Shorts: Tour De France, Saracens, Bolton Wanderers
The governments in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland have reportedly met to discuss a potential joint-bid to host the opening stages of the Tour de France in 2026 or 2027.
The proposed bid would see three stages held on the island of Ireland across the border.
Ireland has hosted a stage before, when Dublin held ‘Le Grand Depart’ in 1998. London and Leeds have also held the opening stage of the annual men’s cycling race in recent years.
English Premiership rugby union club Saracens lacks the necessary certificate to admit 10,000 or more fans to its stadium, raising questions over the league’s rules, according to The Guardian.
The current criteria that governs promotion to rugby union’s top flight currently states that clubs must be able to safely hold crowds of 10,001
Following promotion back to the Premiership in June 2021, London-based Saracens was given special dispensation to compete in the Premiership because its ground was being developed to increase its capacity above 10,000.
Saracens has now opened its newly renovated west stand which take the capacity above the required standards, but it does not have the relevant safety certificate to hold the numbers.
The Rugby Football Union (RFU) declined to comment, insisting that it is a matter for Saracens to resolve.
English Football League (EFL) One football club Bolton Wanderers has backed a campaign to bring an end to gambling firm sponsorship and advertising in sport.
The campaign, which has been organised by gambling addiction campaigners Against The Odds, calls on all clubs to sever ties with the gambling industry. It hopes Bolton will become the first of many British football clubs to back its movement.
Wanderers’ Chairman, Sharon Brittan, said, “Gambling addiction can have a devastating effect on individuals and their families and communities, and that’s why Bolton Wanderers Football Club is pledging our formal support to the campaign.
“Last year, we made the decision to close the on-site betting facilities at the University of Bolton Stadium and committed to not enter into any new commercial partnerships or sponsorships with firms representing the gambling industry.”
British football is in the middle of a debate on gambling in football. Eight of the 20 clubs in English football’s top-flight, the Premier League, have their shirts sponsored by a gambling brand.
The government has made a U-turn on introducing legislation to ban sponsorship of betting firms, but the Premier League has asked clubs to voluntarily reduce the business activity the teams engage with in the gambling industry.
