RLIF OFFICIAL RANKING: 11

COACH: Johnny Elias

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Chris Salem, Jarrod Saffy, George Ndeira, Tim Mannah, Hazem El Masri

HISTORY

Lebanon has been participating in international competition since 1998 and qualified for the 2000 Rugby League World Cup. Despite a draw with the Cook Islands and a narrow defeat to Wales, 'The Cedars' just failed to progress from the group stages but made a significant impression.

A 13 match unbeaten run dating back to 2000 came to an end in 2007 when Lebanon was defeated 38-16 by Samoa in the repechage, ending their hopes of reaching the 2008 Rugby League World Cup. Players like Hazem El Masri and Robbie Farah have been stalwarts of the NRL.

PROSPECTS

After just failing to qualify for last year's Rugby League World Cup, Lebanon will be determined to prove their critics wrong by winning this tournament. Boasting a strong side with players such as Chris Salem, Jarrod Saffy and Tim Mannah Lebanon will start the competition as strong contenders and coach Johnny Elias sees this tournament as a stepping stone towards the 2013 Rugby League World Cup.

RECENT RESULTS

5 October 2008          Lebanon 20 v     Serbia      14          RLEF Euro Med Challenge

28 September 2008 Russia 80   v     Lebanon 0        RLEF Euro Med Challenge

14 November 2007  Samoa 38    v     Lebanon 16        World Cup 10th Place Final

9 November 2007   Wales 26    v     Lebanon 50        World Cup Qualifier

RLEF EUROPEAN CUP FIXTURES (Pool 1)

Saturday 24 October     V Italy (h) Tripoli Olympic Stadium KO20.00

Sunday 1 November V Scotland (a)    Hughenden, Glasgow      KO15.00 on Sky Sports

Sunday 8 November Finals Day  Bridgend, Wales

Lebanon have included World record points scorer Hazem El Mazri in their line up, although his participation will be confirmed once Canterbury Bulldogs' play-off comiitments have been completed.

The Cedars are due to open their rugbyleague.com European Cup campaign at home at home to Italy in Tripoli, El Mazri's birthplace, and he has indicated his desire to play.

Coach John Elias has also included Wests Tigers and NSW hooker Robbie Farah although has also been named in the Australian train-on squad for the forthcoming Gillette Four Nations tournament.

Farah made his representative debut in the first ever international match in Lebanon, the 2002 Mediterranean Cup, in a side that also featured El Masri who, alongside Chris Salem, is one of only two survivors from the 2000 world cup squad.

Salem and playmaker Anthony Farah are the most experienced players in the squad, both with 12 caps, followed by Newcastle utility George Ndaira, arguably Lebanon's best player throughout the 2008 World Cup qualifying campaign. Also included is local front row Robin Hachache, who captained the national team in the 2008 Euro Med Challenge.

The squad will be trimmed to 20 on 5th October before the Sydney-based players join up with the locals from the Bank of Beirut Championship in Lebanon on 21st October.

Liam Ayoub - Bulldogs, SG Ball, Danny Barakat - Bankstown City, Bundaberg Red Cup, Danny Chiha - Windsor, NSW Cup, Jamie Clarke - Canterbury Bulldogs, NRL, Ghassan Dandach - Jounieh RLFC, Bank of Beirut Championship, Khaled Deeb - Newtown Jets, Nathan Dib - Canterbury Bulldogs, Toyota Cup, Ahmad Ellaz - Cronulla, Toyota Cup, Youssef El Helou - Jounieh RLFC, Bank of Beirut Championship, Hazem El Masri - Canterbury Bulldogs, NRL, Mounir Finan - Jounieh RLFC, Bank of Beirut Championship, Ray Finan - LAU, Bank of Beirut Championship, Anthony Farah - Mounties, Bundaberg Red Cup, Charlie Farah - Bankstown City, Bundaberg Red Cup, Robbie Farah - Wests Tigers, NRL, Robin Hachache - LAU, Bank of Beirut Championship, Jad Hashem - LAU, Bank of Beirut Championship, Wael Harb - Wolves RLFC, Bank of Beirut Championship, Paul Jabbour - Jounieh, Bank of Beirut Championship, Allen Khoury - LAU, Bank of Beirut Championship, John Koborsi- Wentworthville, Bundaberg Red Cup, Josh Mansour - South Sydney, Toyota Cup, Tommy Mansour - Bankstown City, Bundaberg Red Cup, Ray Moujalli - Newtown Jets- NSW Cup ,Karim Mourabet - Jounieh RLFC, Bank of Beirut Championship, George Ndaira - Newcastle Knights, NRL, Toufic Nicholas - Bankstown City- Bundaberg Red Cup, Reece Robinson - North Sydney Bears, NSW Cup, Travis Robinson - Chester Hill, Jarrod Saffy - St George Illawarra, NRL, Adnan Saleh - Bankstown City- Bundaberg Red Cup, Chris Salem - Bankstown City- Bundaberg Red Cup, Daniel Sayegh - North Sydney Bears, NSW Cup