The LRLC has announced the 2008 Bank of Beirut Espoirs squad as Lebanon prepares for a seminal year of representative football including matches against a UAE rep side, Russia and Serbia, as well as the possibility of a series against another major European nation, with talks still ongoing.

The selection panel of Remond Safi, Mohamed Habbous and Danny Kazandjian consulted with captain Pierre Nasr in several rounds of discussions before choosing the 18-man squad and, for the first time, a 7-man active reserve, reflecting the importance of the season’s rep calendar. “This year the selection committee had difficulty selecting the squad as new talent is coming up and cannot go without notice,” said Safi. “I am very pleased with the final squad - it is very strong - we just need to fine tune the team, get re-acquainted with our patterns and incorporate the newcomers.”

Twelve players retain their places from the successful 2007 edition Liban Espoir side, which won two matches on tour in Serbia and which supplied four players to the national team’s heroic tilt at World Cup qualification. Eight of those return to provide the Espoirs’ forward division with an abundance of experience, and are joined by Ahmad Masri, arguably the form forward in the Bank of Beirut Rugby League Championship, who joins the back row, adding his strong ball carry and high work rate to a seasoned pack.

Jounieh scrum half Danny Chemaly is the only player from the 2007 Espoir squad to gain a recall, with the stocky play-maker drafted in to help craft a new combination in the creative department following the departure of 2007 halves Roy Abla and Omar Darwich. Chemaly, who also provides options at hooker, is joined by promising LAU halfback Jad Hashem, who so impressed for the President’s XIII, and the precociously talented Karim Jamal, with the LAU prospect drafted into the reserves.

Hashem is one of four newcomers to the back division. Balamand fullback Riad Khoury gets a deserving call up and is joined by experienced LAU three-quarter Freddy Baeani and AUB speedster Megho Keychian (pictured, above).

Wael Harb and Ghassan Dandash have been moved to the active reserve squad for disciplinary reasons. Their demotion, along with Rudy Hachache’s unavailability due to suspension, means that the Espoirs will face the UAE XIII on 22^nd March without the scorers of their seven tries against the President’s XIII. The duo are joined by forwards Nemr Saliba, the ball-playing AUB back row, and Al-Galacticos’ Elie Khoury. The active reserve is completed by two raw but talented youngsters, USJ’s top try-scorer Ramy Rassy and Balamand’s Youssef Chagoury, the only rookie included in the set up.

2008 Bank of Beirut Espoirs

Forwards: Fadi Azzam, Danny Chemaly, Nicolas Chammas, Youssef El Helou, Ahmed Masri (all Jounieh RLFC), Mounir Finan, Adel Kanso (AUB Wolves RLFC), Robin Hachache, Rudy Hachache (LAU Immortals RLFC), Wael Tawil (Balamand)

Backs: Freddy Baeani, Mohamed Jamil, Jad Hashem (LAU Immortals RLFC), Nagi Bassil, Gilber Haydamous, Riad Khoury (Balamand), Megho Keychian (AUB Wolves RLFC), Pierre Nasr © (Jounieh RLFC)

Active Reserve: Youssef Chagoury (Balamand), Ghassan Dandash, Elie Khoury (Jounieh RLFC), Karim Jamal (LAU Immortals RLFC), Nemr Saliba, Wael Harb (AUB Wolves RLFC), Ramy Rassi (USJ)