Mediterranean Cup
The Mediterranean Cup is an annual rugby league tournament that is currently held in Lebanon although is has also been held in France. It is 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."[1]
Mediterranean Cup summaries
| Year | Host | Winner | Final Score | Runner-up | Final venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | France | Lebanon |
104–0 | Morocco |
Stade Albert-Domec, Carcassonne |
| 2002 | Lebanon | Lebanon |
36–6 | France |
International Olympic Stadium, Tripoli |
| 2003 | Lebanon | Lebanon |
26–18 | France |
International Olympic Stadium, Tripoli |
| 2004 | Lebanon | Lebanon |
42–14 | France |
International Olympic Stadium, Tripoli |
Sources
- Lebanon Rugby League (2005) "2005 Mediterranean Cup Cancelled" Lebanon Rugby League Official Site, October 7, 2005. Retrieved December 19, 2005.
External links
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