Following the completion of the pilot Lebanese Rugby League competition, the first LRL since the suspension of the championship last year, LRLF CEO Nayef Abi Said has reflected on the path ahead.
“We are pleased that we went ahead with this pilot LRL. The lessons from these four games will allow us to update the LRL rules and regulations before the start of the season to ensure full compliance with the LRL Participation Agreement, adopted last year.”
The last club season ended rancorously with some teams and players withdrawing due to poor standards, prompting the LRLF reform agenda that saw a new Board elected, CEO appointed, regulations and policies adopted. The new four-year strategy has been signed off by the strategy committee and will be recommended to the Board at its next meeting.
“We need to ensure every player is in official kit,” continued Abi Said. “Similarly, the match officials need to present themselves more professionally. Raising standards is a core part of the new 2019-23 strategy and we agreed with some of the complaints levelled against the federation last year – just not the way in which some people attempted to bring about change.
“The evidence is clear that the LRLF and the clubs have worked hard over the last 18 months to make improvements. Lots of players who were unhappy are now calling to get back involved and everyone is welcome, of course. They realize that there have been a lot of false rumors spread by a very small group of people, who have been discredited.
“We invite the non-compliant clubs to get back involved and we will work together on re-equipping them. Lebanese sports law obligates clubs to achieve certain things, with one of the more obvious obligations being participation in the institutions and competition. Should they choose to remain non-compliant then the LRLF will take necessary action in line with the Ministry of Youth and Sport to protect the sport's interests.”
