The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Chadli set for Baggies
Tottenham midfielder Nacer Chadli is set to join West Brom on loan.
Spurs paid £7million to sign Chadli from FC Twente three years ago when he was one of the seven players to arrive after the club sold Gareth Bale to Real Madrid for a then-world record £86million in July 2013. Premiership Rugby chief executive Mark McCafferty has criticised the scheduling of next year’s 10-match British and Irish Lions tour toNewZealand, claiming it is not sustainable for players.
The Lions are due to depart before the Premiership and Pro12 finals, with the firstmatch taking place on the same weekend as the Top 14 final in France, which could rule out Toulon’s Wales full back Leigh Halfpenny.
But McCafferty’s main concern is the length of the tour so soon after the gruelling domestic season.
“It is going to be difficult next year,” he said. “It is a punishing schedule and I don’t know why it was signed up to. Ten games over that period is a lot and there will be difficulty for players going into the 201718 Premiership.
“The Lions is in the mix as we move towards the season structure post-2019. It is a fabulous brand and an important part of the economics for the southern hemisphere.
“It should carry on but it is not sustainable that players can go through a club and international season, be involved in that scale of tour and then be in shape for a new season.
“People involved in the Lions need to listen. Do theyneed to play thatnumber of midweek games when the economics are driven off the back of three Tests in the main?”