The Lebanese Rugby League Committee has selected a 26-man train-on squad for the 2008 Euro Med Challenge, which takes place in September and October. Lebanon plays Russia away on 28^th September before closing out the tri-series against Serbia on 5^th October. Russia visits Belgrade on 20^th September.

RLEF tournament director Kevin Rudd: “It is important that, despite not qualifying for the Rugby League World Cup 08 in Australia, [these nations] continue to gain competitive international experience and exposure. Such encounters offer them a platform to develop their performances on the field and structures off it. It looks set to be a highly competitive series of matches.” Lebanon will look to continue their perfect record against both Russia and Serbia. The Cedars beat Russia in World Cup qualifying in 2006 and 2007, and Serbia in Mediterranean Cups 2003 and 2004, while last year Liban Espoir also narrowly defeated the Balkan nation in Belgrade.

Interim Cedars head coach Remond Safi has invited six newcomers to the train-on squad, which was selected following the trial match on Sunday between the Espoirs and the President’s XIII. LAU quartet Bahije Saidar, Hanny Rifai, Ahmad Fadlallah and Ray Finan, plus AUB duo Anthony Ghossein and Gaby Abou Fayad will join the 2008 Espoir squad this Wednesday when training commences in Balamand.

Former Cedars Jad Abinassif and Rudy Hachache, who both toured with the 2006 World Cup qualifying party, will join the squad in August. Abinassif is set to return to Lebanon from Qatar while Hachache is representing Lebanon in judo in the Beijing Olympics. Jounieh hooker Fadi Azzam, currently in the UAE, is a contender for the Cedars squad, while discussions are ongoing with some Sydney-based players who may make the trip over to Europe.

Lebanon ‘train-on’ squad

Jad Abinassif (unattached)
Gaby Abou Fayad (AUB Wolves RLFC)
Youssef Chagoury (Balamand Razorbacks)
Nicolas Chammas (Jounieh Al-Galacticos RLFC)
Danny Chemaly (Jounieh Al-Galacticos RLFC)
Ghassan Dandash (Jounieh Al-Galacticos RLFC)
Nabil Dora (Jounieh Al-Galacticos RLFC)
Youssef El Helou (Jounieh Al-Galacticos RLFC)
Ahmad El Masri (Jounieh Al-Galacticos RLFC)
Ramy El Rassy (USJ Saints)
Ahmad Fadlallah (LAU Immortals RLFC)
Mounir Finan (AUB Wolves RLFC)
Ray Finan (LAU Immortals RLFC)
Anthony Ghossein (AUB Wolves RLFC)
Wael Harb (AUB Wolves RLFC)
Robin Hachache (LAU Immortals RLFC)
Rudy Hachache (LAU Immortals RLFC)
Mohamed Jamil (LAU Immortals RLFC)
Adel Kanso (AUB Wolves RLFC)
Megho Keychian (AUB Wolves RLFC)
Riad Khoury (Balamand Razorbacks)
Pierre Nasr (Jounieh Al-Galacticos RLFC)
Hany Rifai (LAU Immortals RLFC)
Bahije Saidar (LAU Immortals RLFC)
Nemer Saliba (AUB Wolves RLFC)
Wael Tawil (Balamand Razorbacks)