viewpoint.

"It's going to be a good series. We've heard good things about the Danes and no doubt they will as give as good as they get" said Debattista.

“I made my national team debut two years ago in the European Bowl, it's a memory I'll never forget. Being involved in another set of fixtures at this level again, there might be another player that will go through the same motions, but we've (Malta) come a long way since then”

In the RLEF European Shield this year, Serbia will host Italy also on June 9 after being first start losers to Germany two weekends ago.

Pre-sale tickets will go on sale next week. More information available at www.malteserugbyleague.com

2012-05-23, 10:47