Lebanon claimed a dramatic golden-point victory over France at the Rugby League World Cup, with winger Abbas Miski scoring the winning try in extra time in what is being called one of the greatest finishes in international rugby league.
The match, played at Western Sydney Stadium, was a dead rubber with both teams already well out of contention for the semifinals. But it produced a finish that electrified the crowd. Most of the 30,000 tickets for the game were snapped up by Tongan and Samoan fans.
France was trailing late in the second half before Arthur Mourgue kicked a two-point field goal to send the game to golden point. In the first period of extra time, Cesar Rouge slotted a one-pointer for France, but it was disallowed for an escort. Alex Conti missed a long-range penalty. Mourgue collected the ball and went for a chip and chase, and Miski gathered it to score the match-winner.
“It was the saddest I’ve been this whole tournament and then the happiest I’ve been this whole tournament. I don’t even know what to feel,” Lebanon captain Alex Twal told Channel 7. “We’ve got plumbers, electricians, foreman, builders … these blokes came here just to have a crack and they’re playing against some of the best in the world. Abbas, he’s a winger, he’s never played back row. For him to come up with a play like that, it’s true Lebanese spirit.”
The victory may be Lebanon’s last at a World Cup for now. The team has been downgraded to an affiliate member of the International Rugby League, making them ineligible for future tournaments. France showed fight until the very end, and there will be hope they can try to inspire some sort of renaissance in the sport in the Northern Hemisphere.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The match showcased the passion and depth of international rugby league beyond the traditional powers, with Lebanon's largely Australian-born squad representing their heritage.
- The dramatic finish has raised the profile of the World Cup and demonstrated the sport's ability to produce compelling narratives even in dead rubbers.
- Lebanon's ineligibility for future tournaments casts uncertainty over the development of the sport in the country and the diaspora's connection to the international game.
Background
Lebanon and France were already eliminated from the Rugby League World Cup after losing their first two pool matches. The tournament, hosted in Australia, features 16 men's teams. Lebanon's squad consists almost entirely of players born in Australia or New Zealand who chose to represent Lebanon through heritage. The International Rugby League downgraded Lebanon to affiliate membership, meaning they cannot participate in future World Cups unless the status changes.
Key Perspectives
Alex Twal, Lebanon captain: described the win as the “saddest” and “happiest” moment of the tournament, praised the team of tradespeople who “came here just to have a crack”, and highlighted the “true Lebanese spirit” of Abbas Miski's match-winning play.
What to Watch
- Whether the International Rugby League reconsiders Lebanon's membership status before the next World Cup cycle.
- Whether the momentum from this performance boosts rugby league's development in France and the northern hemisphere.
- The response from the Lebanese diaspora in Australia, which turned out in force and celebrated the historic win.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
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- SupportedLebanon beat France in a golden-point thriller at the Rugby League World Cup.Just In: “Arthur Mourgue then kicked a two-point field goal to send it to golden point shortly after”
- SupportedThe match was being called one of the greatest finishes in international rugby league.Just In: “What no-one anticipated was that Lebanon and France, two minnows who were already well out of contention for the semifinals, would dish up what is roundly being called one of the greatest finishes in the international game.”
- SupportedAbbas Miski scored the winning try in extra time.Just In: “Abbas Miski is chaired by teammates after scoring the winning try.”
- SupportedAlex Twal said, “It was the saddest I’ve been this whole tournament and then the happiest I’ve been this whole tournament. I don’t even know what to feel,” and told Channel 7.Just In: “"It was the saddest I've been this whole tournament and then the happiest I've been this whole tournament. I don't even know what to feel," Lebanon captain Alex Twal told Channel 7.”
- SupportedAlex Twal said the tradies came to have a crack against some of the best in the world.Just In: “"We've got plumbers, electricians, foreman, builders … these blokes came here just to have a crack and they're playing against some of the best in the world.”
- SupportedAlex Twal said Miski had never played back row and called his play “true Lebanese spirit.”Just In: “"Abbas, he's a winger, he's never played back row. For him to come up with a play like that, it's true Lebanese spirit."”
- SupportedThe match was a dead rubber, with both teams well out of contention for the semifinals.Just In: “What no-one anticipated was that Lebanon and France, two minnows who were already well out of contention for the semifinals”
- SupportedThe match was played at Western Sydney Stadium.Just In: “Rugby league fans had been salivating over what might transpire at Western Sydney Stadium on November 1 for months.”
- SupportedMost of the 30,000 tickets for the game were snapped up by Tongan and Samoan fans.Just In: “Most of the 30,000 tickets for this game were snapped up by Tongan and Samoan fans.”
- SupportedArthur Mourgue kicked a two-point field goal to send the match to golden point.Just In: “France's Arthur Mourgue then kicked a two-point field goal to send it to golden point shortly after”
- SupportedCesar Rouge’s one-pointer in extra time was disallowed for an escort.Just In: “Cesar Rouge slotted a one-pointer. The scenes were beautiful, joyous, crushing, devastating, a chaotic melting pot of emotions savoured by the growing crowd of largely Tongan and Samoan fans. But it was disallowed for an escort.”
- SupportedLebanon is ineligible for future tournaments after being downgraded to an affiliate member of the International Rugby League.Just In: “They are ineligible for future tournaments having been downgraded to an affiliate member by the International Rugby League.”