The Malta Rugby League (MRL) was granted Affiliate Membership of the Rugby League European Federation (RLEF) after applying in early November.

A 99-page application was submitted to the RLEF board of directors and sees the MRL’s membership raised from Observer to Affiliate with Malta becoming the smallest RLEF Affiliate Member, overtaking Norway whose population is 11 times greater.

MRL National Development Manager and national team coach Anthony Micallef said membership would serve as recognition to all that have supported the cause of developing and promoting Rugby League in Malta.

"The MRL’s application is a credit to the players, administrators, followers and corporate partners behind the Malta Rugby League" said Micallef.

"Our organisation isn’t simply made up of players who go out on a Saturday and Sunday to play the game they love, but a lot more than that and we have players across the leagues of Malta, Australia, the UK, the USA and others to name but a few"

"I would also like to single out David Axisa who heads up our Maltese Heritage Rugby League administration in Australia for working tirelessly in putting together the application"

RLEF general manager Danny Kazandjian said of the MRL's application, “The Malta Rugby League put forward an exemplary portfolio and are to be congratulated on the professionalism and thoroughness of the application”

Malta’s national team is ranked 22nd in the Rugby League International Federation (RLIF) world rankings and 14th out of 27 in the European rankings.