The Women's Rugby World Cup in Ireland will "undergo a number of changes" to enhance the event in '21. The changes, agreed by the Rugby World Cup Board, include the addition of a quarterfinal stage, larger squad sizes and longer rest periods between matches. The competition window will increase from 23 days to 25. Teams "would get four days between pool matches," and five or six between playoff games, and the addition of a quarterfinal would "allow nations to compete for a higher position" (NEW ZEALAND HERALD, 5/10).
More than 400,000 runners have entered the ballot for next year's London Marathon, "breaking the event's own world record for registrations." The final total of 414,168 applicants represents a 7.3% increase on last year’s 386,050. Just under 55% of British entrants have never participated in a marathon and for a second consecutive year, the majority of those are women (REUTERS, 5/10).
Surrey County Cricket Club offered to host an experimental 100-ball match at The Oval in September -- but is "awaiting a decision" from the England & Wales Cricket Board. Confusion "continues to surround The Hundred," with ECB CEO Tom Harrison "appearing to backtrack on controversial plans to launch the competition" in '20, describing it as a "concept" during Tuesday's meeting with players at Edgbaston. Surrey wrote to the ECB a couple of weeks ago with its offer, which the county regards as a "chance for the English game to road-test the new format" (London DAILY MAIL, 5/9).
