A major introduction to the Lebanese Rugby League Federation strategy is the development of Women’s Rugby League, to align the organisation with the rest of the Full Members of the RLIF. Women’s Rugby League is a fast growing sport, with the Women’s World Cup held alongside the Men’s World Cup later this year. An implementation plan has been developed and Phase 1 of its strategy has been successfully completed. The aim is to grow existing participation numbers, involve more women in the structure of the LRLF, and ultimately represent Lebanon under the banner of the Junipers on the world stage.
June 2016 saw the first ever sanctioned Lebanese Women’s Rugby League fixture between the American University of Beirut and Jounieh RLFC. The match was a culmination of 18 months of women’s rugby league activity and development driven by ambitious Lebanese students and personnel to launch the sport.
The fixture served as a catalyst for women’s development, which saw the introduction of a Lebanese American University team, as well as Jamhour and Orcas Rugby League. The negative stereotype involved with women taking part in contact sport is always a challenge; however, the birth of women’s rugby league has been through students in educational institutions who are forward thinking with athletic aspirations that transcend gender.
The LRLF has three registered women match officials who are an integral part of the Match Officials Department, officiating in top-level fixtures in the Lebanon Rugby League Championship, as well as the Collegiate and Schools Rugby League Championship.
The Junipers are the Lebanese Women’s National Rugby League Team. Inspired by the achievements of the Cedars, the Junipers hope to follow in their footsteps to become a competitive team on the world stage. On the 25th of February 2017, the first ever Lebanese women’s international fixture took place between the Lebanon Junipers and Italy in the Women’s Mediterranean Cup, hosted by Lebanon. The historic match inspired women in the LRLF Australian Chapter to get involved, which is surprisingly the opposite of how rugby league was initiated in Lebanon, further increasing participation numbers both locally and in Australia.
The team includes women from different educational institutions, backgrounds, cultures, and religions; which embodies the LRLF’s core operating values and what they aim to achieve with the development of women’s rugby league in Lebanon.
The Australian based Lebanese heritage players competed under the Lebanon Junipers with an international nines fixture against the Cook Islands, held at Ringrose Stadium on September 30. This was the first ever Lebanese women’s fixture played in Australia, with many of the women playing their first match of rugby league.
Cook Islands drew first blood with a try by Lynda Hawth. The try was converted by Talei Holmes and put them in front early in the first half. Junipers winger, Fatima Dennaoi, responded with a try of her own to lock the scores at 6 - 6 going into half time. The Junipers took the lead in the second half with an unconverted try by Hunter Hakim making it 10 - 6. With 20 seconds remaining in the match, the Cook Islands scored a converted try to win the match 10 - 12.
Sam Saadat Junipers head coach said: "We were both honoured and privileged to represent the LRLF and the Junipers in our first fixture against the Cook Islands. It was an exciting game of football with exemplary skills shown by both sides. Unfortunately our ladies fell just short, losing by 2 points in the final minute of the game. The Junipers can hold their heads high having gone the distance with a World Cup team and the coaching staff are excited to be heading over to Lebanon later this year to work with our local Womens program.The future looks strong for the Junipers in Australia and especially in Lebanon and we are both confident and excited about future World Cup prospects".
Their next fixture is on the 14th of October 2017, 615 pm against Fiji at Leichardt Oval in Sydney, as part of a curtain raiser for the Cedars Rugby League World Cup warmup fixture against Niue.
Junipers 10 (6) v (6) 12 Cook Islands
Junipers
Tries: Fatima Dennaoui, Hunter Hakim
Goals: Fatima Dennaoui 1/2
Cook Islands
Tries: Lynda Hawth, ??
Goals: Talei Holmes 2/2
Junipers
Jamilee Bright, Hunter Hakim, Dahlia El Khatib, Narmeen Mohamad, Priscilla Younes, Fatima Dennaoui, Jenalle Daniel, Sarh Asaad, Christine Estaphan, Carla Risk, Rarmia Karam, Claudia Saadat, Amanda Rahme, Head Coach Sam Saadat
Cook Islands
Mangaro Maraeara, Lovetta Frazer, Kirtsy Sant, Paris Ruwhiu, Celia Strickland, Anel George, Lynda Howath, Samaria Taia, Shanaya Mamo, Grace Li, Talei Holmes, Mikayla Milaki, Eliza Suluape,
