The Lebanese Rugby League Federation is pleased to announce Michael Cheika as the Cedars head coach for the coming Rugby League World Cup 2021
"I am very grateful to have been given this opportunity to represent Lebanon on the world stage at the Rugby League World Cup in 2021,” said the Sydney Roosters assistant coach. “I am looking forward to the Lebanese diaspora coming together with those in Lebanon to make everyone in the country and around the world very proud of their team - and we can give them plenty to cheer about."
Hailing from Zgharta, north Lebanon, Cheika played both codes of rugby when he was young but is most famous for coaching Australia to two union world cups, in 2015 and 2019. His contract involves him leading on training programs for players based in Lebanon and implementing a performance programs with at least six local players guaranteed spots in the Cedars’ world cup squad.
LRLF president Assaad Feghali said: “We welcome the appointment as a positive outcome not only for the Cedars’ World Cup campaign but also the continuing improvement of the game in Lebanon. The opportunity to provide knowledge to assist Lebanon further develop their well-established local programs will be well-received amongst local stakeholders.”
Lebanon is in Group C, and plays New Zealand on 24 October, 2021, then Ireland a week later before concluding the pool stage against Jamaica on 7 November, 2021. Cheika, who replaces Rick Stone as coach, will need to get to the semi-finals to better Lebanon’s historic 2017 performance.
