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Team information | ||||||
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Nickname | The Cedars | |||||
Governing body | Lebanese Rugby League Federation | |||||
Region | Europe | |||||
Head coach | Michael Cheika | |||||
Captain | Mitchell Moses | |||||
Most caps | Christopher Salem (19) | |||||
Top try-scorer | Christopher Salem (15) | |||||
Top point-scorer | Hazem El Masri (196) | |||||
Home stadium | International Olympic Stadium Beirut Municipal Stadium | |||||
IRL ranking | 9th | |||||
Uniforms | ||||||
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Team results | ||||||
First international | ||||||
![]() ![]() (Tokyo, Japan; 1998) | ||||||
Biggest win | ||||||
![]() ![]() (Carcassonne, France; 1999) | ||||||
Biggest defeat | ||||||
![]() ![]() (Moscow, Russia; 28 September 2008) | ||||||
World Cup | ||||||
Appearances | 3 (first time in 2000) | |||||
Best result | Quarterfinals (2017) |
The Lebanon national rugby league team (Arabic: المنتخب اللبناني للرجبي ليغ, French: Équipe du Liban de rugby à XIII) represents Lebanon in rugby league football. Nicknamed "the Cedars" after the Lebanese cedar tree, the team was formed by Lebanese Australians in 1997 and have been administered by the Lebanese Rugby League Federation since 2002.
The Cedars have competed at three Rugby League World Cups (2000, 2017, 2021) achieving their best result as quarter-finalists at the latter two. The team's World Cup history has been defined by close losses and unfavourable draws. They were eliminated in 2000 following a 24–22 loss to Wales and a 22–22 draw with the Cook Islands, and knocked-out in 2017 by a 24–22 loss to a much stronger Tongan team. Lebanon's two unsuccessful qualifying attempts for the 2008 and 2013 tournaments were both decided by points difference after drawing with Ireland in 2006 and again in 2007, and Italy in 2011.
The current head coach is Australian Michael Cheika, who was appointed in October 2020.[1]