RLEF chief message ahead of Bowl debut

Euro-Med Director of Development to the Rugby League Federation (RLEF), Danny Kazandjian, is urging the Malta Rugby League (MRL) to get ready for their debut in the 2010 European Bowl that will see the country play Norway and Belgium.

"We're really excited to see Malta join the official RLEF international circuit.

"This season has seen regular domestic Rugby League played for the first time in Malta since the project started and that can only be seen as a benefit," Kazandjian said of the MRL Championship that comes to an end this month with the North currently leading after four rounds.

In a statement, the MRL said Kazandjian had encouraged the Maltese authorities to ramp up its financial support of Rugby League.

"The next step is to get more support from the government and I would assume that the best possible way of doing that is by increasing participation numbers.

"That's not something that can be done overnight and it's just serious hard work on the part of the Malta Rugby League and the (domestic) championship," Kazandjian said.

The European Bowl is an international tournament for fourth tier nations. It was first contested in 2008 and the winners were Latvia.

Malta host Norway in the opening match of the triangular tournament at the Victor Tedesco Stadium, Ħamrun, on June 4.