Rugby league in Lebanon

The seeds of rugby league in Lebanon lie in Australia. A group of Australian-born rugby league players with Lebanese heritage, mostly from inner-city Sydney formed a side with a view to entering the 2000 Rugby League World Cup. They were accepted into the qualifying tournament on the agreement that they would aim to develop rugby league within the country they represent. They subsequently went on to win the qualifying competition, earning their place by beating Italy and Morocco of the Mediterranean group before travelling to Florida to defeat the USA, winners of the Pacific group.

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 side, and a side composed entirely from Lebanese domestic players, known as Lebanon Espoirs has been formed.

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 event.

In 2011, the government of Lebanon promised to increase its support and funding for rugby league.

The Lebanese Rugby League Federation are based in Safra in Lebanon. They are associate members of the Rugby League European Federation and full members of the Rugby League International Federation.

There are eight teams that play in the Bank of Beirut Lebanon Championship domestic league.

Media representation of rugby league has grown dramatically in the past few years with the domestic competition now covered by all ten marquee Lebanese newspapers, two prominent radio stations and the country’s major television stations.

Lebanese rugby league is often featured on the Qatar-based Al Jazeera network. In 2007 the first ever game report featured on a game in Lebanon was televised on Al Jazeera.