Norway and Italy will meet for the first time in a senior men’s international, when they open Euro Championship D on Saturday 17 October at the ØsterHus Arena in Sandnes (3pm kick off, local time).

The entire Norway squad is picked from their domestic competition with the host club, Sandes Raiders, providing nine players, Farsund veteran Kristoffer Milligan again captaining the side.

"We have promoted six players who played in this year’s European U19s Championships demonstrating that our youth pathway is working and helping us to build in the long term,” stated Norway head coach, Tim Jones.

“We'll be looking to build on our new culture, standards and expectations. It is so important to face international opposition in this competition to encourage more people in Norway to take up the sport.”

Italy will be looking make amends for two losses in last year’s Euro C competition which saw them relegated, and the Azzurri pick a new-look squad which is drawn from across Europe while also containing the mandatory 12 domestic player spots.

Italy men’s head coach, Leo Epifania, said: “An important moment awaits Italian Rugby League. We have worked hard to arrive at these fixtures with a team that is aware of its qualities but above all with the desire to keep growing.

“The trip to Norway will be a challenging test. What I have asked from the boys is intensity, discipline and, most importantly, to play together. We want to represent the nation with pride and show that the Italian movement has enthusiasm, quality and ambition.”

England’s Carl Hughes takes charge of the fixture.

Norway (squad): Oliver FALK (Bodø RLK), Oivind Mikal Ousdal Berghom, Kristoffer GRADERT, Kristoffer Milligan (Farsund Bobcats), Andreas VAGEN, Lucas Zuniga (Lillestrøm RLK), ), Nils Holte, Leon KANSTAND (Midgard Marauders), Kevin Batnes (Porsgrunn Pirates), William GIDDINGS, Martin HOGMOE, Silas MJØLHUS, Marius Odland SAGELV, Joshua SILVERSTONE-UTHEIM, Hakon Sivertsen LAUVSNES, Magnus SOILAND, Matias TJEMSLAND, Havard TJETLAND (Sandnes Raiders)

Italy (squad): Gianmarco Scalabrini (Amsterdam Cobras), Santino Decaro, Simone Ngeng, Sam Elrick Ngeng (Bedford Tigers), Stefano Astolfi, Nicola CANNATO, Giacomo CIVINO, Giorgio Draghi (Brianza Tigers), Alex Bayala, Lorenzo Bellani, Marco FORNO (Fossano RL), Ikenna Michele UGWO (Leeds Beckett University), Leonardo RUGGERI FALANIKO (London Chargers), ), Davide COLLA, Andrea MARCHICA, Ryan SOLDA, Mattia SAONCELLA, Lorenzo VIZZOLO (Lupi del Nord), Shann Paolo Pascal Scott Brugel (Villefranche Xlll), )