The train-on squad for the inaugural President's XIII has been announced, with 37 players invited to compete for spots in the squad to face the 2006 Liban Espoir side on 3 March. A 17-man squad will be selected following an afternoon of fitness and skill drills. The 2006 Espoir players will also attend to enable the coaching staff to record performance data and compare and contrast skill levels.

Lebanese rugby league has introduced the President's XIII concept this year to provide a genuine trial setting. From 2007 onwards, each Liban Espoir squad will be selected after a match between the previous year's Espoir players and the President's XIII. Liban Espoir's 2007 programme comprises playing against UNIFIL in Lebanon and touring Serbia in August, after which six players will be selected for the Lebanon squad for the crucial World Cup qualifiers against Russia and Ireland.

The selection session begins at 2pm, Saturday 24^th February, at the Frere high school, Furn Al Shebek.

President's XIII train-on squad

Three quarters/fullbacks:

Jawad Fakih, Mohamed Jamil, Freddy Beainy, Allen Khoury, George Rahal, Khodr Khreis (LAU); Riad Khoury, Sami Mansour , Firas El Mir (UOB); Khalil Hijal, Fadi Azam, Khodr Salameh, Mazen Sebai, Rany Chahoud (CL/AUST); Ghassan Dandash (LU), Wael Harb, Hashem El Hoss, Megho Keychian (AUB)

Halves:

Ahmed Hammoud (LAU); Anthony Ghassan (AUB).

Hookers:

Peter Eid (NDU); Hass Saleh (CL) Ramzi Tawil (AUB)

Props/second rows:

Wael Neghme, George Khoury, Elie Khoury, Sassine Samarani, Nicolas Chammas, Ahmed El Masri (AUST/CL); Ibrahim Ballout, Bassel Nasrallah (LAU); Mounir Finan, Karim Mourabet, 

Bassel Rehayem, Adel Kanzo, Nimr Saliba (AUB) Hassan Merouwe (NDU); John El Haiby, Nizar Azam, Wissam Krayam, Andrew Dahdah (UOB)

Liban Espoir

Backs

Danny Chemaly, Naji Ramy, Gilbert Haydamous, Najy Bassil, Pierre Nasr, Jad Abi-Nassif ©, Roy Abla.

Forwards

Rudy Hachache, Robin Hachache, Omar Darwish, Darwiche Darwich, Mohamed Zawil, Nabil Dora, Amin Maassarani, Sol Mokdad, Wael Tawil, Youssef El Helou