World Cup extended by week
THE 2023 Rugby World Cup in France has been extended by one week to allow all teams at least five days preparation before pool matches.
Player squad sizes will also increase from 31 to 33, with the decisions designed to improve player-welfare standards.
World Rugby chairman Sir Bill Beaumont said: “This is a landmark day for Rugby World Cup and the sport.
“As a rugby father, former player, fan and administrator, player welfare is at the very top of my agenda. This continued focus for a player-first decision reflects that commitment.
“Men’s Rugby World Cup schedules are difficult to balance owing to the format of four pools of five teams.
“Japan 2019 provided the best balance and best-ever welfare outcomes, but we still had a limited number of relatively short rest periods between some matches.
“In collaboration with France 2023 and International Rugby Players, this decision means that every player and every team will have a fairer chance to perform to their potential in every fixture, and now we will work with the teams to reduce overall load for players. Including travel.”
DAVID Martindale has confessed he is relieved to finally focus on this weekend’s Betfred Cup final after tying himself in knots trying to prevent his Livingston players from looking too far ahead.
With a top-six place still to secure and a European spot to win, the Lions manager has been urging his squad not to let their minds drift towards their Hampden showdown with St Johnstone.
But he admits that has been an almost impossible task – without mentioning the final.
Now preparations for Sunday are full steam ahead in the wake of Saturday’s 1-1 draw with St Mirren, Martindale is urging his side to grasp their opportunity to become heroes.
He said: “Now I’m looking forward to the final. To be honest, I’ve tried not to think about it too much. I’ve tried to take the boys’ minds off it.
“I don’t know how I’ve been doing that – because all you speak about is not speaking about it. So, you’re indirectly speaking about it! It’s a difficult one.
“But now we can look forward to Sunday. I’m gutted the fans can’t be there but hopefully everybody in
Livingston, all the fans, we’re up on Saturday night with the butterflies in our bellies.
“And we can hopefully make the fans proud. That’s why we’re here, to make them proud.
“I’d love to see the boys pick up a trophy, not so much myself, but for people at the club and all the fans sitting in the house watching it.”
Midfielder Marvin Bartley
has vowed to win his fitness race in time to lead Livingston out at Hampden.
The Lions skipper sat out Saturday’s 1-1 draw with St Mirren because of a minor injury, with the former Hibs midfielder not risked in Paisley as a precaution ahead of Sunday’s Hampden showdown with St Johnstone.
But the influential 34-yearold is expecting to train fully this week and prove his readiness for Livi’s bid for silverware.
And, after being an unused substitute for Hibs’ historic Scottish Cup triumph in 2016, Bartley is desperate to get the nod from manager David Martindale.
He said: “I’ll be fine. I’ll train in the early part of this week and I’ll be fine going into the final.
“Just hopefully I’ll get my place in the team - because the last final I was involved in I was on the bench!”
Livingston’s draw at the weekend leaves them without a victory in their last three matches going into the final.
With the Perth Saints having lost only to Celtic and Rangers in their last 11 outings, including Saturday’s 3-0 hammering of Motherwell, Bartley admits Livingston will be underdogs at the national stadium.
He added to the BBC: “It’s a one-off game and we’ll be confident. We have to go there and perform at a level we have done for the majority of the last 17 games. If we do that we’ll give ourselves a chance.”