Former Tour de France winner Bjarne Riis and Lars Seier Christensen, co-owner of online forex brokerage Saxo Bank, "have become part of the group of owners of the Danish third-tier cycling team Team Virtu Pro-Veloconcept." The team will "act as a development team" to an outfit they hope will have the World Tour (elite) status in '18, Riis and Christensen said. Michael Sand, one of the existing owners, "will remain as co-owner of the team." Riis and Christensen's plans "also include developing the women's cycling team, Team BMS Birn" (REUTERS, 11/3).
Heyneke Meyer "has emerged as the leading candidate" to replace Andy Robinson as director of rugby at Bristol after the former England and Scotland head coach "was suspended on Thursday following nine successive defeats." Robinson guided Bristol back to the Premiership in May after a seven-year spell in the Championship. Mark Tainton, the club’s kicking coach, "has been placed in temporary charge" (London TELEGRAPH, 11/3).
Reports suggest the sale of AC Milan "will be completed after the Derby della Madonnina," between Nov. 23 and Nov. 25. Last week saw Marco Fassone head to China to try and finalize things, "with Sino-Europe Sports set to buy the club from Silvio Berlusconi" (FOOTBALL ITALIA, 11/3).
Australian Football League side Hawthorn will field a team in the Victorian Football League women’s competition next year "as it takes its first steps towards a push" into AFLW. Confirming its commitment to women’s football, the club’s women’s team will compete under the banner of the Box Hill Hawks. While Hawthorn "opted not to lodge an application for an AFL women’s team" for '17, CEO Stuart Fox said that this was "the next step in furthering the club’s women’s strategy" (HERALD SUN, 11/3).
