France v Lebanon test series (Merged Threads)

[welshmagpie]

12 hours ago, barnyia said:

They've a second'ground in the town which is pretty good, the France A and  b fixtures have been written into the super xiii callender, there's a game v Ukraine for the b team I think, a game for the presidents 13 v Catalan and a Saturday night  of rugby league, but i don't know if that's a type of magic weekend or a presentation evening, the 9s are to be played the same day as the grand final 2nd June, 

The 19s are touring Australiaat the end of this month (funded by each player via sponsorship) v roosters u19s, v a college team, then the schoolboys in gold coast, 

So France are labelling a World Cup Qualifier and full international as a ‘B’ team game? That’s Ukraine’s team talk written ready for them. 

[ATLANTISMAN]

15 minutes ago, langpark said:

How so?

"Lebanon" (20 Aussies) will spend well over six figures to play these two matches. You could probably employ a dozen development officers in Beirut for 2 years with the amount they are blowing on these two meaningless fixtures. 

I sort of get that however be supportive of the fantastic Lebanese community in Sydney many who have done well and are true rugby league people 

Edited September 5, 2024 by ATLANTISMAN

[langpark]

3 minutes ago, ATLANTISMAN said:

I sort of get that however be supportive of the fantastic Lebanese community in Sydney many who have done well and are true rugby league people 

I suppose that is where we disagree. Simply "spending money" is not a criteria for admiration. What exactly are they soending on? A Euro trip for themselves and their mates? Rather than something of substance?

It is a carbon copy of "Italy", who also spent tonnes of money in a similar manner, then they also wonder why.after 25 years of doing this, there is still not a single RL club in Italy to this day. 

Lebanon are on the exact same path, with just slightly more domestic activity, thanks to that college comp they run a few weeks per year. 

[barnyia]

2 hours ago, welshmagpie said:

So France are labelling a World Cup Qualifier and full international as a ‘B’ team game? That’s Ukraine’s team talk written ready for them. 

 

[BristolDevonCharlie]

3 hours ago, langpark said:

How so?

"Lebanon" (20 Aussies) will spend well over six figures to play these two matches. You could probably employ a dozen development officers in Beirut for 2 years with the amount they are blowing on these two meaningless fixtures. 

Not meaningless. The IRL has indicated that the next World Cup qualifications will be part based on world ranking. Playing games is the best way to improve your rankings. Lebanon doing ###### all and staying at home doesn't help anything. 

Plus, I bet some of their squad are home grown, like their RLWC 2021 squad. Also, even many of their 'Aussies' are second or third graders who will benefit from the trip and experience. 

[Odsal Outlaw]

This schedule could be a good move by France, they ultimately need to beat (likely) Wales to get to the World Series and then hopefully the RLWC. They have two games against Lebanon to prepare for a game against Wales. By sending their B team out against Ukraine their A team gets a full weeks rest where as Wales will be playing a second game in 4 days.

[langpark]

5 hours ago, BristolDevonCharlie said:

Plus, I bet some of their squad are home grown, like their RLWC 2021 squad. Also, even many of their 'Aussies' are second or third graders who will benefit from the trip and experience. 

Please let me take you up on that bet. There won't be any, just like they have done at the last two World Cups. 

You talk about WC qualifying. They will not be a part of it, as things stand right now. Due to lack of activity domestically. So why don't they address that first. Their Aussie boys can beat, France, England, even Australia if they want to, it will have no bearing on theit participation in the WCQs while RL continues to remain (almost) dormant in Lebanon. 

Edited September 6, 2024 by langpark

[Eddie]

6 hours ago, BristolDevonCharlie said:

 

Plus, I bet some of their squad are home grown, like their RLWC 2021 squad. 

How many of their 2021 squad had come through the Lebanese rugby league system? 

[bobbruce]

11 hours ago, langpark said:

How so?

"Lebanon" (20 Aussies) will spend well over six figures to play these two matches. You could probably employ a dozen development officers in Beirut for 2 years with the amount they are blowing on these two meaningless fixtures. 

Internationals are meaningless fixtures. Tell me your Australian without telling me…

[langpark]

24 minutes ago, bobbruce said:

Internationals are meaningless fixtures. Tell me your Australian without telling me…

Nice try. The onus is actually on you, not me, to explain what will be gained from playing this match. (from a Lebanon point of view)

[sam4731]

9 hours ago, barnyia said:

 

'Whoops sorry France but you're B team don't qualify as a full international side so your match against Ukraine is defaulted to Ukraine which means Wales qualify for the World Series in your place.'

Said by the IRL when pigs fly.

[Tommygilf]

As ever I'd call it a full test match still, but with the tacit acceptance that it was a B team playing given the standard of the opposition. 

4 minutes ago, sam4731 said:

'Whoops sorry France but you're B team don't qualify as a full international side so your match against Ukraine is defaulted to Ukraine which means Wales qualify for the World Series in your place.'

Said by the IRL when pigs fly.

 

[barnyia]

They played Ukraine last year with a b/elite1 team and scored 70 points

[gingerjon]

12 hours ago, langpark said:

I suppose that is where we disagree. Simply "spending money" is not a criteria for admiration. What exactly are they soending on? A Euro trip for themselves and their mates? Rather than something of substance?

It is a carbon copy of "Italy", who also spent tonnes of money in a similar manner, then they also wonder why.after 25 years of doing this, there is still not a single RL club in Italy to this day. 

Lebanon are on the exact same path, with just slightly more domestic activity, thanks to that college comp they run a few weeks per year. 

It's especially frustrating because there was domestic activity and now there just sort of isn't.

[langpark]

1 hour ago, gingerjon said:

It's especially frustrating because there was domestic activity and now there just sort of isn't.

Frustrating but not surprising, given their closed door policy they seem to have against their local players.

[Click]

14 hours ago, langpark said:

How so?

"Lebanon" (20 Aussies) will spend well over six figures to play these two matches. You could probably employ a dozen development officers in Beirut for 2 years with the amount they are blowing on these two meaningless fixtures. 

I don't think they had a choice between these matches or development officers.

It was these matches or nothing.

[The Future is League]

I see no value for Rugby League in Lebanon with the French series with a team of Lebanonese Aussies, not unless they bring into their squad some players from their local collage/ university comp.

[Eddie]

22 minutes ago, The Future is League said:

I see no value for Rugby League in Lebanon with the French series with a team of Lebanonese Aussies, not unless they bring into their squad some players from their local collage/ university comp.

Zero value, the team shouldn’t be called Lebanon if it has no Lebanese players in it either. Much like an American lacrosse team of Americans with English grandparents shouldn’t be called England. 

[langpark]

1 hour ago, Click said:

I don't think they had a choice between these matches or development officers.

It was these matches or nothing.

Why only these matches? Who had a gun to their heads? It is their money and they are choosing how to spend it. 

[BristolDevonCharlie]

7 hours ago, langpark said:

Please let me take you up on that bet. There won't be any, just like they have done at the last two World Cups.

Happy to take it up. Hopefully, there is now at least a token one!

 

6 hours ago, Eddie said:

How many of their 2021 squad had come through the Lebanese rugby league system? 

Toufic El Hajj, Robin Hachache and Atef Hamdan (who replaced Hachache in the squad), I believe. 

Not as good as Greece or Jamaica, same as Italy but better than Ireland, Cook Islands, Tonga and Samoa.. 

[BristolDevonCharlie]

7 hours ago, langpark said:

You talk about WC qualifying. They will not be a part of it, as things stand right now. Due to lack of activity domestically. So why don't they address that first. Their Aussie boys can beat, France, England, even Australia if they want to, it will have no bearing on theit participation in the WCQs while RL continues to remain (almost) dormant in Lebanon. 

Well, they probably have four years to turn that around, and hopefully the political / brink-of-war situation calms down a bit by then. 

So, assuming they do regain full membership, would it not have been better to play some games than play none at all, in the preceding few years?

[fenster]

10 hours ago, Eddie said:

How many of their 2021 squad had come through the Lebanese rugby league system? 

Western Sydney?

[crashmon]

its still an international match series between two teams who played  in the last WC.

Remind me how many world cups the exiles have played in, or Lancs or Yorks?

[JM2010]

6 hours ago, langpark said:

Frustrating but not surprising, given their closed door policy they seem to have against their local players.

I don’t think it’s a closed door policy. They probably just pick the strongest available team

[fenster]

It’s not ideal but if it keeps France busy in the autumn playing competitive international RL I’m all for it.