The 2008 President’s XIII has been selected ahead of next month’s trial match against the incumbent Liban Espoir side, signaling the start of Lebanon’s representative calendar. LRLC president Mohamed Habbous will take control of a 19-man squad to play last year’s Espoirs on 2^nd February in Bhamdoun. The match will form the basis for selection of the 2008 Bank of Beirut Espoirs, whose first match is against a touring United Arab Emirates XIII on 22^nd March, in what will be the Gulf country’s first foray into rugby league. The LRLC is also at an advanced stage of negotiations with another international representative side, meaning the Espoirs will play three home fixtures this year.

League leaders Balamand provide the bulk of the side, with six players selected, while Jounieh, AUB and LAU all provide four. Ramy Rassy rounds the squad out, becoming the first USJ player to gain representative honours.

The President’s XIII concept was forged last year as a means to choose the Espoir squad annually, and was deemed a great success following a tight 20-16 match in which the senior side needed to come from behind and only registered the winning points in the closing stages.

From last year’s President’s XIII squad, front rowers Adel Kanso and Mounir Finan, three-quarters Mohamed Jamil, Ghassan Dandash and Wael Harb, and hooker Fadi Azzam were all selected for the Liban Espoir side that toured Serbia.

2008 President’s XIII squad

Nayef Abisaid (LAU)
Ahmad Al Masri (Jounieh)
Freddy Beaini (LAU)
Fadi Barakat (LAU)
Youssef Chagoury (Balamand)
Danny Chemaly (Jounieh)
Andrew Dahdah (Balamand)
Nabil Dora (Jounieh)
Firas El Mir (Balamand)
Anthony Ghossein (AUB)
Jad Hachem (LAU)
Khalil Hijal (Jounieh)
Abdel Kader Jamal El-Dine (Balamand)
Megho Keychian (AUB)
Riad Khoury (Balamand)
Sami Mansour (Balamand)
Karim Mourabet (AUB)
Ramy Rassy (USJ)
Nimr Saliba (AUB)