The Lebanese Rugby League Committee has taken another step towards sustaining schools development in Lebanon after it contributed rugby league balls to a number of sports teachers in Tripoli last week.

The teachers, all of whom were qualified under the LRLC’s entry level coaching programme, had been unable to begin putting their new skills into practise due to the lack of the one basic necessity of rugby league – although some inventive souls had started giving rugby league lessons using basketballs and footballs.

“It was really good to see the enthusiasm amongst them when they received the new balls,” said course director and head of the Development Department, Remond Safi (pictured, far right). “All of them were very excited and were looking forward to taking the balls back to their schools and introducing proper sessions to their students. When they heard about our intentions for a national team at youth level, this was also quite a motivation for them.”

The balls were contributed thanks to donations from private citizens in north Lebanon who are keen to see school children take up the sport.

The LRLC continues to negotiate with the Beirut schools department to conduct a similar course in the capital.