I see he rlcoached the Lebanonrl to victory over Italy. Must feel good for him to be involved with a team that wins.

The Cedars are way ahead of the Italians, maybe he can look for good prospects whilst in Beirut, coming to London must be an advantage and easier than to get Northern players to come here.

Do they actually play rugby league in Lebanon? I was under the impression all their players came from the Lebanese community in Australia.

*Sorry, misread original message. May well be a player or two worth a look.

I believed they did, thanks to the French.

take a look here rlhttp://www.lebrl.com/rl

Twitter feed is saying that Quins have recalled Rob early from his Lebanon commitments in preparation for pre season training

Even better, one of main players in setting up the Lebanese domestic comp is Danny Kazandjian who has great connection with London RL and I think got the bug whilst in the capital. One of the reasons why the RL world should support the game here is that the RL world can be built from here. Don't forget that the Moroccan connection with Hussein M'Barki. We have a great tradition of internationalism, having hosted the original French side in 1935 IIRC.

I think it is quite odd the DH has pulled RP back half way though the Lebs international campaign. Though I am quietly pleased as a sense of urgency may be creeping in at The Stoop. 2011 preparation starts now and we need to be looking for better players ASAP. If that includes the Antipodes, Cumbria and the Championship so be it, we fail 2011 now, if we don't take every opportunity.

Poplar, I don't have much more information than that piece on my Twitter feed, have been told he returned to the UK straight after the second game against Italy as the club were keen to have him back as soon as possible. That means he misses the two games against Pakistan.

While writing this reply just found this rlhttp://www.lebrl.com/articles.php?id on the Cedars site,
You will note that Latham Tawhai has gone out to Lebanon to replace Rob as the interim Coach with the Cedars for the two Pakistan fixtures

Unfortunately they lost the second game 24-16

This "long term game" being played by DH is starting to worry me.........unless he thinks we have another 3 years bolted on, the lack of anything urgent is starting to look like more of the same.
DH backed Mac.......he didn't work. DH has now forced the RFL to get involved, but we are looking at a coach whose team we spanked..........they "moved him' and they went on to win 2 trophies WTF?
We will finish in the botton 14% of the SL clubs next year IMO

Powell being recalled signals to me that the 4-man shortlist has ended in disaster.

Ladies and Gents, let me be the first to welcome Mr Powell as Head Coach of Harlequins Rugby League for 2011.

I sincerely hope you are wrong.......but fear you are right.

Harlequins RL has now become the pet project of someone who has 1 aim and only 1 aim...to develop the game in London and the South East.......we will finish last in 2011, be given another 3 years and maybe become a mid table team by 2014...........but as a business, we are hamstrung until someone else takes over the financial burden.

I expect to be shot for having a pop at St David of Twickenham but I stand by what I have always said.........fans (or severe lack of them) have never been an issue for DH.....I sincerely hope the RFL put him straight on that!

I'm not trying to read too much into this at the moment, but I suspect you may be correct.

I cannot anyone see anyone with any clout taking the job on until after the licence situation is written in stone. Who would really want to coach a SL team for only 1 season. Coaches will come in with a long term plan and would need some kind of guarantees about the club's status in SL beyond 2011

I'm still secretly hoping that the article is correct and he's simply just been recalled to maintain stability leading up to pre season training

Another interpretation is that the new coach is about to be announced and Rob Powell's been recalled to do the hand-over. No. I don't believe that either, but we'll see!