North East Rugby League boasts a buddy relationship with the Malta Rugby League (MRL).

The MRL is the official governing body for Maltese Rugby League, overseeing its domestic competition - the MRL Championship, development among youth, schools and wheelchair rugby league as well as it's national team - the Malta Knights.

The first game of rugby league was played in 2004 and today the MRL is an official observer of the Rugby League European Federation (RLEF) with Malta becoming an increasingly popular rugby league tour destination welcoming teams from across the United Kingdom including the Gateshead Thunder U18's in 2009.

The MRL boasts a further link with our own profesional club - the Gateshead Thunder. The Thunder's prop forward Chris Parker is a Malta international as well as Roderick Attard and former Thunder half Luke Branighan whilst former Thunder Super League player Ben Sammut was captain of Malta for five seasons (2004-2008).