Malta national rugby league team
| ||||||
| Team information | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname | Kavallieri (The Knights) | |||||
| Governing body | Maltese Rugby League Association | |||||
| Region | Europe | |||||
| Head coach | Aaron McDonald ('A' Team) | |||||
| Captain | Tyler Cassel | |||||
| Most caps | Jarrod Sammut (16) | |||||
| Home stadium | Charles Abela Memorial Stadium | |||||
| IRL ranking | 16th | |||||
| Uniforms | ||||||
| ||||||
| Team results | ||||||
| First game | ||||||
 Malta 78-0 British Defence Forces  (25 September 2004) | ||||||
| Biggest win | ||||||
Malta 82–0 Japan  (25 January 2007, Coffs Harbour, Australia) | ||||||
| Biggest defeat | ||||||
Malta 0-62 Lancashire Amateurs  (17 October 2010, Ħamrun, Malta) | ||||||
| World Cup | ||||||
| Appearances | 0 | |||||
The Malta national rugby league team (nicknamed the Knights) represent Malta in international rugby league football competitions. They have been competing since 2004.
List of Head Coaches
[edit]- Joey Grima 2005-06 (5 matches, 3 wins, 2 losses)
- Tony Farr 2007 (1 match)
- Anthony Micallef 2008-2015 (12 matches, 7 wins, 5 losses)
- Peter Cassar 2017 (1 match, 0 wins, 1 draw, 0 losses)
- Aaron McDonald 2017- (12 matches, 9 wins, 3 losses)
- Sam Blyton-Keep 2017-2018 (3 matches, 0 wins, 3 losses)
- James Camilleri 2018 (1 match, 0 wins, 1 loss)
- Roderick Attard 2021- (3 matches, 1 win, 2 losses)
Competitive record
[edit]Below is table of the official representative rugby league matches played by Malta at test level up until 30 October 2024:
| Team | First Played | Played | Win | Draw | Loss | Points For | Points Against | Last Meeting |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Belgium |
2015 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 34 | 2015 |
 Bulgaria |
2022 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 50 | 6 | 2022 |
 Chile |
2023 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 22 | 2023 |
 Czech Republic |
2014 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 50 | 48 | 2021 |
 Denmark |
2012 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 98 | 24 | 2012 |
 Germany |
2011 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 36 | 2011 |
 Greece |
2014 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 52 | 92 | 2018 |
 Hungary |
2017 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 108 | 26 | 2018 |
 Ireland |
2015 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 32 | 92 | 2016 |
 Italy |
2017 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 101 | 82 | 2024 |
| Japan |
2007 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 82 | 0 | 2007 |
 Lebanon |
2017 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 54 | 22 | 2022 |
 Montenegro |
2022 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100 | 16 | 2023 |
 Niue |
2018 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 40 | 42 | 2018 |
 North Macedonia |
2024 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 18 | 2023 |
 Norway |
2010 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 94 | 44 | 2011 |
 Philippines |
2017 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 172 | 116 | 2024 |
 South Africa |
2018 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 24 | 30 | 2018 |
 Spain |
2015 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 30 | 40 | 2015 |
 Turkey |
2019 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 40 | 48 | 2021 |
 Ukraine |
2018 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 22 | 34 | 2018 |
| Total | 41 | 25 | 1 | 15 | 1312 | 864 |
Results
[edit]| Date | Score[a] | Opponent | Competition | Venue | Report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 January 2007 | 82–0 | Japan |
Friendly | Coff's Harbour, Australia | |
| 4 June 2010 | 30–20 | Norway |
2010 Euro C | Victor Tedesco Stadium, Ħamrun, Malta | [1] |
| 17 October 2010 | 0–62 | Lancashire Amateurs |
Friendly | Victor Tedesco Stadium, Ħamrun, Malta | |
| 23 July 2011 | 12–36 | Germany |
2011 Euro B | Hochspeyer, Kaiserslautern, Germany | [2] |
| 2 September 2011 | 64–24 | Norway |
Melita FC, Pembroke, Malta | [3] | |
| 9 June 2012 | 24–12 | Denmark |
Friendly | Victor Tedesco Stadium, Ħamrun, Malta | [4] |
| 29 September 2012 | 74–12 | Denmark |
Friendly | Gentofte Stadium, Copenhagen, Denmark | [5] |
| 28 June 2014 | 18–32 | Greece |
2014 Euro C | Melita FC, Pembroke, Malta | [6] |
| 12 July 2014 | 34–8 | Czech Republic |
Tis RL, Havlichkuv Brod, Czech Republic | [7] | |
| 3 May 2015 | 16–38 | Lebanon |
Phoenicia Cup | Penarth, Australia | [8] |
| 21 June 2015 | 35–34 | Belgium |
Friendly | Headingley Carnegie Stadium, Leeds, England | [9] |
| 5 September 2015 | 22–34 | Ireland |
Friendly | Melita FC Stadium, Pembroke, Malta | [10] |
| 27 September 2015 | 30–40 | Spain |
2015 Euro C | Polideportivo Cuatre Carreres Stadium, Valencia, Spain | [11] |
| 10 October 2015 | 30–0 | Greece |
Matthew Micallef St. John Athletics Stadium, Marsa, Malta | [12] | |
| 8 October 2016 | 10–58 | Ireland |
Friendly | Carlisle Grounds, Bray, Ireland | [13] |
| 4 February 2017 | 44–26 | Philippines |
Friendly | New Era Stadium, Sydney, Australia | [14] |
| 6 May 2017 | 8–24 | Lebanon |
Phoenicia Cup | New Era Stadium, Sydney, Australia | [15] |
| 8 October 2017 | 24–24 | Italy |
Friendly | Marconi Stadium, Sydney, Australia | [16] |
| 14 October 2017 | 48–16 | Hungary |
Friendly | New Era Stadium, Sydney, Australia | [17] |
| 18 February 2018 | 40–0 | Hungary |
Friendly | St. Mary's Stadium, St. Mary's, Australia | [18] |
| 23 June 2018 | 24–30 | South Africa |
Friendly | St. Mary's Stadium, St. Mary's, Australia | [19] |
| 30 June 2018 | 22–34 | Ukraine |
2018 Euro C | Matthew Micallef St. John Athletics Stadium, Marsa, Malta | [20] |
| 15 September 2018 | 4–60 | Greece |
Glyka Stadium, Athens, Greece | [21] | |
| 1 October 2018 | 36–10 | Philippines |
2018 ENWC | Windsor Sporting Complex, Windsor, Australia | [22] |
| 4 October 2018 | 16–26 | Niue |
St. Mary's Stadium, St. Mary's, Australia | [23] | |
| 10 October 2018 | 20–10 | Hungary |
New Era Stadium, Sydney, Australia | [24] | |
| 13 October 2018 | 24–16 | Niue |
St. Mary's Stadium, St. Mary's, Australia | [25] | |
| 12 October 2019 | 23–20 | Italy |
Friendly | Kirkham Oval, Sydney, Australia | |
| 26 October 2019 | 28–12 | Turkey |
Friendly | New Era Stadium, Sydney, Australia | |
| 23 November 2019 | 16–34 |  Wales A |
Friendly | Brewery Field, Bridgend, Wales | [26] |
| 14 October 2021 | 16–40 | Czech Republic |
2021 Euro D | Huseyin AkarTesisleri Stadium, Bodrum, Türkiye | [27] |
| 17 October 2021 | 12–36 | Turkey |
Huseyin Akar Tesisleri Stadium, Bodrum, Türkiye | [28] | |
| 14 May 2022 | 66–6 | Montenegro |
Medieval Shield | Charles Abela Memorial Stadium, Mosta, Malta | [29] |
| 22 June 2022 | 14–30 | Lebanon |
Friendly | Belmore Oval, Belmore, Australia | [30] |
| 8 October 2022 | 50–6 | Bulgaria |
Friendly | Lokomotiv Sofia, Bulgaria | [31] |
| 23 October 2022 | 22–32 | Philippines |
Friendship Cup | New Era Stadium, Sydney, Australia | [32] |
| 16 September 2023 | 34–10 | Montenegro |
Medieval Shield | FK Arsenal Stadium, Tivat, Montenegro | [33] |
| 23 September 2023 | 78–0 | Bulgaria |
Friendly | Marsa Sports Complex, Marsa, Malta | [34] |
| 7 October 2023 | 12–38 | Italy |
Friendly | Lidcombe Oval, Sydney, Australia | [35] |
| 21 October 2023 | 30–22 | Chile |
Friendly | Forshaw Rugby Park, Sydney, Australia | [36] |
| 28 October 2023 | 46–22 | Philippines |
Friendship Cup | New Era Stadium, Sydney, Australia | [37] |
| 18 February 2024 | 22–18 | North Macedonia |
Friendly | Forshaw Rugby Park, Sydney, Australia | [38] |
| 28 September 2024 | 42–0 | Italy |
Friendly | A.S.D. Juvenilia, Bagnaria Arsa, Italy | [39] |
IRL Rankings
[edit]| Official rankings as of November 2025 | |||
| Rank | Change | Team | Pts % |
| 1 |  |
 Australia |
100 |
| 2 | |
 New Zealand |
79 |
| 3 | |
 England |
72 |
| 4 |  1 |
 Samoa |
56 |
| 5 |  1 |
 Tonga |
52 |
| 6 | |
 Papua New Guinea |
45 |
| 7 | |
 Fiji |
33 |
| 8 | |
 France |
23 |
| 9 | 1 |
 Cook Islands |
23 |
| 10 | 1 |
 Serbia |
23 |
| 11 | 2 |
 Netherlands |
22 |
| 12 | 3 |
Ukraine |
20 |
| 13 | 1 |
Wales |
18 |
| 14 | 4 |
Ireland |
16 |
| 15 | 1 |
Greece |
15 |
| 16 | 3 |
Malta |
14 |
| 17 | |
Italy |
11 |
| 18 | 2 |
 Jamaica |
8 |
| 19 | |
 United States |
7 |
| 20 | 5 |
 Poland |
7 |
| 21 | 5 |
Lebanon |
7 |
| 22 | 5 |
Norway |
6 |
| 23 | 3 |
Germany |
6 |
| 24 | 3 |
Czech Republic |
6 |
| 25 | 2 |
Chile |
6 |
| 26 | 2 |
South Africa |
5 |
| 27 | 3 |
Philippines |
5 |
| 28 | 6 |
 Scotland |
5 |
| 29 | |
 Brazil |
4 |
| 30 | 1 |
 Canada |
4 |
| 31 | 1 |
 Kenya |
3 |
| 32 | 2 |
 Morocco |
3 |
| 33 | |
North Macedonia |
3 |
| 34 | 1 |
 Argentina |
2 |
| 35 | 3 |
Montenegro |
2 |
| 36 | |
 Albania |
1 |
| 37 | 3 |
Turkey |
1 |
| 38 | 1 |
Bulgaria |
1 |
| 39 | 1 |
 Ghana |
1 |
| 40 | 1 |
 Nigeria |
1 |
| 41 | 3 |
 Colombia |
0 |
| 42 | 1 |
 Cameroon |
0 |
| 43 | 1 |
Japan |
0 |
| 44 | 1 |
Spain |
0 |
| 45 | 1 |
 Russia |
0 |
| 46 | 1 |
 El Salvador |
0 |
| 47 | |
 Bosnia and Herzegovina |
0 |
| 48 | |
 Hong Kong |
0 |
| 49 | |
 Solomon Islands |
0 |
| 50 | |
 Vanuatu |
0 |
| 51 | |
Hungary |
0 |
| 52 | |
 Latvia |
0 |
| 53 | |
Denmark |
0 |
| 54 | |
Belgium |
0 |
| 55 | |
 Estonia |
0 |
| 56 | |
 Sweden |
0 |
| 57 | |
Niue |
0 |
| Complete rankings at www.internationalrugbyleague.com | |||
Honours
[edit]- Emerging Nations: Winners (1): 2018
- Euro C: Winners (1): 2010
See also
[edit]
Notes
[edit]- ^ Malta score given first
References
[edit]- ^ "Malta 30 20 Norway". European Rugby League. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
- ^ "Germany 36 12 Malta". European Rugby League. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
- ^ "Malta 64 24 Norway". European Rugby League. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
- ^ "Malta 24 12 Denmark". European Rugby League. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
- ^ "Denmark 12 74 Malta". European Rugby League. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
- ^ "Malta 18 32 Greece". European Rugby League. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
- ^ "Czech Republic 8 34 Malta". European Rugby League. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
- ^ "Lebanon 38 16 Malta". European Rugby League. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
- ^ "Belgium 34 35 Malta". European Rugby League. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
- ^ "Malta 22 34 Ireland". European Rugby League. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
- ^ "Spain 40 30 Malta". European Rugby League. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
- ^ "Malta 30 0 Greece". European Rugby League. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
- ^ "Ireland 58 10 Malta". European Rugby League. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
- ^ "Philippines 26 44 Malta". European Rugby League. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
- ^ "Lebanon 24 8 Malta". European Rugby League. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
- ^ "Italy 24 24 Malta". European Rugby League. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
- ^ "Malta 48 16 Hungary". European Rugby League. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
- ^ "Malta 40 28 Hungary". European Rugby League. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
- ^ "South Africa 30 24 Malta". European Rugby League. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
- ^ "Malta 22 34 Ukraine". European Rugby League. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
- ^ "Greece 60 4 Malta". European Rugby League. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
- ^ "Match Report: Malta vs. Philippines". Rugby League Emerging Nations World Championship. 1 October 2018. Archived from the original on 1 October 2018.
- ^ "Match Report: Malta vs. Niue". Rugby League Emerging Nations World Championship. 4 October 2018. Archived from the original on 4 October 2018.
- ^ "Match report: Malta overcome Hungary to book cup final berth". Rugby League Emerging Nations World Championship. 10 October 2018. Archived from the original on 22 October 2018.
- ^ "Match Report: Malta defeat Niue to win RLENWC". Rugby League Emerging Nations World Championship. 13 October 2018. Archived from the original on 22 March 2019.
- ^ "Welsh League 34 v 18 Malta". Wales Rugby League. Retrieved 24 July 2025.
- ^ "Malta 16 40 Czech Republic". European Rugby League. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
- ^ "Malta 12 36 Turkiye". European Rugby League. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
- ^ "Malta 66 6 Montenegro". European Rugby League. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
- ^ "Lebanon 30 14 Malta". European Rugby League. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
- ^ "Bulgaria 6 50 Malta". European Rugby League. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
- ^ "Philippines 32 22 Malta". European Rugby League. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
- ^ "Montenegro 10 34 Malta". European Rugby League. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
- ^ "Malta 78 0 Bulgaria". European Rugby League. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
- ^ "Italy 38 12 Malta". European Rugby League. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
- ^ "Malta 30 22 Chile". European Rugby League. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
- ^ "Malta 46 22 Philippines". European Rugby League. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
- ^ "North Macedonia 18 22 Malta". European Rugby League. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
- ^ "Italy 0 42 Malta". European Rugby League. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
External links
[edit]- Malta Rugby league website Archived 28 April 2025 at the Wayback Machine