The Malta XIII last played on 15 October 2011 v Leeds Akkies at Melita FC, Pembroke, losing 30-10.
The team was:

MALTA KNIGHTS
Calvin Briffa
Sammy Kawara
Charles Sala
Anthony Basacomas
Joey Criminale
Malcolm Attard
Darren Edmunds
Gary Hili
Justin Barlogio
Clifford Debattista
Graham Kombo
Liam Grima
Dom Grima
Subs:
Joe Paolella
Malcolm Lungaro-Mifsud
Kevin Buttigieg
Mark Portelli
Coach: Mr Anthony Micallef
Physio: Mr Steve Cilia

MALTA KNIGHTS APPEARANCES

MALTA XIII APPEARANCES

MALTA KNIGHTS NATIONAL TEAM COACHING APPOINTMENTS

Mr Joseph Grima is the head coach of the Malta Rugby League (MRL) and has held this position since 2004. Mr Tony Farr and Mr Anthony Micallef have both held caretaker appointments as head coach of the national team in Mr Joseph Grima's absence in 2007 and from 2009 to 2011.

MALTA KNIGHTS NATIONAL TEAM CAPTAINCY APPOINTMENTS

Dallas Weston played professional rugby league for the Parramatta Eels and North Sydney Bears in Australia. Weston also represented NSW City in 1993. Weston captained the Malta Knights in their first ever match at Melita Stadium in Sydney in 2004.

A long term bicep injury in his debut as captain then limited his ability to represent the national team until his return to the national team for one appearance when Malta took on Lebanon in 2006.

Ben Sammut played professional rugby league for the Sharks in Australia and the Gateshead Thunder and Hull FC in England's Super League. Sammut captained Malta in their first ever rugby league international on Maltese soil in 2005 and is the longest serving (2004 to 2008) captain of the Malta Knights.

Found at fullback in his junior days, Sammut moved into the halves for Malta and decided to call it a day in rugby league with retirement at Floriana Stadium when Malta overcame the British Defence Forces 34 to 24 in 2007.

Ben is the longest serving captain of the Malta national team with 10 appearances, nine as captain.

Daniel Grima (D.O.B. 31-8-1974), from St Paul's Bay, was the first ever Maltese based captain of the Malta national rugby league team, debuting as skipper in 2009 and leading the Malta Knights into official European competition against Norway in 2010.

Daniel was introduced to rugby league late in his rugby career and made his national team debut in 2007, aged 33, against the British Defence Forces at Floriana Stadium, Floriana.

Daniel is a dual rugby international having previously played for Malta's national rugby union team. Daniel still plays rugby union and has spent all but one season (Valletta Lions RFC) with Kavallieri RFC.

Within the Malta Rugby League Championship, Grima plys his trade for the North. Daniel has also been very active in MRL initiatives such as Wheelchair Rugby League, Tag Rugby League and as a matchday volunteer.

Daniel retired formally before the 2011 European Shield, later surprising everyone with an appearance for the depleted Malta team against Norway in Malta's home fixture of the 2011 European Shield after a last ditch attempt for him to play by Malta coach Anthony Micallef.

Chris Parker (D.O.B. 5-12-1982), was appointed captain of the Malta national rugby league team ahead of the 2011 European Shield clash against Germany in Hochspeyer. Previously, Parker had served as vice-captain for three matches.

The semi-pro plays prop forward and is the second Maltese national captain to have played at the Gateshead Thunder club following Ben Sammut who skippered Malta from 2004-2008.

The 29-year-old was awarded the Ray Morris Medal for Maltese Rugby League Player of the Year for 2009-2010. Further to the RFL-North East’s relationship with the MRL, Parker was referred to the MRL by former Malta international and ex Gateshead Thunder team mate Luke Branighan.

In October 2011, Parker commenced the formation of the Maltese Exiles, a programme designed to locate Maltese eligible players playing across the UK.

Chris' wikipedia page can be found by clicking here.

Statistics are compiled for the Malta Rugby League (MRL) by Mr Anthony Axiak.

Head Coach – Joe Grima (pictured right)
An ARL Level 3 High Performance Coach, Joe Grima is a founding director of the Malta Rugby League (MRL) and has been Malta's head coach since 2004.

A life member at the Parramatta Eels, Grima is NRL Assistant Coach at Australian NRL club - the Sharks. Joe has held head coaching roles at every level up to NYC U20's and held the post of Sharks Recruitment Officer from 2008 to 2010.

Assistant Coach – Tony Farr
Tony Farr has been Assistant Coach to Joe Grima since 2004.

Tony Farr led the 2007 Malta Knights Development Tour from Australia to Malta in Malta head coach Joe Grima’s absence - giving 11 domestic players their national team call up.

Caretaker Coach - Anthony Micallef
Anthony Micallef, based in Malta, has been the caretaker coach of the Malta Knights for five fixtures, against Bamber Bridge ARLFC (2009); Norway and Lancashire (2010); Germany and Norway (2011). Micallef is a RLEF Level 2 coach and RLEF Level 1 Tutor

Micallef, a Maltese-Australian, experienced much success coaching at junior level in the Penrith District Junior Rugby League in Australia with the St Marys club.

Malta National Team Medical Trainer (Australia)
Mr Joe Clews

Malta National Team Trainers (Australia)
Mr Peter Cassar
Mr Peter Curmi
Mr Ryan Cosgrove
Ms Ashley Clews

Malta National Team Doctor (Australia)
Dr Louis Shidiak

Malta National Team Medical Trainer/Physiotherapist (Malta)
Mr Steven Cilia

Malta National Team Trainers (Malta)
Mr Chris Sammut
Mr Roy Newbould

MRL Coaching Department (Malta)
Mr Roderick Attard (RLEF Level 2 Coach)
Mr Clifford Debattista (RLEF Level 2 Coach)
Mr Anthony Micallef (RLEF Level 2 Coach)

MRL Match Officials Department (Malta)
Ms Nadia Gosney (RLEF Match Officials Tutor)
Mr Anthony Micallef (RLEF Match Officials Tutor)

Malta Wheelchair Rugby League Head Coach
Mr Anthony Micallef (RLEF Level 2 Coach)

Malta Womens Rugby League Head Coach
Mr Joss Howland

Gozo Head Coach
Mr Clifford Debattista

Note: The appointments of head coach for the Malta Wheelchair and Malta Womens rugby league teams are made by the MRL and as fixtures are sporadic in nature, the head coach will appoint assisting staff he/she sees fit for the respective fixtures.

Board of Directors
The Malta Rugby League (MRL) is directed by a voluntary Board of Directors based internationally across Malta, Australia and the United Kingdom.

Governing Council – Australia
In Australia, the MRL is also assisted by the MRL Governing Council.

The Governing Council is charged with looking after the following sectors of the MRL;

- Events
- National Team
- Merchandising
- Miss Malta Knight Pageant
- Playing Squad
- Sponsorship

Maltese Exiles - United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom, the Maltese Exiles are managed by Malta's Gateshead based national team captain Chris Parker.

The Exiles may participate in fixtures and competitions across the UK. The aim of the Exiles is to promote Maltese Rugby League and to locate Maltese eligible players playing across UK competitions.

The Exiles' webpage can be found by clicking here or going to http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/malteseexiles/.

Governing Council – Malta
In Malta, the MRL is also assisted by the MRL Governing Council.

The Governing Council is charged with looking after the following sectors of the MRL’s Malta based operations;

- Match Day
- Events
- General Duties

RLEF Malta Development Officer - Malta
In Malta, through the Rugby League European Federation (RLEF), a Malta Development Officer - Anthony Micallef, is also based.

If you would like to enquire about how to become involved with the Malta Rugby League in Malta, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it