The Malta Origin RL club tonight announced the signing of prop forward Gareth Barron for the remainder of the 2013 MRL Dove Men+Care Championship.

The 31-year-old started his professional career as a trainee with Gateshead Thunder in 1999 when the Thunder were in that year’s Super League competition.

A level two coach, Barron played out this season with Hemel Stags while occupying a community coaching role with the London Broncos after having served previously in a similar capacity at Wigan Warriors.

The dual-code rugby prop will arrive in Malta later this month for Malta Origin RL’s post-summer fixtures before an anticipated appearance in their second consecutive Maltese Championship Final.

Barron commented “To be given this chance to play in Malta and play in the Maltese Championship, is something that I am looking forward to greatly. I’ve heard some very good things about Rugby League in Malta from a couple of the boys up in the North East UK and it should be a good new experience”

“I understand that Malta Origin has their sights on making the MRL Championship Final and I want to be a part of helping that happen. I’m really looking forward to getting over there in a couple of weeks”

Captain Joe Paolella welcomed the signing and said the club received a lot of interest from abroad.

“We had two or three props get in touch with us from the first day including Gareth. There was interest from a prop in Serbia and a couple of agents got in touch with us also” said Paolella.

“It’s been exciting overseeing the discussions that led to the signing. We’ve had Anthony Micallef taking care of it. He’s got some experience in that area from before, but it all looks very good and Gareth will be with us in a few weeks”

Back in England, Malta international Jarrod Sammut scored four times in Bradford Bulls' last round 58-6 demolition of Huddersfield. The pacy halfback scored 18 tries this year and finishes as the Bulls' top try-scorer.

The English Super League will welcome another Malta eligible player next year, Danny Galea from the Bulldogs, after Widnes Vikings announced him recently as a signing for 2014. No relation to Danny, Hull FC's Ben Galea has retired and is returning to Australia at season's end.

Downunder, former NRL prop Shane Shackleton is playing with former Malta international Pat Galea at Mounties.

Still in Sydney, the Maltese Heritage Rugby League have announced Strategy 1 Human Resources as a sleeve sponsor for their U16's team that will contest the NSWRL Harmony Cup next month. The U16's team commenced training for the tournament last month and the MRL's Sydney based David Axisa announced the partnership with S1HR after meeting with S1HR ambassador and former Wests Tigers star and New Zealand international Benji Marshall.

The MRL is always interested to hear from eligible Maltese players that may be playing abroad in Australia, the UK, the USA and other territories at any level. To add yourself to the MRL Player Register, email [email protected].