The Rugby League Players Association wants the National Rugby League and clubs to "enforce a clear and consistent heat policy for training across all teams to combat extreme conditions and protect player welfare." Heat rules currently "only apply to matches." The RLPA would also like to "enforce a minimum standard for training" (Sydney DAILY TELEGRAPH, 1/22).
Seventeen cricketers from England's ODI squad will be part of the Indian Premier League auction, which is set to take place in Mumbai this weekend. Twenty-four English players are part of the final auction pool that has been trimmed to 578 from 1,122. Ben Stokes and Joe Root are the only England players to have been designated as "marquee" players, alongside 14 others (LONDON TIMES, 1/22).
Ladbrokes Coral warned that a crackdown on fixed-odds betting terminals would "endanger" the U.K.'s horse racing industry and "cause tens of thousands of job losses," in an attempt to "bolster support for bookmakers amid reports the government will announce severe restrictions on the controversial machines." The Department for Culture, Media & Sport has been "consulting on new rules for FOBTs" (FINANCIAL TIMES, 1/22).
There are fears that a "controversial new employment law" in relation to hours worked by stable staff could impact Ireland's racing program "and Sunday fixtures in particular." Horse Racing Ireland officials will meet with government officials this week and are seeking a "derogation from working time legislation that has removed agricultural worker status from stable staff." Widespread "concern about the impact of any loss of flexibility" in relation to working practices has been expressed by trainers (IRISH TIMES, 1/21).
