The Malta Knights will face top-of-the-table Serbia this Saturday in group B of the 2025 European Championship in an all-or-nothing encounter at FC BSK Stadium in Belgrade.
After a 36-6 home loss at Marsa to the Netherlands two weeks ago, a Maltese loss this weekend will see the Knights relegated to group C where they would meet Germany and Greece in 2026.
The Serbians come into Saturday hot on the heels of a historic 30 to 6 away victory over the Netherlands.
Malta find themselves in a position where only a victory by 35 points or more – would see the red and whites win group B.
In a final group fixture that will determine the placings for all three nations, Malta come into Saturday’s match having had 9 changes forced onto the squad that tackled the Dutch 12 days ago in Malta.
Debuts are potentially set to be handed to domestic players Kyle Micallef and Ethan Xuereb, while England-based Alfie Jewitt joins brother Harrison in the squad, and French Super XIII October Player of the Month Josh Gatt will be missing from his club game for S.O. Avignon as he turns out for the Maltese.
Malta Knights head coach Philip Humphrey has named veteran forward Kaine Dimech as captain for the first time, and is excited about Saturday’s do-or-die clash.
“As we saw last week against the Netherlands, Serbia are a very good team”.
“We come to Serbia looking forward to Saturday’s challenge and hoping for an exciting end to our European Championship campaign”.
MALTA KNIGHTS SQUAD V SERBIA
Josh Cassar (Hunslet ARLFC)
Karl Cassar (Unattached)
Shaun Chircop (Stompers)
Robin Cutajar (Stompers)
Kaine Dimech (Medway Dragons)
Terence Galdes (Falcons)
Josh Gatt (SO Avignon)
Kyle Gauci (Falcons)
Alfie Jewitt (Featherstone Lions)
Harrison Jewitt (Castleford Tigers)
Nicholas Maylor (Stompers)
Kyle Micallef (Falcons)
Mark Robertson (Tugun Seahawks)
Jean-Pierre Spiteri Zarb (Falcons)
Kane Tippett (Falcons)
William Watts (Overseas RUFC)
Ethan Xuereb (Overseas RUFC)
EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP GROUP B TABLE
Serbia, 2pts (+26)
Netherlands, 2pts (+4)
Malta, 0pts, (-30)
EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP GROUP B
Malta Knights v Serbia
At FC BSK Stadium, Belgrade, Serbia.
Kick-off: 1:30pm
