The Super 8s were axed in favor of a "return to the traditional one-up, one-down system" between the Super League and the Championship. Clubs voted by a majority of two to one at an extraordinary general meeting to change the domestic structure. It means that the Super 8s "has been ditched" and the Super League grand finalists in '19 will be determined by a five-club playoff (LONDON TIMES, 9/15).
The introduction of in-game TV reviews for GAA inter-county matches is "being considered by an influential Croke Park committee." The model under discussion has been in play for the Int'l Rules Series between Ireland and Australia since '08. Under that system, a TV official can be consulted about goals, penalties and red cards. The working title for the proposed new role is "digital match assistant." It could only be operated at matches that were being broadcast live on TV or matches that were being covered as live for deferred showing (SUNDAY TIMES, 9/16).
The Welsh Rugby Union is considering a proposal in which all top-flight players in Wales would be asked to wear microchipped mouthguards as "part of a huge data gathering exercise aimed at reducing concussion and other injury rates." The "cutting-edge technology," already being worn by all Ospreys players as part of a pilot trial, "could be rolled out across the four Welsh regions" (London INDEPENDENT, 9/16).
