Rugby league in Lebanon
| Rugby league in Lebanon | |
|---|---|
| Country | Lebanon |
| Governing body | Lebanese Rugby League Federation |
| National team(s) | Lebanon |
| Nickname(s) | the Cedars |
| First played | 2002 |
National competitions | |
Club competitions | |
Lebanon Rugby League Championship | |
The seeds of rugby league in Lebanon lie in
In 2002 a domestic league was set up in Lebanon, initially with four university-based teams. Players from the domestic competition now feature in the national team. A team composed entirely from Lebanese domestic players, known as Lebanon Espoirs has been formed.[citation needed]
In 2011, Lebanon nearly qualified for 2013 Rugby League World Cup but lost to Italy who became the 14th and final nation to qualify for the event.[1]
In 2011, the government of Lebanon promised to increase its support and funding for rugby league.[2]
Governing body and competitions
The Lebanese Rugby League Federation is based in
Lebanon Rugby League Championship
There are eight teams that play in the Bank of Beirut Lebanon Championship domestic league.
| Name | Location | Full Name |
|---|---|---|
| Tripoli City | Tripoli | Tripoli Rugby League Football Club |
| Redbacks | Beirut | Redbacks Rugby League Football Club |
| Wolves | Rabieh | Wolves Rugby League Football Club |
| Jounieh Al-Galacticos | Jounieh | Jounieh Al-Galacticos Rugby League Football Club |
LAU Immortals |
Beirut | Lebanese American University Immortals Rugby League Football Club |
| El Mina RLFC | Tripoli | El Mina Rugby League Football Club |
| USJ Saints | Beirut | Université Saint-Joseph Saints Rugby League Football Club
|
| Balamand Razorbacks | Koura | Balamand Razorbacks Rugby League Football Club |
| AUST Lions | Beirut | American University of Science and Technology Lions Rugby League Football Club |
| L.I.U Eagles | Tripoli | Lebanese International University Eagles Rugby League Football Club |
Media
Media representation of rugby league has grown dramatically with the domestic competition now covered by all ten marquee Lebanese newspapers, two prominent radio stations and the country's major television stations.[3]
2007 Al Jazeera Feature on Youtube
The National Team
The Lebanon national rugby league team, nicknamed the Cedars, remains mostly composed of players of Lebanese ancestry from Australia. The Lebanon Espoirs team, made up of younger players from the domestic competition, has played a number of fixtures - this team has competed annually in the Rugby League Mediterranean Cup, which is hosted in Lebanon. Many of the Espoirs players have gone into represent Lebanon in full international matches.[citation needed] The team qualified and played in the 2017 Rugby League World Cup, winning their first ever world cup game against France in the qualifying group stage which resulted in the team competing in the quarter-finals. The Cedars lost the quarter-finals to Tonga 24- 22.[citation needed]
Liban Espoir
Since the creation of a five-team domestic league in Lebanon in 2003, a second team was formed made up of players from that league under Head Coach Remond Safi. They are known as the Liban Espoir and regularly tour other countries. In 2003 the team toured Morocco. In 2005 they toured England and Wales, playing numerous matches against the England Lionhearts, Welsh Presidents XIII and
Touch Football
The Lebanon national touch football team debuted in 1999.
See also
References
- ^ Lebanon’s Rugby World Cup bid ends with draw | Sports , Rugby | THE DAILY STAR
- ^ "Lebanon, Russia and Serbia look to 2017 - NRL.com". Archived from the original on 2011-11-04. Retrieved 2011-11-02.
- ^ News Archived November 20, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Liban Espoir 2009 Match Reports". Lebanese Rugby League. Archived from the original on 2022-03-30. Retrieved 2009-07-06.