The 2017 Rugby League World Cup Middle East-Africa qualification play-off was a two-match rugby league series, with the winner qualifying for the 2017 Rugby League World Cup. The matches were between South Africa and Lebanon and were played at Brakpan Stadium in Pretoria, South Africa on 25 and 31 October 2015.
Overview On 3 October 2014, the 2017 Rugby League World Cup qualifying competition was announced with one qualification spot being granted to the Middle East-Africa region.QUALIFICATION DETAILS FOR 2017 RUGBY LEAGUE WORLD CUP ANNOUNCED , rlef.eu.com, 3 August 2014
Initially a one-off play off match in the Dubai Sports City complex was announced.Dubai to host RLWC2017 Qualifier, rlif.com, 19 April 2015 However the match was cancelled after the head of the Emirates rugby league, Sol Mokdad, was arrested following a complaint from UAE rugby union officials.
South Africa was subsequently given the hosting rights for the qualification fixtures. South Africa RL president Kobus Botha stated that the "SARL is extremely excited about hosting this highly prestigious World Cup Qualifier... We hope that this is the first of many such tournaments and a small glimpse into what South Africa can offer as a potential host country for the 2021 World Cup."Venue changed for Middle East-Africa RLWC qualifier , aprlc.com, 24 July 2015
Squads Both teams picked preliminary train-on squads with the South Africans picked what they believed was "a strong, healthy and balanced train-on squad" which contained domestic players as well as eligible South African players based in Australia's reserve grade competitions.SARL NAME TRAIN-ON SQUAD FOR WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS , rlef.eu.com, 6 October 2015 The Lebanese selected eligible NRL players along with other reserve grade, domestic and unattached players.LEBANON NAME INITIAL SQUAD FOR WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS , rlef.eu.com, 1 October 2015
South Africa The South Africa squad as of 13 October 2015 was as follows:
Coach: Brian Greige Club Team Players Barberton Bulldogs Jaice Terblanche Burleigh Bears Shane Gillham Cape Town Hyenas Shuab Samaai Emerald Tigers Jason King Harlequins Rugby League Club Deon Kraemer, Jean Coetzer, Jean-Pierre Nel Northern Bulls Marcell Viljoen, Rudolph Prinsloo, Theo Rhodes UP-Tuks RLC Christo Louw, Dwayne Botma, Johan Joubert, Nardus Raubenheimer, Ruaan Du Preez, Rupert Wells Wentworthville Magpies Louis Musson West Coast Pirates Bradley Williams, Halvor Harris Wynnum Manly Seagulls Gideon Mzembe
Lebanon The Lebanon squad as of 17 October 2015 was as follows:
Coach: Darren Maroon Club Team Players AUB Toufic El Hajj Asquith Magpies Mark Daoud Auburn Warriors Jamie Clark, Richard Coorey, Ead Kassem, Elias Sukkar Guildford Owls Chris Saab Hills James Boustani Immortals RLFC Ray Finan, Robin Hachache Melbourne Storm Travis Robinson Newcastle Knights James Elias Newtown Jets Daniel Abou Sleiman, Ahmad Ellaz, Tarek El Masri, Ray Moujalli Wentworthville Magpies Nick Kassis, Mitchell Mamary Wolves RLFC Wael Harb Unattached Adham El Zbaidieh
First test
FB 1 Jason KingRW 2 Gideon MzembeRC 3 Johan JoubertLC 4 Jean CoetzerLW 5 Shuab SamaaiSO 6 Theo Rhodes SH 7 Bradley WilliamsPR 8 Jaice TerblancheHK 9 Marcell ViljoenPR 10 Louis MussonSR 11 Dwayne Botma SR 12 Halvor HarrisLF 13 Shane GillhamSubstitutions:IC 14 Nardus RaubenheimerIC 15 Rupert WellsIC 16 Rudolph PrinslooIC 17 Jean-Pierre NelCoach: Brian Greige FB 1 Daniel Abou SleimanRW 2 Adham El ZbaidiehRC 3 Tarek El MasriLC 4 Chris SaabLW 5 Travis RobinsonFE 6 Mark DaoudHB 7 James BoustaniPR 8 Mitchell MamaryHK 9 Ali AllouchePR 10 Ray MoujalliSR 11 Elias SukkarSR 12 Nick KassisLK 13 Ahmad EllazSubstitutions:IC 14 Richard CooreyIC 15 James EliasIC 16 Wael HarbIC 17 Robin HachacheCoach: Darren Maroon
Notes: Ali Allouche was a late replacement for suspended hooker Jamie Clark.
Second test
FB 1 Jason KingRW 2 Gideon MzembeRC 3 Johan JoubertLC 4 Jean CoetzerLW 5 Rupert WellsSO 6 Theo Rhodes SH 7 Bradley WilliamsPR 8 Jaice TerblancheHK 9 Marcell ViljoenPR 10 Rudolph PrinslooSR 11 Dwayne Botma SR 12 Halvor HarrisLF 13 Shane GillhamSubstitutions:IC 14 Shuab SamaaiIC 15 Louis MussonIC 16 Deon Kraemer IC 17 Christo LouwCoach: Brian Greige FB 1 Daniel Abou SleimanRW 2 Adham El ZbaidiehRC 3 Tarek El MasriLC 4 Chris SaabLW 5 Travis RobinsonFE 6 Mark DaoudHB 7 James BoustaniPR 8 Mitchell MamaryHK 9 Ali AlloucheIC 10 Richard CooreySR 11 Elias SukkarSR 12 Nick KassisLK 13 Ahmad EllazSubstitutions:IC 14 James EliasIC 15 Wael Harb IC 16 Robin Hachache IC 17 Ead Kassem Coach: Darren Maroon Notes: With the win, Lebanon qualified for the 2017 World Cup after a 2–0 series victory.
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