Michael Cheika, 59, will treat Lebanon's final 2026 Rugby League World Cup match against France on Sunday (06:50 GMT) as a "Grand Final" despite the Cedars being eliminated after losses to Papua New Guinea and Tonga. The Australian, who has coached in World Cup, Heineken Cup and Super Rugby finals in union, says the fixture is a chance to "fly the flag" for Lebanon.
Born to Lebanese migrants who left in 1950, Cheika emphasizes the rarity of Lebanese people supporting their national team on a world stage. He recounts his father's connection to rugby league through South Sydney at Redfern Oval, calling the current team's representation "something I never thought I could do."
Cheika, fluent in Arabic, French and Italian, compares switching between rugby codes to moving between languages — different grammar but same core values: courage, aggression, commitment. After a season with Leicester Tigers, he returns to the Waratahs for next year's Super Rugby campaign but insists Sunday won't be his last league game.
Source: BBC Sport · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing