JERUSALEM, ISRAEL -- Israel will take the field for the first time in international lacrosse competition next June, when the men's national team debuts in exhibition play at the 2012 European Lacrosse Championships in Amsterdam.
No. 8 Netherlands will host Israel on June 18th in the Amsterdamse Bos, on the field hockey fields of AH&BC, Hurley and Pinoké. Israel will schedule additional friendlies against other top-level European nations, before participating in the EC12 New Comer Tournament, which is open to developing nations that hold ELF or FIL membership. According to championship organizers, Bulgaria, Mexico, Peru, Russia, Serbia, Thailand and Turkey have expressed interest in competing in the New Comer Tournament.
"We're excited to participate in our first international competition and look forward to playing lacrosse on the world stage," said Israel GM Howard Borkan. "We are grateful for the opportunity to compete against established lacrosse nations in exhibitions and other upstart programs in the New Comer tournament."
Israeli club teams Jerusalem LC and Tel Aviv LC will also participate in the EC12 Festival, which takes place from June 25 to June 30 and will end together with the European Championships. For more information on the European Lacrosse Championships, visit www.ec12lacrosse.com.
Israel Lacrosse, an organization dedicated to the development of the sport of lacrosse in Israel, was officially recognized by the Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL) as an Associate Member in April of 2011. For more information on Israel Lacrosse, visit www.lacrosse.co.il.