Both Greece and Malta have pulled out of this year's Mediterranean Cup, citing political problems in Lebanon as the major reason for not attending.
The Lebanese Rugby League who are hosting the Mediterranean Cup, have yet to commit to the tournament that was set to feature Lebanon, Serbia, Greece and Malta.
"We voted at our board meeting last month that we are not going to Lebanon because many of the players were not comfortable with the current situation in Lebanon" said Maltese Rugby League's Michael Borg.
The Maltese Rugby League Association (MRLA) advised that the main reason for not playing in the tournament was due to safety concerns. The MRLA recently received concerns from the majority of players regarding the safety of travelling to Lebanon for the Mediterranean Cup.
The MRLA committee have also been concerned about the recent unrest in Lebanon, and subsequent safety if the team and supporters. As a result, the MRLA have sought feedback and advice from the Department of Foreign Affairs in Australia, and have also arranged for contacts in Malta to seek advice from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Malta" said Borg.
Greece were looking at a sponsorship deal to head over to the Middle East nation but have voted not to attend.
"The Safety of our players is our main concern. Originally, they (Lebanese Rugby League) couldn't commit to us coming over which made it impossible for us to organise the tour" said Greek Rugby League's Colin Mylonas.
"Our players are not professionals and have to work. They need to organise time off work while others are planning to bring their families along. It's frustrating because we were looking forward to going."
Malta and Greece are set to take on each other in October 8 at Melita Stadium. Fiji A had been looking at playing Greece on the same day at Concord Oval but the Greeks are keen to form a close relationship with their European neighbours.
"We are both new to Rugby League and we want to work together, hopefully taking on each other in our home countries in the near future" said Mylonas
Greek Rugby League officials will still head over to Greece later this year to look at planning for a match next season after being put back a year.
"We were looking at going to Athens later this year to play against the Russians but without any groundwork, it was better to put it off by a year" said Mylonas.
"There is no point going over there and playing games if there isn't going to be any follow up work. We need to play domestic football in Greece"
Malta will go ahead with their planned game in the Maltese town of Marsa in October but are still without an opposition.
"We have been trying to get somebody to play us but we have had no luck. We are just getting no help from the European Rugby League Federation" said Maltese nation coach Joe Grima.
The Lebanese Rugby League have been doing all they can.
"Everyone involved fully appreciates the time and effort it takes to organise a touring team, especially from Down Under to Europe. The delay mainly stems from the upcoming parliamentary elections this month" said Lebanese Rugby League's Danny Kazandjian.
"Until they're held, and the results are digested, it is very difficult for any officials to give us any concrete assurances."
The LRL last month received pledges from the Beirut and Tripoli Municipalities for the tournament. Government and council officials are reluctant to commit to much until after the elections.
Another decision for the delay was that the Rugby League International Federation only recently finalised the Tri-Nations while the European Nations Cup Has Been Formalised.
Georgia, Serbia and Holland have agreed to play in a qualifying round to determine who will join Scotland, Ireland, Wales, France and Russia in the European Nations Cup. This means that new nations can have the opportunity to play in the tournament via the qualifying process.
The plan was for Lebanon, Malta, Greece and Morocco to play in the Mediterranean Cup with other nations in the European Nations Cup, either in the main or qualifying round.
Article from RUGBY LEAGUE REVIEW
The Lebanese Rugby League who are hosting the Mediterranean Cup, have yet to commit to the tournament that was set to feature Lebanon, Serbia, Greece and Malta.
"We voted at our board meeting last month that we are not going to Lebanon because many of the players were not comfortable with the current situation in Lebanon" said Maltese Rugby League's Michael Borg.
The Maltese Rugby League Association (MRLA) advised that the main reason for not playing in the tournament was due to safety concerns. The MRLA recently received concerns from the majority of players regarding the safety of travelling to Lebanon for the Mediterranean Cup.
The MRLA committee have also been concerned about the recent unrest in Lebanon, and subsequent safety if the team and supporters. As a result, the MRLA have sought feedback and advice from the Department of Foreign Affairs in Australia, and have also arranged for contacts in Malta to seek advice from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Malta" said Borg.
Greece were looking at a sponsorship deal to head over to the Middle East nation but have voted not to attend.
"The Safety of our players is our main concern. Originally, they (Lebanese Rugby League) couldn't commit to us coming over which made it impossible for us to organise the tour" said Greek Rugby League's Colin Mylonas.
"Our players are not professionals and have to work. They need to organise time off work while others are planning to bring their families along. It's frustrating because we were looking forward to going."
Malta and Greece are set to take on each other in October 8 at Melita Stadium. Fiji A had been looking at playing Greece on the same day at Concord Oval but the Greeks are keen to form a close relationship with their European neighbours.
"We are both new to Rugby League and we want to work together, hopefully taking on each other in our home countries in the near future" said Mylonas
Greek Rugby League officials will still head over to Greece later this year to look at planning for a match next season after being put back a year.
"We were looking at going to Athens later this year to play against the Russians but without any groundwork, it was better to put it off by a year" said Mylonas.
"There is no point going over there and playing games if there isn't going to be any follow up work. We need to play domestic football in Greece"
Malta will go ahead with their planned game in the Maltese town of Marsa in October but are still without an opposition.
"We have been trying to get somebody to play us but we have had no luck. We are just getting no help from the European Rugby League Federation" said Maltese nation coach Joe Grima.
The Lebanese Rugby League have been doing all they can.
"Everyone involved fully appreciates the time and effort it takes to organise a touring team, especially from Down Under to Europe. The delay mainly stems from the upcoming parliamentary elections this month" said Lebanese Rugby League's Danny Kazandjian.
"Until they're held, and the results are digested, it is very difficult for any officials to give us any concrete assurances."
The LRL last month received pledges from the Beirut and Tripoli Municipalities for the tournament. Government and council officials are reluctant to commit to much until after the elections.
Another decision for the delay was that the Rugby League International Federation only recently finalised the Tri-Nations while the European Nations Cup Has Been Formalised.
Georgia, Serbia and Holland have agreed to play in a qualifying round to determine who will join Scotland, Ireland, Wales, France and Russia in the European Nations Cup. This means that new nations can have the opportunity to play in the tournament via the qualifying process.
The plan was for Lebanon, Malta, Greece and Morocco to play in the Mediterranean Cup with other nations in the European Nations Cup, either in the main or qualifying round.
Article from RUGBY LEAGUE REVIEW
