The new board of the Lebanese Rugby League Federation’s Australian entity has been confirmed following an open recruitment process. The Australian Chapter Inc. is answerable to the LRLF administrative board and was created to facilitate contractual arrangements between Lebanese rugby league and Australian organisations. It also acts in an advisory capacity to organise activity for Lebanon’s Sydney-based youth players.
The five-strong board comprises Anthony Sakr and Marcel Nasser, both of whom played for Lebanon in the 2000 Rugby League World Cup; former Boston 13s player George Aroyan, who played two matches for Lebanon, on the Cedars’ tour to Italy in 2010; Walid Tlais, who coached Lebanese American University in 2003; and Joe Hickory, a former chapter committee member in 2017. The group will elect a chair at their first meeting.
Anthony Sakr said: I'd like to take this opportunity to thank the Lebanese Rugby League Federation for my appointed position. It was an honour to represent Lebanon in the first ever game in 1997 as a player, and more recently as a coach. It will be an even greater honour to be able to play a part in the future development and growth of young Lebanese players. I believe with our combined efforts, dedication and commitment, we can inspire our next generation to seek to achieve successful careers as rugby league players in the NRL and to one day represent their country of origin, Lebanon, at the highest level.
Walid Tlais said: I'm thrilled to have been selected to support the Lebanon Australian Chapter to build a formidable Lebanese rugby league team able to challenge the worlds best. I've seen the difficulties the LRLF had endured since 2003 with limited resources to eventually qualify for the 2017 world cup. The talent Lebanon can achieve greatness. Looking forward to working with the Australian Chapter that will put together the best team to win the 2021 world cup.
