Coach Matthew Ashill has named a 26-strong train-on squad a month ahead of Greece’s bow in official international competition when they play away to Malta on 28 June.

“All the selected players are looking forward to their first match in the European Championship,” said Hellenic Federation of Rugby League president Tasos Pantazidis. “Some of the selected players are experienced but most of them have only played rugby league for the last 9-10 months.”

Two players from Australia, Adam Bouris, who was full-back in last October’s first-ever international, a win over Hungary, and James Sui Denva have been named in the group and may be joined by two more players from Sydney to stiffen the squad.

The domestic representatives are drawn from two distinct areas, Athens and Rhodes with, unsurprisingly, the biggest contingent – 10-strong - from the island’s Knights who were recently crowned inaugural Greek champions after an unbeaten season.

“The campaign is not going to be easy,” continued Pantazidis, “We want to remain in Euro C, so the objective is to win at least one match. Malta is not an easy opponent. They are experienced, with good players so they are the favorites and we respect that.

“Official international matches are one of the best ways to motivate players to become better, and this European Championship competition has given us that opportunity.”

GREECE
Giorgin Shyti (AEK Kokkinias), Aris Dardamanis, Nikolaos Kanellopoulos, Emmanouil Katalaktakis, Thomas Lymperios, Dimitrios Minadakis, Ioannis Roussoglou, Ioannis Valassas (Aris Petroupolis), Pandeleimon Arfaras, Theodoros Ananias, Stefanos Bastas, Nikolaos Bosmos, Mihail Chatziioannou, Nikolaos Chatzinikolaou, Michail Giorgas-Spanos, Konstantinos Kotiadis, Panagiotis Lampousis, Alvaro Zota (Knights of Rhodes), Konstantinos Lambrakis (Neapoli Lakonia), Ioannis Nake, Indrit Shakaj, George Stilianos (Pegasus Neos Kosmos), Liam Sue-Tin (Pine River Bears), Panagiotis Karefilis, Grigorios Koutsibogiorgos (Promitheas Rendi), Adam Bouris (unattached)