More than the Score – How rugby league found a home in Lebanon

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Lebanon might not be the first place you think of when you think of rugby league, but their men’s national team, the Cedars, have reached the quarter-finals at the past two World Cups.

The team is composed of players from Australia’s large Lebanese diaspora, several of whom are leading names in one of the world’s top leagues, the NRL. Lebanon’s own national federation is working to build the domestic game too – something that’s proved increasingly challenging given the crises the country has faced in recent years.

More than the Score’s Delyth Lloyd hears from Gaby Haddad, chief operating officer of the Lebanese Rugby League Federation, about the sport’s history in Lebanon, his hopes for developing domestic players who can star on the world stage, and the battle his federation faces to persuade eligible players to represent them.

They’re also joined by Simon Smale from Australia’s public broadcaster, the ABC, who tells us more about some of the players with Lebanese roots who’ve become big names in the game.

Unexpected questions and beyond the scoresheet chat. More than the Score tells stories from all over the world of sport. From Formula One to netball, MMA to figure skating, and Grand Slam tennis to Diamond League athletics. We’ve got interviews with extraordinary athletes, as well as the experts working behind the scenes, from football super-agents to the coaches keeping athletes in peak form. Plus, we’ve got the expertise of the BBC’s top journalists, who share their insights from decades of covering sport at all levels.

And if you’ve got your own take on the stories we cover, we’d love to hear from you. Email morethanthescore@bbc.co.uk, or WhatsApp us on 0044 800 032 0470. You can find more information, along with our privacy notice, on our website: www.bbcworldservice.com/morethanthescore

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