1. Breakthrough for League
Rugby league is set to belatedly achieve government recognition in South Africa as soon as this week – as a direct result of the country's ambitious bid to host the 2017 World Cup. SARL official Chris Botes tells Set of Six: “Up until two days ago, rugby league was almost in the doldrums. SARU was doing a good job of keeping it squashed down. (But) the World Cup doesn't just involve the Department of Sport. It involves the Department of Tourism, the Department of Public Enterprise … it's a 500 million rand ($52.8 million) event. People are saying 'here's a chance for South Africa to have this major event and the only reason we can't have it is one piece of paper'. SASCOG can't tell us why they can't recognise (us) … having the World Cup on the table, we have forced the decision to go to parliament, to cabinet. I'm sitting down next week again with the Department of Sport. The minister for sport, I met with his deputy on Thursday. They are saying 'yes, we want to support you'”.

SMH