Joey Grima's Malta Team

[Utey]

This is why there is an issue, people within the rugby league community are ignorant to how fast the game is growing in other parts of the world.

Please, be my guest if your content with the game staying the same way with 3 main sides playing each other at the end of the season where 9/10 Australia will win with a host of players who more than likely have ties to other countries. International league in it's current status is an absolute joke, we have players playing for countries other than their own, if they didn't we'd have a much stronger international scene.

Malta is definitely one of the better associations setting up league and trying to make it work. We are beginning a 4 team domestic competition, these boys have flown and played in Malta last year and some will do it again and our structure/boardroom is very very solid.

I have no doubt that MRLA is here to stay and it'll thrive as long as they get through the initial stages of set up.

 

[Utey]

its cos u r maltese - nothing wrong with supporting your heritage .... if they weren't maltese u wouldn't care eh?

Not entirely true, I love seeing other countries like Japan, Georgia and Fiji having a crack and expanding the international rugby league scene. Some have failed and it's probably not the easiest thing to establish where rugby league isn't a priority sport or the boards just don't have the resources to get it going.

 

[strider]

international rugby league has never really been anything more than 3 nations - with france once upon a time being decent but falling off the wagon and PNG offering the odd bit of passion here and there .... I don't know if it will ever legitimately amount to anything bigger

 

[Suitman]

Russia are also trying pretty hard to get something started, and have had some pretty decent crowds at some internationals that have been played there.

Suity

 

[MRLA]

Thanks for your comments Utey.

For others that may not be aware, the MRLA are thesedays the Australian based arm of what is the Maltese Rugby League.

In Malta, a committee was established in 2006, known as the KNRLM and overseeing rugby league in Malta itself.

The KNRLM, working with the MRLA, are this weekend going to kickoff Malta's first ever domestic rugby league competition with six Maltese based teams and two touring English teams.

Such is the interest in Malta that by this weekend there is every chance the draw will need to be revised to allow for extra interest, whereby 80 players have nominated to play in the competition - that is a 9s competition.

Before people jump to conclusions, only eight players are travelling from Australia to assist the Maltese based teams with coaching and in some areas - as a player/coach. These players include the Panthers' Jarrod Sammut and ex Sharks' Ben Sammut.

The domestic competition will be a selection platform for at least nine players that will represent Malta in its next international on October 19 - and in Malta, the second rugby league international on Maltese soil.

 

[JessEel]

russia vs georgia earlier this year got a ridiculous amount of people to their game!!! Thousands and Thousands!

 

[Utey]

russia vs georgia earlier this year got a ridiculous amount of people to their game!!! Thousands and Thousands!

That's just the start!

 

[Utey]

Thanks for your comments Utey.

Thanks mate, but you're the guys getting Malta on the map and doing a fantastic job.

 

[Parraletic]

Go Malta!!!