National Rugby League Brisbane Broncos "have struck a relationship with the New Zealand Rugby Union in a bi-partisan move designed for information sharing and improving development structures." A four-man team "led by Broncos development boss Brendan Barlow attended the NZRU's headquarters in Auckland a fortnight ago" (COURIER-MAIL, 8/5). ... Nigeria on Saturday pledged to "investigate claims of match fixing in some matches" in the ongoing 2013 Atlantic Conference of the DSTV Nigerian Basketball League (XINHUA, 8/4). ... I-League clubs "suffered a significant blow" as the All India Football Federation's (AIFF) Club Licensing Committee announced that "all 14 teams had failed to meet the Asian Football Confederation Club Licensing Criteria." The clubs "have been given a lifeline for next season as they can seek an exemption for the I-League and Federation Cup, once they file an appeal with the CLC." The appeal "has to be filed by August 14." The new club licensing system comprises of "75 stringent regulations and it seems unlikely the teams will be able to prove their credentials upon appeal" (THE HINDU, 8/3). ... Hockey India Secretary General Narinder Batra on Sunday announced that "each member of India's junior women hockey team which won the country's first ever bronze medal at the World Cup today will be rewarded with a cash prize" of Rs. 1 lakh ($1,750) (PTI, 8/4). ... India is moving closer to agreeing to the use of the umpire Decision Review System "despite a string of controversies during the current Ashes series which have cast doubt over its future" (GULF NEWS, 8/4).
