Today's sports news: What you need to know

The Mainland Tactix have defeated the Southern Steel 63-52 in Invercargill.

Back in competition mode after being sidelined by the Covid-19 Match Postponement Policy, the hosts still had players on managed loads while being particularly heavy hit at the defensive end with Sarapheinna Woulf, Kate Burley and Renee Savai'inaea ruled out of action for this match.

Through goal attack Te Paea Selby-Rickit, the Tactix made good use of the long feed with the tall figure of shooter Ellie Bird perfectly positioned to take the shot.

Selby-Rickit and captain Kimiora Poi were the conductors on attack for the Tactix, who kept their noses in front when leading 31-27 at the main break.

With the Steel unable to capitalise on their turnovers in the opening exchanges, the Tactix applied the squeeze to make their move in a productive third stanza, building into a game -winning 49-40 lead at the last turn.

The Tactix are now fifth on the table, while the Steel remain in third place with the result.

Nikorima set to leave the Warriors

Reports out of Australia suggest Warriors halfback Kodi Nikorima is close to a mid season move to the South Sydney Rabbitohs.

Nikorima is off contract at the end of the season and has appeared just twice so far this year, with Chanel Harris-Tavita partnering Shaun Johnson in the halves.

Warriors coach Nathan Brown told media he was aware of Nikorima looking elsewhere, adding that he couldn't guarantee Nikorima would still be with the club next week.

The 28 year old signed with the Warriors midway through 2019 from the Brisbane Broncos, making 59 appearances over that time including 11 tries.

If Nikorima was to move to the Rabbitohs, he could make his debut agaisnt the Warriors, with the two sides set to clash in round 10.

Lee Westwood set to join controversial golf league

Lee Westwood became the latest player to show his intention to play the first event of the Saudi-backed LIV Golf Invitational Series after the Englishman said on Wednesday he has requested the PGA Tour and DP World Tour for a release.

Westwood's decision comes shortly after British Masters champion Richard Bland said he has requested a release from the DP World Tour, while Phil Mickelson and Robert Garrigus asked the PGA Tour for a similar release last month.

The first LIV Golf Invitational event will be held from June 9-11 at the Centurion Golf Club outside of London.

The U.S.-based PGA Tour has told its members that they would be banned if they joined the breakaway Saudi-backed league.

Several top players including Tiger Woods, Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas have expressed their allegiance to the PGA Tour, while Rory McIlroy has described the breakaway league as "dead in the water".

Westwood said golf has come under scrutiny more than other sports for its links with Saudi Arabia.

"We've played European Tour in Saudi Arabia and I've had releases from the PGA Tour to say I can play in Saudi Arabia, so it has been no problem to them in previous years," he added.

"Formula One raced there. Newcastle United are owned partly by people from Saudi Arabia. There has been boxing there and I think there has been snooker and darts there as well.

"Golf's not the first sport to have links with Saudi Arabia, but it seems to be coming under more scrutiny than anyone else. Whether you think that's right or not is the individual's opinion."

LIV Golf chairman Greg Norman told ESPN earlier this week that more than 200 players have requested to play in the 48-player field in London.

Westwood reached No. 1 in the world rankings in October 2010 and has 44 career professional wins, including two on the PGA Tour and 25 on the European Tour.

-Reuters

Hand of God shirt sold for a record price

The shirt worn by Diego Maradona when he scored two of the most famous goals in soccer history was sold for 7.14 million pounds on Wednesday, marking a new auction record for an item of sports memorabilia.

Maradona wore Argentina's No. 10 shirt in the 1986 World Cup quarter-final against England in Mexico.

Six minutes into the second half he put his team ahead by punching the ball into the net for what became known as the "Hand of God" goal.

Four minutes later Maradona dribbled from his own half to score a goal widely considered one of the greatest in World Cup history.

England midfielder Steve Hodge got Maradona's jersey after the game and announced last month he was putting it up for auction after 19 years on display at England's National Football Museum.

"This historic shirt is a tangible reminder of an important moment not only in the history of sports, but in the history of the 20th century," said Brahm Wachter, Sotheby's Head of Streetwear and Modern Collectables.

Sotheby's said the buyer was anonymous.

The sale broke the previous record for sports memorabilia set by the original autograph manuscript of the Olympic Manifesto from 1892, which went for $8.8 million in 2019.

The sale of Maradona's jersey was complicated by claims that the wrong shirt was going under the hammer, with his daughter and ex-wife saying Hodge received the shirt Maradona wore in the first half of the match.

Sotheby's said they used photomatching technology to "conclusively" match the shirt to both goals by "examining unique details on various elements of the item, including the patch, stripes, and numbering".

Maradona, regarded as one of the world's best ever footballers, died in November, 2020 aged 60.

-Reuters

Hometown hero wins at Margaret River

Australian surfer Jack Robinson won the World Surf League's Margaret River Pro on Wednesday, using intimate knowledge of his home break and a high-risk approach to beat a seemingly unstoppable John John Florence in the final.

Countrywoman Isabella Nichols fought out a tense, low-scoring women's final to come out on top against Hawaiian rookie Gabriela Bryan, who was competing in her first Championship Tour final.

After giant conditions on Tuesday, waves at Margaret River's Main Break were still solidly overhead and groomed by offshore winds.

That allowed for big turns outside and explosive manoeuvres on the end section where the shallow reef awaited any mistake, ready to chew on boards or bodies.

Florence, Hawaii's two-time World Champ, had not lost a heat at Margaret River since 2016, setting a new performance bar the Western Australia venue with searing, high-speed carves.

-Reuters

Brady back and ready to play abroad

Seven-time Super Bowl winning quarterback Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will take on the Seattle Seahawks in the first National Football League regular season game played in Germany, the league said on Wednesday.

The NFL also announced the matchups for four other international games for the 2022 season with three in London and another in Mexico City.

Brady, who retired at the end of last season but then reversed his decision in March, will provide a marquee name when the Buccaneers take the field on Nov. 13 at Munich's Allianz Arena as the NFL expands its European footprint.

The league has scheduled back-to-back games at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London with the New Orleans Saints and Minnesota Vikings on Oct. 2 and the Green Bay Packers against the New York Giants the following Sunday.

London will be familiar ground for Saints, Vikings and Giants who will all be playing in the capital for a third time while it will be the first trip to England for the Packers.

Wembley Stadium on Oct. 30 will host the Denver Broncos and Jacksonville Jaguars, who played at Tottenham last season and return to Wembley where they played a game for seven straight seasons.

Mexico City will host the San Francisco 49ers and Arizona Cardinals on Nov. 21 in a rematch of the NFL's first regular-season game played outside the United States.

In 2005, the teams played at Estadio Azteca with 103,467 fans in attendance, the eighth largest crowd in NFL history

-Reuters