On Tuesday 12th January Lebanon’s newest team, Lebanese International University, took the treiziste plunge, playing their first ever game against a scratch Balamand side featuring plenty of fringe and new players.

The newcomers, coached by Balamand’s own former Liban Espoir rep Darwich Darwich, performed admirably, losing 54-0 but thoroughly committed themselves to the physical side of the game.

Coach Darwich said "i'm very glad with the outcome, it was our first game ever and we hope to get some more game time to enable us to get experience"

The match also provided the opportunity for school teacher Ryan Tout, one of Lebanon’s newly qualified batch of match officials, to take control in the middle, which he did with aplomb.