The Rugby Football Union will lead an exploration of rugby's role as a force for positive change at Beyond Rugby, an event at Twickenham Stadium in London on July 24. Beyond Rugby is being staged by Beyond Sport and backed by Premiership Rugby and England's official kit supplier Canterbury. The event's speaker list will include RFU CEO Ian Ritchie, Premiership Rugby CEO Mark McCafferty and England's Rugby World Cup winner Lawrence Dallaglio. They will be joined by global experts, NGOs and leaders of on-the-ground projects to debate and drive forward the role rugby can play in local communities and in people's lives (Beyond Sport).
PLAYING HOST: The AFP reported the English county of Yorkshire is aiming to host the opening stages or "Grand Depart" of the 2016 Tour de France. The Yorkshire team, along with proposing to hold two legs in the county, are also looking to stage another part of the race in southern England. They argue that it would enable the Tour to ensure riders and teams are back in France soon after the finish, "preventing any need for rest days" (AFP, 7/9).
LET THERE BE LIGHT: In Petaling Jaya, S. Ramaguru reported Malaysia the country's leg of the Asia Pacific Rally Championship from July 13-15 will be held under floodlights for the first time. A specially designed 2.5km-long dirt track in the vicinity of the Plaza Angsana in Johor Bahru will form part of the stage of the rally to be held at night. The organisers have termed the event as "Midnight Rallying," and all 16 entries for the fourth leg have been assured that all "safety measures and adequate lightings are in place" (THE STAR, 7/9).
CHINA VISIT: L'EQUIPE reported the Italian Supercopa will take place in Beijing's Olympic Stadium on Aug. 11. Serie A champions Juventus FC will face off against Italian Cup winners SSC Napoli (L'EQUIPE, 7/9).
