Liban Epoir squad announced
The Lebanese Rugby League Committee has announced the Liban Espoir squad for next months historic tour to Great Britain. The 19-man squad, drawn exclusively from the five-team domestic league, kicks off its tough nine-day campaign on 23 August in Lancaster against the England Lionhearts, a national representative side from Englands well-stocked amateur rugby league ranks.
The Lebanese then head to South Wales for a match against a Welsh Presidents XIII on 26 August at Bridgends Brewery Field before travelling to Cardiffs magnificent Millennium Stadium as special guests of the English federation, the Rugby Football League, where they will be amongst a crowd of 80,000 to watch the cup final.
"The team is bonding very well. Im happy with the selected squad," said head coach Remond Safi. "At this stage were stronger in the forwards, especially their combination with the halfbacks."
Safi, who has led AUB to Lebanons championship final in each of his three seasons, is under no illusions as to the size of the Espoirs task in facing two national squads who will be in the middle of Britains Amateur Four Nations tournament, alongside Ireland and Scotland. "We need to improve our appreciation of ball security and our collective organisation in defence, which is a little naïve," said the former South Sydney Junior and Lebanese Army lieutenant.
"Over the next month we intend to fine tune the squad until its a well oiled machine, and we hope to give our opponents a good run for their money."
Lebanons brightest rugby league talent will complete their trip in the Bristol nine-a-side tournament on 28 August. The tour will serve as a trial for full national team honours ahead of Octobers Mediterranean Cup, where the local players will be joined by Lebanons elite Australian-based professionals in the defence of the title.
Liban Espoir squad in full:
Backs: Gilbert Haydamous, Elias Khoury, Naji Bassil, Jad Abinassif, Wassim Moumneh, Pierre Nasr, Hadi Yashruti, Jawad Fakih, Rany Chahoud.
Forwards: Hassan Taha, Bassel Rehayem, George Helou, Omar Darwish, Alan Sultan, Amin Maassarani, Antoine Samarani, Ibrahim Ballout, Georges Rehayem, Youssef El Helou.
The Lebanese then head to South Wales for a match against a Welsh Presidents XIII on 26 August at Bridgends Brewery Field before travelling to Cardiffs magnificent Millennium Stadium as special guests of the English federation, the Rugby Football League, where they will be amongst a crowd of 80,000 to watch the cup final.
"The team is bonding very well. Im happy with the selected squad," said head coach Remond Safi. "At this stage were stronger in the forwards, especially their combination with the halfbacks."
Safi, who has led AUB to Lebanons championship final in each of his three seasons, is under no illusions as to the size of the Espoirs task in facing two national squads who will be in the middle of Britains Amateur Four Nations tournament, alongside Ireland and Scotland. "We need to improve our appreciation of ball security and our collective organisation in defence, which is a little naïve," said the former South Sydney Junior and Lebanese Army lieutenant.
"Over the next month we intend to fine tune the squad until its a well oiled machine, and we hope to give our opponents a good run for their money."
Lebanons brightest rugby league talent will complete their trip in the Bristol nine-a-side tournament on 28 August. The tour will serve as a trial for full national team honours ahead of Octobers Mediterranean Cup, where the local players will be joined by Lebanons elite Australian-based professionals in the defence of the title.
Liban Espoir squad in full:
Backs: Gilbert Haydamous, Elias Khoury, Naji Bassil, Jad Abinassif, Wassim Moumneh, Pierre Nasr, Hadi Yashruti, Jawad Fakih, Rany Chahoud.
Forwards: Hassan Taha, Bassel Rehayem, George Helou, Omar Darwish, Alan Sultan, Amin Maassarani, Antoine Samarani, Ibrahim Ballout, Georges Rehayem, Youssef El Helou.
