The national rugby league teams of Fiji, Tonga and Samoa will be seen in action in Qatar during a competition scheduled for early 2018, Michael Ibrahim, founder and CEO of Aqeeq Holdings LLC, has said.
Ibrahim noted that negotiations are in top gear between the sport’s governing body International Rugby League Federation (IRLF), the authorities of the three Pacific nations and his company.
The Australian entrepreneur has been having months of intense discussions with the IRLF and the Pacific Islands National Rugby League conglomerates aimed at playing some of their matches in Doha next year that also involves a Qatar select team.
“We are very close to finalising the deal and I’m happy to inform that all indications are pointing to a very strong interest from all concerned parties,” he said.
An avid lover of Qatar, Ibrahim said, “With Qatar’s resilience to the current blockade it’s important for the country to continue to progress and strive for more greatness. Rugby league is the greatest game of all and when it comes to Doha everybody will agree”.
Despite his business interests in Qatar, “it is His Highness the Emir of Qatar that I admire,” the magnate said. “I have the uttermost respect for His Highness Sheikh Tamim and his leadership”.
“Throughout the blockade, His Highness has exercised absolute restraint, refraining his majlis and nation from directing any kind of abuse to other countries and their leaders,” Ibrahim explained.
When asked about the facilities of choice for the international rugby league matches Ibrahim said, ““Qatar is not short of quality infrastructure and stadiums. It hosted the Asia games in 2006 and it will be entertaining the biggest sports event in the world - FIFA 2022”.
Ibrahim was the creator of the #Weareallqatar best video and photo campaigns which attracted over fifty thousand entries (50k) worldwide.
Ibrahim’s passion for Qatar saw him taking up the role of an ambassador for the ‘We Support Qatar Movement’, garnishing support from world leaders such as the Samoan Prime Minister Tuilaepe Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi and International Rugby League former greats Andrew Johns and Brad Fitler.
The sheer tenacity of the Australian businessman enabled him to do the impossible. He convinced the IRLF to allow four of the participating nations in the recent World Rugby League Cup to bear Qatar’s flag with the words “We Stand With Qatar” across the front of their playing jerseys which was viewed by millions around the world.
Rugby League is a full contact sport governed by the International Rugby League Federation (RLIF). Though similar to rugby - rugby league has notable rule differences. Teams have 13 players,  and no mauls or
lineouts are allowed. Each team has six tackles to score or advance field position after which the play must be handed over to the opposition. Four points are awarded for a try, not
five, and the field goal is worth one point, not three.
Rugby league is a popular sport in Africa, Australia, China, Europe, France, New Zealand, UK, the Americas, Lebanon, Philippines, UAE, USA, the Cooks Island, Tonga, Samoa, Fiji, Niue, Tokelau, Solomon Islands and is the national sport of Papua New Guinea.
The European Super League and the National Rugby League (NRL) are the premier club competitions. Rugby league is played internationally, predominantly by European, Australasian and Pacific Island countries.
The first Rugby League World Cup was held in France in 1954, and the most recent final was played in Brisbane, Australia, which Australia won.
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