Lebanon may miss future Rugby League World Cups after downgrade

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 31 Oct, 06:50 · Archive

The International Rugby League downgraded Lebanon from full member to affiliate status in 2024, which may prevent them competing at World Cups.

Lebanon's match against France at this Rugby League World Cup could be their last for the foreseeable future. The International Rugby League downgraded Lebanon's membership status from full member to affiliate in 2024. Only full members, who must meet governance and domestic participation benchmarks across men's, women's and youth rugby league, can participate at World Cups.

Lebanon qualified for this tournament as quarter-finalists from 2022, but the conflict in the Middle East has hampered the sport's development in the nation. Lebanon played just one Test match, against Italy in Sydney, between the 2022 World Cup and this year's tournament. Head coach Michael Cheika selected no players from Lebanon's domestic competition, instead drawing on players who qualify through ancestry and have received support from the Lebanese diaspora in Australia.

IRL chair Troy Grant acknowledged the difficult circumstances, saying the conflict had worsened since 2022 and that Lebanon lacked the game time needed to maintain full membership status. He noted that those based domestically have been supported by a group in Australia, and that while Lebanon faced 'a number of inhibitors', they were 'an absolute asset to international rugby league'.

How it is being reported

• Why this Rugby League World Cup could be Lebanon’s last for a while‘They’re just caught up in massively difficult circumstances.’Perth Now · 31 Oct, 06:20
• Why this Rugby League World Cup could be Lebanon’s last for a while‘They’re just caught up in massively difficult circumstances.’The West Australian · 31 Oct, 06:18

In this story: Lebanon · France · Michael Cheika · Troy Grant · International Rugby League · Australia

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