# 2013 Rugby League World Cup qualification – Europe

The 2013 Rugby League World Cup Europe qualification is a rugby league tournament that was held in October 2011 to decide the European qualification for the 2013 Rugby League World Cup. It consisted of a round-robin play-off involving four teams; Russia, Italy, Serbia and Lebanon. Both Italy and Lebanon remained unbeaten, recording two wins and a draw each. However, Italy topped the group as a result of points difference and therefore qualified for the World Cup.

## Standings

| Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | +/− | Pts |
| Italy | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 163 | 31 | +132 | 5 |
| Lebanon | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 147 | 23 | +124 | 5 |
| Russia | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 42 | 152 | −110 | 2 |
| Serbia | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 38 | 184 | −146 | 0 |

## Italy vs Russia

* 15 October 2011
| Italy | 92–6 | Russia |
| Tries: Mantellato (2), D. Nasso (2), Falcone (2), Ghietti (2), Parrata, Sands, Ciraldo, Riethmuller, Vicelich, Quitadamo, R.Nasso, Lennarduzzi Conv: Mantellato (14) | (Report) | Try: Nikolaev Conv: Lysokon |
* Stadio Plebiscito, Padova Attendance: 2,100
| FB | 1 | Anthony Minichiello (c) |
| RW | 2 | Christophe Calegari |
| RC | 3 | Dom Nasso |
| LC | 4 | Matt Parrata |
| LW | 5 | Josh Mantellato |
| SO | 6 | Ben Falcone |
| SH | 7 | Ryan Ghietti |
| PR | 8 | Alex Ranieri |
| HK | 9 | Ray Nasso |
| PR | 10 | Ryan Tramonte |
| SR | 11 | Cameron Ciraldo |
| SR | 12 | Joel Riethmuller |
| LF | 13 | Rob Quitadamo |
| Substitutions: ||
| IC | 14 | Dean Vicelich |
| IC | 15 | Cederic Prizzon |
| IC | 16 | Matthew Sands |
| IC | 17 | Rhys Lennarduzzi |
| Coach: ||
| FB | 1 | Maksim Suchkov |
| RW | 2 | Petr Botnarash |
| RC | 3 | Andrey Zdobnikov |
| LC | 4 | Mikhail Burlutskiy |
| LW | 5 | Rustam Bulanov |
| FE | 6 | Aleksander Lysokon (c) |
| HB | 7 | Eduard Ososkov |
| PR | 8 | Sergey Konstantinov |
| HK | 9 | Vladimir Vlasyuk |
| PR | 10 | Ilgiz Galimov |
| SR | 11 | Alexey Nikolaev |
| SR | 12 | Grigory Esin |
| LK | 13 | Vadim Fedchuk |
| Substitutions: ||
| IC | 14 | Sergey Gaponov |
| IC | 15 | Igor Chuprin |
| IC | 16 | Vladimir Gotsulyak |
| IC | 17 | Artem Grigoryan |
| Coach: ||

## Lebanon vs Serbia

* 16 October 2011
| Lebanon | 96–4 | Serbia |
| Tries: Clark (3), Saleh (3), Barakat (3), Nye (2), Boustani (2), Deeb, Kassis, Adham El Zabedieh, Adnan El Zabedieh Conv: Couri (13), Ballout | (Report) | Try: Nedic |
* International Olympic Stadium, Tripoli
| FB | 1 | Adnan Saleh |
| RW | 2 | Adnan El Zabedieh |
| RC | 3 | Danny Barakat |
| LC | 4 | Adham El Zabedieh |
| LW | 5 | Clifton Nye |
| SO | 6 | James Boustani |
| SH | 7 | Nadim Couri |
| PR | 8 | Khaled Deeb (c) |
| HK | 9 | Jamie Clark |
| PR | 10 | Allen Soultan |
| SR | 11 | Ahmed Ellaz |
| SR | 12 | Steve Azzi |
| LF | 13 | Ray Moujalli |
| Substitutions: ||
| IC | 14 | Ali Kourouche |
| IC | 15 | Nick Kassis |
| IC | 16 | Ibrahim Ballout |
| IC | 17 | Robin Hachache |
| Coach: ||
| FB | 1 | Ivan Šušnjara |
| RW | 2 | Vladan Kikanović |
| RC | 3 | Miloš Ćalić |
| LC | 4 | Aleksandar Aleksić |
| LW | 5 | Nebojša Živanović |
| FE | 6 | Adam Nedić |
| HB | 7 | Dalibor Vukanović |
| PR | 8 | Ilija Radan |
| HK | 9 | Nikša Unković |
| PR | 10 | Lazar Živković |
| SR | 11 | Stefan Nedeljković |
| SR | 12 | Soni Radovanović |
| LK | 13 | Austen Novaković |
| Substitutions: ||
| IC | 14 | Dejan Lukenić |
| IC | 15 | Danilo Delić |
| IC | 16 | Zoran Pešić |
| IC | 17 | Milan Šušnjara |
| Coach: ||

## Russia vs Lebanon

* 22 October 2011
| Russia | 0–32 | Lebanon |
| | (Report) | Tries: Barakat (2), Azzi, Kassis, Adham El Zabedieh, Nye Conv: Couri (3), Boustani |
* Vereya Stadium, Vereya
| FB | 1 | Maksim Suchkov |
| RW | 2 | Mikhail Burlutskiy |
| RC | 3 | Petr Botnarash |
| LC | 4 | Vadim Fedchuk |
| LW | 5 | Rustam Bulanov |
| SO | 6 | Aleksandr Lysokon (c) |
| SH | 7 | Eduard Ososkov |
| PR | 8 | Sergei Konstantinov |
| HK | 9 | Vladimir Vlasyuk |
| PR | 10 | Ilgiz Galimov |
| SR | 11 | Alexey Nikolaev |
| SR | 12 | Grigory Esin |
| LF | 13 | Sergey Gaponov |
| Substitutions: ||
| IC | 14 | Igor Chuprin |
| IC | 15 | Anatoly Grigorev |
| IC | 16 | Vladimir Odnosumov |
| IC | 17 | Artem Grigoryan |
| Coach: ||
| John Stankevitch ||
| FB | 1 | Clifton Nye |
| RW | 2 | Adnan El Zabedieh |
| RC | 3 | Danny Barakat |
| LC | 4 | Danny Chiha |
| LW | 5 | Adham El Zabedieh |
| FE | 6 | James Boustani |
| HB | 7 | Nadim Couri |
| PR | 8 | Charlie Farah |
| HK | 9 | Jamie Clark |
| PR | 10 | Khaled Deeb |
| SR | 11 | Nick Kassis |
| SR | 12 | Steve Azzi |
| LK | 13 | Ray Moujalli |
| Substitutions: ||
| IC | 14 | Walid Yassine |
| IC | 15 | Ibrahim Ballout |
| IC | 16 | Chris Saab |
| IC | 17 | Robin Hachache |
| Coach: ||
| David Bayssari ||

## Serbia vs Italy

* 23 October 2011
| Serbia | 6–52 | Italy |
| Try: Pesic Conv: Nedic | (Report) | Tries: Minichiello (3), Lenarduzzi (2), Mantellato, Riethmuller, Parrata, D. Nasso Conv: Mantellato (8) |
* Makiš Stadium, Belgrade
| FB | 1 |
| RW | 2 |
| RC | 3 |
| LC | 4 |
| LW | 5 |
| SO | 6 |
| SH | 7 |
| PR | 8 |
| HK | 9 |
| PR | 10 |
| SR | 11 |
| SR | 12 |
| LF | 13 |
| Substitutions: ||
| IC | 14 |
| IC | 15 |
| IC | 16 |
| IC | 17 |
| Coach: ||
| FB | 1 |
| RW | 2 |
| RC | 3 |
| LC | 4 |
| LW | 5 |
| FE | 6 |
| HB | 7 |
| PR | 8 |
| HK | 9 |
| PR | 10 |
| SR | 11 |
| SR | 12 |
| LK | 13 |
| Substitutions: ||
| IC | 14 |
| IC | 15 |
| IC | 16 |
| IC | 17 |
| Coach: ||

## Serbia vs Russia

* 29 October 2011
| Serbia | 28–36 | Russia |
| Tries: Pesic, Nedic, Susnjara, Radan, Novakovic Conv: Nedic (4) | (Report) | Tries: Botnarash (3), Volkov, Esin, Ososkov Conv: Lysokon (6) |
* Makiš Stadium, Belgrade
| FB | 1 |
| RW | 2 |
| RC | 3 |
| LC | 4 |
| LW | 5 |
| SO | 6 |
| SH | 7 |
| PR | 8 |
| HK | 9 |
| PR | 10 |
| SR | 11 |
| SR | 12 |
| LF | 13 |
| Substitutions: ||
| IC | 14 |
| IC | 15 |
| IC | 16 |
| IC | 17 |
| Coach: ||
| FB | 1 |
| RW | 2 |
| RC | 3 |
| LC | 4 |
| LW | 5 |
| FE | 6 |
| HB | 7 |
| PR | 8 |
| HK | 9 |
| PR | 10 |
| SR | 11 |
| SR | 12 |
| LK | 13 |
| Substitutions: ||
| IC | 14 |
| IC | 15 |
| IC | 16 |
| IC | 17 |
| Coach: ||

## Italy vs Lebanon

* 29 October 2011
| Italy | 19–19 | Lebanon |
| Tries: Falcone, Stewart, Mantellato Conv: Mantellato (3) DG: Ghietti | (Report) | Tries: El Zabedieh, Moujalli, Boustani Conv: Couri (3) DG: Couri |
* Makiš Stadium, Belgrade
| FB | 1 |
| RW | 2 |
| RC | 3 |
| LC | 4 |
| LW | 5 |
| SO | 6 |
| SH | 7 |
| PR | 8 |
| HK | 9 |
| PR | 10 |
| SR | 11 |
| SR | 12 |
| LF | 13 |
| Substitutions: ||
| IC | 14 |
| IC | 15 |
| IC | 16 |
| IC | 17 |
| Coach: ||
| FB | 1 |
| RW | 2 |
| RC | 3 |
| LC | 4 |
| LW | 5 |
| FE | 6 |
| HB | 7 |
| PR | 8 |
| HK | 9 |
| PR | 10 |
| SR | 11 |
| SR | 12 |
| LK | 13 |
| Substitutions: ||
| IC | 14 |
| IC | 15 |
| IC | 16 |
| IC | 17 |
| Coach: ||
Coached by Carlo Napolitano and captained by Anthony Minichiello, Italy's draw with Lebanon was enough for them to gain the 14th and final place in the 2013 World Cup.

## Squads
### Italy

The Italy squad as of 22 September 2011 is as follows:
* Coach: Carlo Napolitano
| Club Team | Players |
| Harlequins RL | Craig Gower |
| Grifons Padova | Matthew Sands, Giacomo Simioni |
| Lézignan Sangliers | Christophe Calegari |
| Manly Sea Eagles | Vic Mauro |
| Monto | Dom Nasso |
| Mount Isa | Matt Parrata |
| Newcastle Knights | Cameron Ciraldo |
| Northern Pride RLFC | Ryan Ghetti |
| North Queensland Cowboys | Joel Riethmuller |
| North Sydney Bears | Alex Ranieri |
| Saint-Gaudens Bears | Jean Christophe Borlin |
| St Patricks Blacktown | Ryan Tramonte |
| Sydney Roosters | Anthony Minichiello (C) |
| Villefranche de Rouergue | Ray Nasso, Cederic Prizzon |
| Wentworth | Ben Falcone |
| Western Suburbs Magpies | Rocky Trimarchi, Rhys Lennarduzzi |
| Windsor Wolves | Ben Stewart |
| XIII del Ducato | Juan Pablo Carrara, Fabrizio Ciaurro, Thomas Covati, Giovanni Franchi, Romain Pavoni, Dean Vicelich, Santiago Monteagudo, Rob Quitadamo |
| Wyong | Josh Mantellato |
| West Bowling | Jonathan Marcinzack |

### Lebanon

The Lebanon squad as at 22 September 2011 is as follows:
* Coach: David Bayssari
| Club Team | Players |
| Balamand | Allen Soultan, Samer Nehme |
| Cabramatta Two Blues | Nick Kassis |
| Canterbury Bulldogs | Steve Azzi |
| Cronulla Sharks | Jon Mannah |
| Jounieh RLFC | Youssef El Helou |
| Kingsgrove colts | Kamel Ahmed |
| Immortals RLFC | Ibrahim Ballout, Robin Hachache, Rudy Hachache, Walid Yassine |
| Manly Sea Eagles | Ray Moujalli |
| Mounties | George Azzi, Adham El Zabedieh, Adnan El Zabedieh |
| Narrabeen | Charlie Farah |
| Newtown Jets | Jamie Clark, Khalid Deeb, Ahmad Ellaz |
| St John's Eagles | Danny Barakat, Daniel Chiha, Nadim Couri, Ali Kourouche, Chris Saab, Adnan Saleh |
| Wentworthville Magpies | Cliff Nye, James Boustani |
| Wolves RLFC | Monir Finan, Ray Finan, Nemer Saliba |

### Russia

The Russia squad as at 22 September 2011 is as follows:
* Coach: Eduard Ososkov
| Club Team | Players |
| Dinamo | Andrey Zdobnikov |
| Nevskaya Zastava | Grigory Esin |
| RBK | Valentin Baskakov, Artyom Grigoryan, Ruslan Izmaylov, Sergey Matveev, Denis Nikolskiy, Vladimir Odnosumov |
| Storm | Igor Chuprin, Vadim Fedchuk, Vladimir Gotsulyak, Alexey Volkov |
| RC Vereya | Petr Botnarash, Rustam Bulanov, Mikhail Burlutskuy, Ilgiz Galimov, Sergey Gapinov, Anatoly Grigoriev, Sergey Konstantinov, Aleksander Lysokon, Alexey Nikolaev, Eduard Ososkov, Roman Safronov, Andrey Sevostyanov, Maksim Suchkov, Vladimir Vlasyuk |

### Serbia

The Serbia squad was named on 22 September.
* Coach: Marko Janković
| Club Team | Players |
| Belconnen United Scholars | Adam Nedić |
| Car Lazar | Nenad Radević, Aleksandar Sič, Miloš Zogović |
| Dorćol Spiders | Danilo Delić, Vladan Kikanović, Dejan Lukenić, Stefan Nedeljković, Stefan Nikolić, Stevan Stevanović, Ivan Šušnjara, Milan Šušnjara, Vuk Tvrdišić, Nikša Unković, Dalibor Vukanović (C) |
| Hemel Hempstead RLFC | Ilija Radan |
| Hammers Niš | Marko Milenković, Lazar Živković |
| RC Lescure | Soni Radovanovic |
| Oldham R.L.F.C. | Austen Novaković |
| Radnički Nova Pazova | Nemanja Cojić, Pero Madžarević, Radovan Tajsić, Slaviša Zekić |
| Red Star Belgrade | Miloš Ćalić, Ivan Djordjević, Zoran Pešić, Nebojša Živanović |
| Stari Grad | Aleksandar Aleksić, Mirko Božović |