Mediterranean Cup
Encyclopedia
The Mediterranean Cup was an annual rugby league football tournament that was held in Lebanon
although it also has been held in France. It was contested by Lebanon
, France
, Serbia
and Morocco
with the competition first conceived as a qualifying tournament for the 2000 Rugby League World Cup
, and in 1999 was contested by Lebanon, Morocco and Italy
. As the 2000 World Cup was not financially successful the tournament was cancelled for a number of years.
The Mediterranean Cup was resurrected in 2002 as a one-off match between Lebanon and France. It was played at Tripoli International Stadium on November 2, 2002 in front of a crowd of 9,713. Lebanon defeated France 36-6. In 2003 and 2004, it was expanded to again become a four team tournament.
On 2 October 2005 it was announced that the 2005 tournament was cancelled. According to Lebanon Rugby League official Danny Kazandjian: "It is with a sense of profound disappointment that we have had to face harsh reality and cancel the Mediterranean Cup, just one day before our official launch press conference at the Searock Hotel in Raouché
, Beirut, and just nine days before Lebanon was due to take on Serbia in the Olympic Stadium, Tripoli. The Lebanese rugby league feels extremely let down by certain parties."
France, Serbia, Morocco and Lebanon have all moved on to other tournaments in the RLEF developmental scheme. Serbia and Lebanon have been moved up to the 2009 European Cup and France will be playing in the 2009 Four Nations. Maroc Rugby League are currently restructuring the game in Morocco
and the revamped Moroccan team played in and won the RLEF Euro Med Challenge
.
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
although it also has been held in France. It was contested by Lebanon
Lebanon national rugby league team
The Lebanon national rugby league team is the representative side of Lebanon in rugby league football. They are nicknamed "The Cedars" after the Lebanon Cedar tree, which is also on the Lebanese flag. The team has been participating in international competition since 1998 and has quickly became one...
, France
France national rugby league team
The France national rugby league team represent France in international rugby league tournaments. They are also sometimes referred to as "Les Tricolores" or more commonly "Les Chanticleers"...
, Serbia
Serbia national rugby league team
The Serbia national rugby league team represents Serbia in the sport of rugby league football, has been participating in international competition since 2003.-History:...
and Morocco
Morocco national rugby league team
-Results:* Lebanon def. Morocco 72-4 * Morocco def. Belgium 46-12 * Morocco def. Catalonia 29-6 * Morocco def. Italy 32-10 * Morocco def. Catalonia 62-12...
with the competition first conceived as a qualifying tournament for the 2000 Rugby League World Cup
2000 Rugby League World Cup
The 2000 Rugby League World Cup was the twelfth staging of the Rugby League World Cup and was held during October and November of that year in Great Britain, Ireland and France...
, and in 1999 was contested by Lebanon, Morocco and Italy
Italy national rugby league team
The Italy national rugby league team represents Italy in international rugby league football. The team dates back from the 1950s after the formation of a domestic competition in the country, and in the 1960s they played Australia, France and a number of English teams.The game disappeared in Italy...
. As the 2000 World Cup was not financially successful the tournament was cancelled for a number of years.
The Mediterranean Cup was resurrected in 2002 as a one-off match between Lebanon and France. It was played at Tripoli International Stadium on November 2, 2002 in front of a crowd of 9,713. Lebanon defeated France 36-6. In 2003 and 2004, it was expanded to again become a four team tournament.
On 2 October 2005 it was announced that the 2005 tournament was cancelled. According to Lebanon Rugby League official Danny Kazandjian: "It is with a sense of profound disappointment that we have had to face harsh reality and cancel the Mediterranean Cup, just one day before our official launch press conference at the Searock Hotel in Raouché
Raouché
Raouché is a residential and commercial neighborhood in Beirut, Lebanon. It is known for its upscale apartment buildings, numerous restaurants, and cliff-side cafés that line Avenue de Paris, which forms part of the Corniche Beirut...
, Beirut, and just nine days before Lebanon was due to take on Serbia in the Olympic Stadium, Tripoli. The Lebanese rugby league feels extremely let down by certain parties."
France, Serbia, Morocco and Lebanon have all moved on to other tournaments in the RLEF developmental scheme. Serbia and Lebanon have been moved up to the 2009 European Cup and France will be playing in the 2009 Four Nations. Maroc Rugby League are currently restructuring the game in Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
and the revamped Moroccan team played in and won the RLEF Euro Med Challenge
RLEF Euro Med Challenge
-Standings:-2009:In 2009, the RLEF announced that Russia, Lebanon and Serbia would be promoted to a revamped European Nations Cup. The Euro-Med Challenge was therefore contested by three new teams in 2009 - Belgium and Catalonia, who made their competitive debuts, and Morocco...
.
Mediterranean Cup summaries
| Year | Host | Winner | Final Score | Runner-up | Final venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | France | 104–0 | Stade d'Albert Domec Stade d'Albert Domec Stade d'Albert Domec is a multi-use stadium in Carcassonne, France. It has a capacity of 10,000 spectators, and is used mostly for rugby league and rugby union matches. It hosted many matches in various Rugby League World Cups. It has a bronze statue of Carcassonne's most famous player, Puig Aubert.... , Carcassonne Carcassonne Carcassonne is a fortified French town in the Aude department, of which it is the prefecture, in the former province of Languedoc.It is divided into the fortified Cité de Carcassonne and the more expansive lower city, the ville basse. Carcassone was founded by the Visigoths in the fifth century,... |
||
| 2002 | Lebanon Lebanon Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among... |
36–6 | International Olympic Stadium International Olympic Stadium International Olympic Stadium is a 22,400 capacity multi-purpose stadium in Tripoli, Lebanon. It is currently used mostly for football matches, though it also hosts international rugby league tests and it also has athletics facilities.... , Tripoli Tripoli, Lebanon Tripoli is the largest city in northern Lebanon and the second-largest city in Lebanon. Situated 85 km north of the capital Beirut, Tripoli is the capital of the North Governorate and the Tripoli District. Geographically located on the east of the Mediterranean, the city's history dates back... |
||
| 2003 | Lebanon Lebanon Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among... |
26–18 | International Olympic Stadium International Olympic Stadium International Olympic Stadium is a 22,400 capacity multi-purpose stadium in Tripoli, Lebanon. It is currently used mostly for football matches, though it also hosts international rugby league tests and it also has athletics facilities.... , Tripoli Tripoli, Lebanon Tripoli is the largest city in northern Lebanon and the second-largest city in Lebanon. Situated 85 km north of the capital Beirut, Tripoli is the capital of the North Governorate and the Tripoli District. Geographically located on the east of the Mediterranean, the city's history dates back... |
||
| 2004 | Lebanon Lebanon Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among... |
42–14 | International Olympic Stadium International Olympic Stadium International Olympic Stadium is a 22,400 capacity multi-purpose stadium in Tripoli, Lebanon. It is currently used mostly for football matches, though it also hosts international rugby league tests and it also has athletics facilities.... , Tripoli Tripoli, Lebanon Tripoli is the largest city in northern Lebanon and the second-largest city in Lebanon. Situated 85 km north of the capital Beirut, Tripoli is the capital of the North Governorate and the Tripoli District. Geographically located on the east of the Mediterranean, the city's history dates back... |