League Notes: Welsh Rugby Union, Four National Regions Close To Funding Agreement

The Welsh Rugby Union and the nation's four regions "could announce a deal this week to end almost two years of in-fighting over funding and control." Wales captain Sam Warburton is "expected to be joined by nine more players on dual contracts under the new agreement." If the deal goes ahead, funding for the 10 "will be in addition to" an annual £6.7M ($11M) shared between Cardiff Blues, Ospreys, Scarlets and Dragons (BBC, 8/24). ... Britain's leading tennis players "will not be based at the National Tennis Centre (NTC) in future, relocating instead" to high-performance centers around the U.K. The move is part of a "review undertaken" by Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) CEO Michael Downey. Britain's Davis and Fed Cup teams, "the wheelchair programme and junior training camps will remain at the NTC" (BBC, 8/23). ... The World Anti-Doping Agency has given "clearance for anti-doping bodies to resume" human growth hormone (hGH) testing after a more than year-long hiatus (INSIDE WORLD FOOTBALL, 8/22).