Sammut out, Josh Cassar and Zac Vella eye win for Malta Rugby League against Italy

The Malta Rugby League (MRL) are in Italy ahead of its Medieval Shield clash against the world-rated Italy on Saturday at Bagarnia Arsa.

Jarrod Sammut is expected to return for the Bradford Bulls in England this weekend after a collarbone injury ruled him out for most of August and September, leaving hard working props Josh Cassar and Zac Vella as a key in the middle for the Maltese.

Earlier in the week, Vella said fans should expect a ‘no-nonsense’ brand of rugby league, the 26-year-old said: “You can expect toughness and aggression. No nonsense footy, nothing fancy, that’s my style and always has been, that’s the way I love to play the game.”

Josh Cassar has been having a great year at Stanley Rangers, coupled with some player of the match performances, he was simply outstanding for the Malta XIII against Oxford University last June.

Family a key aspect in Malta squad

Malta head coach Phil Humphrey is fascinated by the family connections that the MRL continues to showcase, this weekend in Italy will see two cousins and two brothers don the red and white.

Cousins Karl and Josh Cassar line up together once again, while Harrison Jewitt makes his full Malta debut alongside Malta regular Alfie. Harrison came through the same Featherstone Lions as his brother Alfie, but is now contracted to Super League club, Castleford Tigers.

Despite the Malta squad featuring players from the Maltese, UK, Australian and American leagues, there are no other debutants, and the team boasts its nucleus playing regularly over the last five years together for the Maltese national team.

Italy to host first of two duels for Medieval Shield 

Introduced by the MRL in 2022, the Medieval Shield will be contested this Saturday by the Italians and Maltese, with the winner holding the shield until the two teams meet again in the return fixture on Maltese soil in 2025.

The Medieval Shield has been contested on four occasions with Malta aiming for a fifth consecutive success after two wins over Bulgaria and Montenegro each home and away over the last two seasons.

The Italians (Federazione Italiana Rugby League) have publicly announced that after appearing at three straight Rugby League World Cup’s, they are in a rebuilding stage, and they will host Saturday’s friendly test match in the nation’s north, in the region of Udine.

Italy have appeared at the last three Rugby League World Cup’s and both teams are ranked inside the top 15 of the international rugby league world rankings.

Malta aim to celebrate 20 years of rugby league with Medieval Shield success

The Malta Knights are the highest ranked Maltese national sporting team in history and were nominated for Team of the Year at this year’s 64th edition of the Maltese National Sport Awards, Għażliet Sportivi Nazzjonali.

As the summer rugby league season comes to an end, the MRL anticipates the Malta Knights will give their best showing in Italy, Malta Team Manager Anthony Micallef, saying 

‘’Malta and Italy are proud Mediterranean neighbours, and the Maltese rugby league fraternity has waited a lifetime to face Italy in Europe, so after 20 years of rugby league in Malta, it is fitting to celebrate this milestone with this international happening firstly this weekend, and with a return match in Malta in 2025,” said Micallef.

Love Island Malta 2024 participant Josh Gatt features in Malta squad

Known for his appearance on Love Island Malta and also an MMA fighter, currently uncontracted rugby league player Josh Gatt, who is a Parramatta Eels junior and lives in Malta, features in the Malta squad and will play on Saturday. 

Josh played in the French league in 2023 and can play in a range of positions, primarily enjoying the lock-forward role, but is sure to be potent wherever coach Philip Humphrey decides.

The squad: Josh Cassar (Stanley Rangers); Karl Cassar (Royal Air Force RL); Shaun Chircop (Blue Knights, Malta); Robin Cutajar (Black Knights, Malta); Justin Davenport (Tampa Mayhem); Kaine Dimech (Cornwall RLFC); Zarrin Galea (Workington Town); Josh Gatt (N/A); Kyle Gauci (Black Knights, Malta); Alfie Jewitt (Featherstone Lions); Harrison Jewitt (Castleford Tigers); Nicholas Maylor (Stompers RFC); Jon Micallef (Red Knights, Malta); Zac Vella (Picton Magpies); William Watts (Blue Knights, Malta); Dean Zammit (Wigan St Patricks); Jean-Pierre Zarb (Black Knights, Malta).