Australian Football League Women's side Brisbane Lions asked fans for "patience," saying that the "unexpected interest in the new women's league could create teething problems" at Brisbane's first home game. The Lions had "already sought unsuccessfully" to have the game moved to the Brisbane Cricket Ground and on Tuesday made a late bid to switch to the Burpengary site that has hosted AFL preseason games in recent years. The match against Collingwood will be held on Saturday at the new A$10M ($7.7M) facility at Brendale which holds "just" 3,000. The Lions "expect double that." There is expected to be adequate parking and organizers have increased food and water orders "to ensure there is sufficient catering," however there is "no shade nor any grandstands" (Brisbane COURIER-MAIL, 2/14).
The management of Manny Pacquiao's next opponent is "confident the bout will take place in Australia, despite claims the Filipino is set to fight in the UAE." Pacquiao, 38, was "originally expected to take on" Australian Jeff Horn at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium on April 23, but the eight-division champion "threw the fight into uncertainty" on Sunday. On Tuesday, Duco Events, the company charged with promoting Pacquiao-Horn in Brisbane, confirmed they were "pushing ahead" (THE NATIONAL, 2/14).
British Int'l Boxing Federation world welterweight belt holder Kell Brook will defend his title against Errol Spence Jr. from the U.S., promoter Eddie Hearn announced on Monday night. Brook "previously appeared uninterested in facing the mandatory opponent" after protracted talks over a bout with Amir Khan "failed to materialise." However, terms have now been agreed for the fight, which is reportedly set to take place in Brook's home city of Sheffield on May 20 (London TELEGRAPH, 2/14).
Rugby World Cup 2019 has "so far struggled to grab the attention of the Japanese public." But a new initiative launched Monday in conjunction with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport & Tourism "should soon see a lot more people become aware that the world's third biggest sporting event will be hosted across Japan" a year before the Olympics come to Tokyo. For the first time in history, the transport ministry will allow special commemorative automobile license plates -- featuring the official logo of RWC 2019 -- to be issued nationwide (KYODO, 2/14).
Pakistan Super League Chair Najam Sethi promised cricket fans in Pakistan that the PSL final will be held in the city of Lahore, "even in the absence of foreign players, if the fans do not want the venue to change following Monday's bombing." Sethi said, "The foreign players have refused to play the final in Lahore after Monday's blast, but if the citizens of Pakistan want the final of PSL to be held in Lahore despite foreign players not participating in the final, then the final will be held in Lahore." Sethi added that the "security agencies have committed to providing full security for the final" (DAWN, 2/13).
League of Ireland sides Sligo Rovers and Bray Wanderers will take part in the Scottish Challenge Cup next season. The tournament features Scottish clubs outside the Scottish Premier League, with Rangers "lifting the trophy" in '16 (IRISH INDEPENDENT, 2/14).
