Malta will face Italy in a rugby league international friendly on September 28, 2024, in Bagnaria Arsa, Italy, near Udine. This match is part of a home and away series planned between the two nations for 2024 and 2025.
Originally, Malta was set to play against the Netherlands in early October, but had to withdraw due to player availability issues.
Ranked in the top 15 of the international rugby league world rankings, Malta views this match as an exciting opportunity to showcase their talent on European soil.
Malta’s head coach, Philip Humphrey, and MRL President, Jean-Pierre Zarb, are enthusiastic about the challenge, seeing it as a chance for Malta to make a strong impression against their Mediterranean neighbors, who have appeared in the last three Rugby League World Cups.
Italy, who comes into the match with two wins from their last three games, including a 38-12 victory over Malta in Sydney last October, will host the match under their new head coach, Gioele Celerino.
This clash marks the first meeting between the two teams in Europe. The MRL also expressed gratitude to the Netherlands for understanding their withdrawal from the October fixture, with plans to reschedule for 2025.
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