Malta national rugby league team

Malta
Badge of Malta team
Team information
NicknameKavallieri
(The Knights)
Governing bodyMaltese Rugby League Association
RegionEurope
Head coachAaron McDonald ('A' Team)
CaptainTyler Cassel
Most capsJarrod Sammut (16)
Home stadiumCharles Abela Memorial Stadium
IRL ranking13th
Uniforms
First colours
Second colours
Team results
First game
  78-0 British Defence Forces United Kingdom
(25 September 2004)
Biggest win
  82–0 Japan 
(25 January 2007, Coffs Harbour, Australia)
Biggest defeat
  0-62 Lancashire Amateurs Lancashire
(17 October 2010, Ħamrun, Malta)
World Cup
Appearances0
Malta lining up for a match against Italy ahead of the 2017 World Cup
Malta in action against Chile in 2015
Malta in action against Italy in 2017

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

  • 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

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

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 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

Official rankings as of July 2025
Rank Change Team Pts %
1 Steady  Australia 100
2 Steady  New Zealand 83
3 Steady  England 80
4 Steady  Tonga 62
5 Steady  Samoa 53
6 Steady  Papua New Guinea 51
7 Steady  Fiji 43
8 Steady  France 29
9 Increase 2  Netherlands 22
10 Steady  Cook Islands 22
11 Decrease 2  Serbia 18
12 Steady  Wales 18
13 Steady   16
14 Increase 1  Greece 14
15 Decrease 1  Ukraine 13
16 Steady  Lebanon 11
17 Steady  Italy 10
18 Steady  Ireland 9
19 Increase 5  United States 8
20 Decrease 1  Jamaica 8
21 Decrease 1  Czech Republic 8
22 Steady  Scotland 7
23 Decrease 2  Chile 7
24 Decrease 1  Philippines 7
25 Steady  Poland 5
26 Increase 1  Germany 5
27 Increase 1  Norway 5
28 Decrease 2  South Africa 5
29 Steady  Brazil 4
30 Steady  Kenya 4
31 Steady  Canada 4
32 Steady  Montenegro 3
33 Steady  North Macedonia 3
34 Increase 22  Morocco 3
35 Decrease 1  Argentina 3
36 Decrease 1  Albania 2
37 Decrease 1  Bulgaria 2
38 Decrease 1  Ghana 2
39 Decrease 1  Nigeria 2
40 Decrease 1  Turkey 1
41 Decrease 1  Cameroon 1
42 Decrease 1  Japan 1
43 Decrease 1  Spain 1
44 Decrease 1  Colombia 1
45 Decrease 1  El Salvador 0
46 Decrease 1  Russia 0
47 Decrease 1  Bosnia and Herzegovina 0
48 Decrease 1  Hong Kong 0
49 Decrease 1  Solomon Islands 0
50 Decrease 1  Vanuatu 0
51 Increase 6  Hungary 0
52 Decrease 1  Latvia 0
53 Decrease 1  Denmark 0
54 Decrease 1  Belgium 0
55 Decrease 1  Estonia 0
56 Decrease 1  Sweden 0
57 Decrease 7  Niue 0
Complete rankings at
www.internationalrugbyleague.com

Honours

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Malta score given first

References

  1. ^ "Malta 30 20 Norway". European Rugby League. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  2. ^ "Germany 36 12 Malta". European Rugby League. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  3. ^ "Malta 64 24 Norway". European Rugby League. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  4. ^ "Malta 24 12 Denmark". European Rugby League. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  5. ^ "Denmark 12 74 Malta". European Rugby League. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  6. ^ "Malta 18 32 Greece". European Rugby League. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  7. ^ "Czech Republic 8 34 Malta". European Rugby League. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  8. ^ "Lebanon 38 16 Malta". European Rugby League. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  9. ^ "Belgium 34 35 Malta". European Rugby League. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  10. ^ "Malta 22 34 Ireland". European Rugby League. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  11. ^ "Spain 40 30 Malta". European Rugby League. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  12. ^ "Malta 30 0 Greece". European Rugby League. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  13. ^ "Ireland 58 10 Malta". European Rugby League. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  14. ^ "Philippines 26 44 Malta". European Rugby League. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  15. ^ "Lebanon 24 8 Malta". European Rugby League. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  16. ^ "Italy 24 24 Malta". European Rugby League. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  17. ^ "Malta 48 16 Hungary". European Rugby League. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  18. ^ "Malta 40 28 Hungary". European Rugby League. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  19. ^ "South Africa 30 24 Malta". European Rugby League. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  20. ^ "Malta 22 34 Ukraine". European Rugby League. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  21. ^ "Greece 60 4 Malta". European Rugby League. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  22. ^ "Match Report: Malta vs. Philippines". Rugby League Emerging Nations World Championship. 1 October 2018. Archived from the original on 1 October 2018.
  23. ^ "Match Report: Malta vs. Niue". Rugby League Emerging Nations World Championship. 4 October 2018. Archived from the original on 4 October 2018.
  24. ^ "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.
  25. ^ "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.
  26. ^ "Welsh League 34 v 18 Malta". Wales Rugby League. Retrieved 24 July 2025.
  27. ^ "Malta 16 40 Czech Republic". European Rugby League. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  28. ^ "Malta 12 36 Turkiye". European Rugby League. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  29. ^ "Malta 66 6 Montenegro". European Rugby League. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  30. ^ "Lebanon 30 14 Malta". European Rugby League. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  31. ^ "Bulgaria 6 50 Malta". European Rugby League. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  32. ^ "Philippines 32 22 Malta". European Rugby League. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  33. ^ "Montenegro 10 34 Malta". European Rugby League. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  34. ^ "Malta 78 0 Bulgaria". European Rugby League. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  35. ^ "Italy 38 12 Malta". European Rugby League. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  36. ^ "Malta 30 22 Chile". European Rugby League. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  37. ^ "Malta 46 22 Philippines". European Rugby League. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  38. ^ "North Macedonia 18 22 Malta". European Rugby League. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  39. ^ "Italy 0 42 Malta". European Rugby League. Retrieved 20 November 2024.