From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Lebanon national rugby league team
Lebanon national rugby league team
Lebanon
Japan 28 – 52 Lebanon
(Tokyo, Japan; 1998)
Biggest win
Morocco 0 – 104 Lebanon
(Perpignan, France; 1999)
Biggest defeat
Russia 80 – 0 Lebanon
(Moscow, Russia; 28 September 2008)
World Cup
Appearances 1 (first time in 2000)
Best result Group Stages, 2000
Nickname The Cedars The Lebanon national rugby league team is the represen-
Governing body Lebanese Rugby League Federation tative side of Lebanon in rugby league football. They are
nicknamed "The Cedars" after the Lebanon Cedar tree,
Region Europe which is also on the Lebanese flag. The team has been
Head coach David Bayssari[1] participating in international competition since 1998 and
has quickly became one of the best teams in the Northern
Captain Johnny Mannah
Hemisphere. The team was originally formed in New
Most caps Robin Hachache (13) South Wales, Australia, composed of Lebanese Aus-
tralians. But their success has helped the game grow in
Top try-scorer Hazem El Masri (9)
Lebanon and now players are also taken from the newly
Top point-scorer Hazem El Masri (80 points) formed Lebanon Championship as well as the National
Home stadium International Olympic Stadium Rugby League in Australia.
The team played in the 2000 World Cup, having de-
RLIF ranking 14th feated the USA to get there. But it failed in getting out of
the group stages, despite a draw against the Cook Islands
in Cardiff and a 24–22 defeat against Wales in Llanelli.
The Cedars then attempted to qualify for the 2008 World
Cup but lost their group to Ireland and finally losing
the repechage final to Samoa. In other competitions they
have been more successful. They have taken part in the
Mediterranean Cup and have won it in every year it has
been played. In 2006 they won the Phoenician Cup by
beating Malta.
Currently the team are ranked 11th in the world, hav-
ing dropped out of the top ten after failing to qualify for
the 2008 Rugby League World Cup. In the more up to date
European rankings they are ranked 5th, behind World
Cup qualifiers England, France, Ireland and Scotland, but
they are ahead of Wales, Russia and Serbia. John Elias oc-
cupies the position of head coach.
Colours
First international
1
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Lebanon national rugby league team
History that match for France. He would then go on to play in the
2007 Challenge Cup Final.
2000 World Cup 2008 World Cup qualifying
Initially the Lebanese players were all Australian born Despite wanting to host another Mediterranean Cup in
or raised and came mostly from inner-city Sydney. They 2005, Lebanon did not play another international until
started playing full internationals in 1998 and in their November 2006. With a place in the 2008 World Cup up
first match thrashed Japan in Tokyo. This got them a for grabs, Lebanon were drawn in a group with Russia
place in Mediterranean Pool for qualification to the 2000 and Ireland. In Darren Maroons first match as head
World Cup. In their first game they defeated Italy 36–16, coach, Lebanon beat Russia 22–8 in a tight and tense
and then thrashed Morocco 104–0. In this match, captain match at the New River Stadium in North London. Ire-
Hazem El Masri scored a total of 48 points, the highest land however had already thrashed Russia beforehand
amount of points ever scored by one player in an interna- and so Lebanon needed to beat Ireland in Dublin to go
tional match. To qualify they had to beat the Pacific Rim top of the table. Centre Daniel Chiha crossed over the
Pool winners, the USA. They won easily, the final score line after 13 minutes, but the conversion was missed.
being 62–8 and so secured the final place in the World John Koborsi then extended the lead for Lebanon and
Cup. Following the match the team were warned about the team went into half time 0–10 up. However within 6
their conduct after a car-park fight that put American minutes after half-time, Ireland had scored two tries and
winger Tony Fabri in hospital.[2] they were now in front. A little later Chris Salem then
The Cedars were in a pool with favourites New intercepted a ball near his own line and ran the whole
Zealand, Wales and Cook Islands. The team were well length of the pitch to score a spectacular try. This lead
beaten against New Zealand in Gloucester, where there didn’t last though and in the last minutes of the game
were ferocious winds and rain. Head coach John Elias Ireland scored a try to end the game 18–18. In 2007 the
said after the game that his team were simply out of World Cup qualifying matches continued. In October the
their depth. However Lebanon did much better in the team travelled to Moscow and put nine-tries past Russia
match against Wales. It wasn’t until Wales had scored to win 0–48. This meant that their last match against Ire-
four tries that Lebanon had finally got on the score board land was crucial. Because Ireland had a significantly bet-
with a Michael Coorey try in the 35th minute. In the sec- ter points difference then Lebanon, The Cedars needed
ond half Lebanon performed much better, but two late a win to qualify, a draw or a narrow defeat was simply
Hassan Saleh tries left Lebanon losing 24–22. By far the not good enough. At the end of the Russia match, despite
easiest game on paper was the match against the Cook the easy victory, Darren Maroon said that the team must
Islands. With just five minutes remaining though, The make big improvements if they were to beat the Irish.
Cedars found themselves 22–10 down, before Hazem El Due to the volatile situation in Lebanon, The Cedars had
Masri scored a second try and centre Hassan Saleh scored to play their "home tie" in Dewsbury, England. A George
one too in last minute to seal a 22–22 draw for Lebanon. Ndaira try in the first half meant that Lebanon went in-
This point was enough to keep them off bottom place in to half time on the wrong end of a 12–4 scoreline. Chris
the group, but they had not done enough to earn a place Salem immediately scored a try after the interval though
in the Quarter Finals. and Lebanon were back in the game. In the 63rd minute
prop Charlie Nohra was sent off, leaving Lebanon with 12
Mediterranean Cup men and a huge upward struggle. Frank Samia scored a
In 2002, Lebanon beat France 36–6 in front of 9,713 spec- converted try near the end of the match and so Lebanon
tators at Tripoli to clinch the Mediterranean Cup for a were ahead for the first time in the match. In the last
second time.[3] In 2003 played host to another Mediter- minute the two points were taken away as a high-tackle
ranean Cup with Lebanon beating France again in final, gave Ireland a penalty which they scored to end the game
albeit this was a much closer match at 26–18 with Wissam 16–16. Lebanon had not done enough to secure a place in
El Masri only fully securing the win in the last minute. the World Cup.
In the final Mediterranean Cup in 2004, Lebanon made it But because they had finished, they went into a
three victories in a row. Just like last year’s cup, they eas- repechage match with three other teams, Wales, USA and
ily beat Morocco and Serbia to face the French in the final Samoa. They faced Wales first and won that match in
again. France trailed 30–8 at half time but in the second Widnes, England. In took a long time for Lebanon too ac-
half it was a much tighter affair with Toufiq Nicolas and tually take the lead for the first time in the match, but in
a third Ahmed Al Masri try finally sealing a 42–14 victory the second half Lebanon were much stronger than Wales
for Lebanon despite a late consolation try for France. It is and eventually posted nine tries, including three by Chris
also worth noting that a young Thomas Bosc featured in Salem, against Wales’ five. This victory also meant that
Lebanon had extended their unbeaten streak to 13
2
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Lebanon national rugby league team
RLIF World Rankings
Top 27 Rankings as of November 2011[4]
Rank Change Team Points
1 Australia 1,406.59
2 New Zealand 991.56
3 England 799.47
4 Papua New Guinea 260.49
5 France 246.08
6 1 Wales 245.12
7 Fiji 145.35
8 2 Samoa 123.19
9 Tonga 82.07
10 Scotland 75.39
11 2 United States 59.67
12 1 Ireland 72.81
13 2 Italy 38.55
14 Lebanon 38.42
15 1 Serbia 41.48
16 4 Cook Islands 62.11
17 2 Russia 28.44
18 Norway 32.04
19 2 Germany 34.52
20 Malta 26.46
21 Canada 21.91
22 4 South Africa 11.85
23 2 Jamaica 13.78
24 2 Latvia 19.55
25 Ukraine 19.12
26 Czech Republic 14.27
27 Sweden 03.90
Denmark Unranked
Hungary
India
Indonesia
Japan
Saudi Arabia
Morocco
Netherlands
Pakistan
Philippines
3
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Lebanon national rugby league team
Singapore
matches, and in doing so beating Australia’s record of 12 • 4 Allen • 17 Adnan Barakat - Legend:
unbeaten matches from 1999 to 2001. Samoa had beaten Soultan - El PR • (c)
the USA in the other match and so Lebanon and Samoa CE Zabedieh - • 30 Captain
faced each other in Featherstone, England for the tenth • 5 Steve PR Daniel • (vc) Vice
and final place in the 2008 World Cup. Samoa had a lot Azzi - WG • 18 Nadim Chiha - captain
of the possession during the match and were noticeably • 6 Samer Couri - FE LF Updated: 18
physically larger. Samoa went into half time with a 28–8 Neghme - • 19 Chris September
lead despite a George Ndaira try for Lebanon on the 18th FE Saab - LF 2011
minute and an Adnan Saleh try very near to half-time. • 7 Ray • 20 Nemer Source(s): [1]
Two more tries in the second half were not enough for Moujalli - Saliba - PR
Lebanon and they lost the match 16–38,[5] scoring four HB • 21 Kamel
tries but converting none of them. • 8 Munir Ahmed - FB
Finan - PR • 22 Ali
2013 World Cup Qualifying • 9 Charlie Kourouche
Lebanon were drawn against Serbia, Italy and Russia in Farah - - PR
the qualify group for the 2013 Rugby League World Cup, HK • 23 Ibrahim
with the winners of the group progressing to the final • 10 Jamie Ballout - SR
tournament. Following comfortable victories over Serbia Clark - PR • 24 Walid
and Russia, Lebanon set up a winner-takes-all match • 11 Ray Yassine -
against Italy in Belgrade on October 29th. The game fin- Finan - SR PR
ished in a draw with the score at 19-19, which unfortu- • 12 • 25 Khaled
nately meant that Italy qualified for the World Cup ahead Johnny Deeb - FE
of Lebanon based on points difference. This is the second Mannah - • 26 Adnan
time in a row that Lebanon have failed to qualify for the SR Saleh - LF
World Cup despite not losing a game in the qualifiers. • 13 Robin
Hachache
c
(c) - LF
Junior Cedars (under 16s)
The LRLC has developed rugby league through the school
system which has given them youth of the country and
has been able to select their historical team to tour KSA See also
in June, but was unable to travel as visas had not been • Rugby league in Lebanon
granted to this date. They will play KSA in Lebanon on 24 • Lebanon national rugby league team match results
October as a curtain raiser of the European Cup, where
their senior players (Senior Cedars) will take on Russia.
Also the Junior Cedars will tour Qatar, where they will
References
participate in a tri series with Qatar and KSA. Lebanon announce new coaching setup for World
[1]
Cup Qualifiers rleague.com, 10 June 2011
2011 Squad [2] Hadfield, Dave (24 October 2000). "Lebanese rugby
league team in storm over funny substances". The
2011 Lebanon Squad Independent (UK: independent.co.uk).
First team squad Coaching http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/
staff rugby-league/lebanese-rugby-league-team-in-
storm-over-funny-substances-636051.html.
• 1 James • 14 Youssef • 27 Head coach
Retrieved 20 February 2011.
Boustani El Helou - Adham • David
[3] Mascord, Steve (4 November 2002). "El Magic helps
- FB HK El Bayssari
spread word to the Middle East". The Sydney
• 2 George • 15 Ahmed Zabedieh Assistant
Morning Herald (Australia: Fairfax).
Azzi - WG Ellaz - PR - PR coach
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/11/03/
• 3 Nick • 16 Rudy • 28 Cliff • Pierre
1036308205413.html. Retrieved 20 February 2011.
Kassis - CE Hachache Nye - FE Tannous
[4] RLIF; RLIF Rankings
- SR • 29 Michael
[5] "Samoa beats Lebanon to be last team in league
Danny Hedwan
world cup". AAP. 14 November 2007.
4
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Lebanon national rugby league team
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/sport/nrl/
story/0,26746,22762994-5003409,00.html.
External links
• Al Jazeera YouTube feature
• Google-Video
• Lebanon Rugby League
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/in-
dex.php?title=Lebanon_national_rugby_league_team&oldid=467567386"
Categories:
• International rugby league teams
• Lebanon national rugby league team
• National sports teams of Lebanon
• Rugby league in Lebanon
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