Here is another one guys, I will do one a day till I run out!!
Roughly how many juniors does Lebrl have playing?
In November 2004 Lebanon RL's junior programme commenced. The number of coaches is a problem (we have three, and a fourth who'll be leaving in a few months) meaning expansion cannot be undertaken too quickly. So far we are coaching in three high schools (we had our first 'tag' match in November) and are preparing to go into two more. All the schools we teach in, or intend to teach in, have relationships with our RL-playing universities meaning we'll have a pathway for players to tread with the result that Lebanon's players will be better by the time they reach open age sides.
How many senior teams are you expecting to be playing in 2005?
Our domestic league has five open age sides. We have a sixth that is restricted from playing due to administrative problems between it and our other sides
Is Rugby League played in schools in Lebanon?
Yes, see point 1, above.
Apart from the Med Cup, do you have any other Internationals to be played?
Emerging Lebanon, or Liban Espoir to use its correct French title, plays annually. The senior side plays only in the Med Cup as that is where all our resources are focused and that is the best way, we feel, for attracting interest, sponsorship not only for ourselves but also for other RL nations in the region.
What are Lebrl plans for the 2008 World Cup?
Qualification first and foremost, if the RLIF goes down that route.
Will Lebrl be sending a team to the U16 World Cup in 2005?
No. We have not heard anything about it and our administration is too stretched to be able to consider anything outside of our strategic plan.
Will Lebrl be touring in the near future?
We are currently planning three tours in 2005. Two of our uni sides are preparing to tour Europe in Feb and March and Liban Espoir will tour the UK in August.
Does Lebrl currently know of many players playing in Australia?
The core of our international side plays club football in Sydney. Legally we could stock our national side with 100% Australian-Lebanese but we are morally against this as we strive to balance lebanese RL between Sydney's elite players and Lebanon's improving crop. Head coach Darren Maroun was pleasantly surprised just how our local players had advanced when he came out for the 2004 Med Cup. But the real strength of the national team comes from Australia. Paradoxically, as Lebanon RL gets stronger our national team will get weaker but that's a phenomenon we're prepared for! A Lebanon side in the WC with a large percentage of locally produced players is a real possibility, depending on the RLIF's qualification process, of course.
Can you give us some names of any up and coming players that you believe will make an impact in the near future?
Rudi Hachache already made an impact in the Med Cup at prop. All nine locals played in two games and excelled. Second row Jihad Ashkar, hooker Sami Halabi too many to name! The Lebanese are suited to RL as they're squat and powerful. One of the biggest problems we have is that parents get frightened. Some of our guys have played union before but the comparison in terms of physicality is quite marked what the players love the parents are scared of!
Would just like to thank Danny Kazandjian - Vice president Lebanese RL Committee, for helping me out with the Questions!!
Roughly how many juniors does Lebrl have playing?
In November 2004 Lebanon RL's junior programme commenced. The number of coaches is a problem (we have three, and a fourth who'll be leaving in a few months) meaning expansion cannot be undertaken too quickly. So far we are coaching in three high schools (we had our first 'tag' match in November) and are preparing to go into two more. All the schools we teach in, or intend to teach in, have relationships with our RL-playing universities meaning we'll have a pathway for players to tread with the result that Lebanon's players will be better by the time they reach open age sides.
How many senior teams are you expecting to be playing in 2005?
Our domestic league has five open age sides. We have a sixth that is restricted from playing due to administrative problems between it and our other sides
Is Rugby League played in schools in Lebanon?
Yes, see point 1, above.
Apart from the Med Cup, do you have any other Internationals to be played?
Emerging Lebanon, or Liban Espoir to use its correct French title, plays annually. The senior side plays only in the Med Cup as that is where all our resources are focused and that is the best way, we feel, for attracting interest, sponsorship not only for ourselves but also for other RL nations in the region.
What are Lebrl plans for the 2008 World Cup?
Qualification first and foremost, if the RLIF goes down that route.
Will Lebrl be sending a team to the U16 World Cup in 2005?
No. We have not heard anything about it and our administration is too stretched to be able to consider anything outside of our strategic plan.
Will Lebrl be touring in the near future?
We are currently planning three tours in 2005. Two of our uni sides are preparing to tour Europe in Feb and March and Liban Espoir will tour the UK in August.
Does Lebrl currently know of many players playing in Australia?
The core of our international side plays club football in Sydney. Legally we could stock our national side with 100% Australian-Lebanese but we are morally against this as we strive to balance lebanese RL between Sydney's elite players and Lebanon's improving crop. Head coach Darren Maroun was pleasantly surprised just how our local players had advanced when he came out for the 2004 Med Cup. But the real strength of the national team comes from Australia. Paradoxically, as Lebanon RL gets stronger our national team will get weaker but that's a phenomenon we're prepared for! A Lebanon side in the WC with a large percentage of locally produced players is a real possibility, depending on the RLIF's qualification process, of course.
Can you give us some names of any up and coming players that you believe will make an impact in the near future?
Rudi Hachache already made an impact in the Med Cup at prop. All nine locals played in two games and excelled. Second row Jihad Ashkar, hooker Sami Halabi too many to name! The Lebanese are suited to RL as they're squat and powerful. One of the biggest problems we have is that parents get frightened. Some of our guys have played union before but the comparison in terms of physicality is quite marked what the players love the parents are scared of!
Would just like to thank Danny Kazandjian - Vice president Lebanese RL Committee, for helping me out with the Questions!!
