Sports · Other Sports · 1 day ago
Lebanon beat France in dramatic Rugby League World Cup finish
Lebanon beat France in a dramatic World Cup match in Sydney on November 1, even though neither team could reach the semifinals.
France had a chance to win late in normal time, but Lebanon stopped its try just before the goal line.
France then kicked a two-point field goal to take the match into golden point, where the first score can decide the game.
A French one-point kick was ruled out for an escort, and Lebanon missed a long-range penalty attempt.
Abbas Miski scored the winning try after France’s Arthur Mourgue tried a chip-and-chase and Lebanon recovered the ball.
Most Lebanon players were born in Australia or New Zealand and represent the country through family heritage, while captain Alex Twal described the team as tradespeople who came to compete.
The finish brought Sydney’s Lebanese community together with Tongan and Samoan fans, and showed the excitement international rugby league can produce.
Lebanon beat France in a dramatic Round 3 match at the 2026 Rugby League World Cup.
Abbas Miski scored the winning try after France lost possession while attempting a chip and chase.
France had a late match-winning try disallowed and then forced golden point with a two-point field goal.
A French one-point field goal in extra time was also disallowed for an escort.
The match was played at CommBank Stadium, also called Western Sydney Stadium in ABC Australia’s report.
- Who
- Lebanon and France, two teams competing in the 2026 Rugby League World Cup.
- What
- Lebanon defeated France in a dramatic match decided by Abbas Miski’s winning try in extra time.
- When
- November 1, 2026.
- Where
- CommBank Stadium in Western Sydney, Australia.
- Why
- The teams were competing in Round 3 of the 2026 Rugby League World Cup.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Lebanon and France played their Round 3 match at CommBank Stadium.
France was denied a match-winning try when Lebanon grounded the ball in the in-goal.
Arthur Mourgue kicked a two-point field goal to send the match to golden point.
Cesar Rouge’s one-point field goal was disallowed for an escort.
Abbas Miski scored the winning try after collecting the ball from Mourgue’s chip and chase.
- Teams
- Lebanon and France
- Competition
- Round 3, 2026 Rugby League World Cup
- Venue
- CommBank Stadium, Western Sydney
- Winning try
- Abbas Miski
- Attendance context
- Most of the 30,000 tickets were snapped up by Tongan and Samoan fans
3 sources
What people are saying
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.
I've got goosebumps. I love being Lebanese.
Posts on X
CEDARS WIN, CEDARS WIN. Lebanon win in an absolute classic at Commbank! #RLWC2026