World Rugby Chief Visits World Cup Bidder -- Federations Focus

(ATR) World Rugby president Bill Beaumont says he is encouraged by France’s vision for rugby in a meeting with French Rugby Federation president Bernard Laporte.

The two rugby leaders met in Paris along with World Rugby chief executive officer Brett Gosper to discuss the challenges facing rugby and the country’s bid to host the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

"France continues to play a leading role in global rugby and I am highly-encouraged by Bernard's vision for domestic and global rugby, which is aligned with World Rugby and centered on a commitment to embrace and tackle the key challenges and opportunities that rugby faces domestically and internationally," Beaumont said in a statement.

"I am also delighted to hear that Bernard will prioritize France's Rugby World Cup 2023 bid, meaning that we have three very compelling and capable candidate unions as the host selection race enters the final straight in 2017."

France is facing competition from Ireland as South Africa to host the federation’s premiere event. Laporte, who took over the reins of the national federation a month ago, says the country will launch its project in its entirety on June 1.

"The FFR's candidature for Rugby World Cup 2023 was also a point of discussion and I reaffirmed the commitment of the federation and all of French rugby to this project," said Laporte. "Through our candidature, we aim to showcase France's wonderful major event credentials to host the most beautiful event in world rugby."

Ladies' Golf UnionBegins New Year With Merger

The merger between the Ladies' Golf Union and golf organizers the R&A will be finalized at the beginning of next year.

"The completion of the merger is a progressive and important step for the development of women’s golf, Chair of the LGU Trish Wilson said in a statement.

"Bringing the two organisations together creates a platform that will allow us to develop our aspirations for women’s golf on a global stage and encourage more girls and women to play golf and become members of clubs."

The R&A will be responsible for managing all LGU championships during 2017 except for the Ricoh Women’s British Open. Due to an existing agreement IMG will stage the Open.

The R&A says by combining their expertise with the LGU they can "achieve our shared aims for the development of golf."

The Coronation Foursomes will be the first LGU championship of the year beginning on Jan. 1.

Germany Replaces Russia as Host of Bobsleigh, Skeleton Worlds

Koenigsee will stage the bobsleigh and skeleton world championships after Sochi was stripped of the event in the wake of more damning evidence of state-sponsored doping in Russia.

The International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF) on Monday announced its decision to relocate the Feb. 13-26 event to the German venue. It came after a wave of athlete protests and threats of a boycott if the federation did not move the championships from Sochi following the second McLaren report.

In a statement the IBSF said critical factors taken into consideration included: minimal financial impact on teams regarding travel and organization; keeping the dates and timing of the original schedule; and experience on the operational and logistic level to host a two-week event at such short notice.

For the full story on the Bobsleigh and Skeleton World Championships click here.

Mutko Seeks FIFA Council Reelection

Russian deputy prime minister and Russian Football Federation president Vitaly Mutko is eyeing another term on FIFA’s top decision making body.

Mutko, who has served on the council since 2009, submitted an eligibility questionnaire to FIFA, but must pass an eligibility check before the election of council members in April.

There are five vacancies that will open on the European side of the council before the April 5 election in Helsinki, Finland.

Hungary's Sandor Csanyi, Costakis Koutsokoumnis of Cyprus, Montenegrin Dejan Savicevic and Iceland's Geir Thorsteinsson are also seeking to occupy these vacancies for a four-year term on the Council.

IJF Renews TaiShan Sports Sponsorship

The International Judo federation is continuing its relationship with TaiShan Sports until the end of 2020.

"I wish to thank Mr. Bian Zhiliang, Chairman of TaiShan Sport Group, for the long-time cooperation, partnership and trust in Judo and in the International Judo Federation" IJF President Marius Vizer said in a statement.

As part of their agreement, TaiShan will provide sports equipment to judo events as well as the latest in equipment research. "The TaiShan Sports Group will soon be the research center for the IJF regarding tatami, judogi and power training technology" the IJF states.

The federation intends to launch a new type of gym in association with judo training facilities that feature power training technology. The Impulse Gym Club - which is part of TaiShan - specializes in the technology and will be working in conjunction with the IJF in the facilities launch. The Club will also incorporate the technology in over 1,000 gyms in China.

Written by Kevin NutleyandCourtney Colquitt

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