Latest - New Zealand boxer Joseph Parker has reportedly contracted COVID-19, while in training with world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury in Las Vegas.
Joseph Parker and trainer Andy Lee, the pair area among several members of Tyson Fury's camp to have reportedly caught COVID. Photo: Photosport
Parker has been in Las Vegas to help Fury prepare for his title fight against American Deontay Wilder.
ESPN is reporting Fury has also reportedly contracted COVID and the fight has been postponed until October.
US based boxing journalist Dan Raphael initially reported that Parker, the former WBO world heavyweight champion, was among several of Fury's camp to test positive.
Fury, 32, was to fight fellow Briton Anthony Joshua next month in Saudi Arabia in a world heavyweight unification title fight, but an American judge ordered Fury to fight Wilder again before September 15th.
Fury first fought Wilder in drawn bout in 2018 and took the WBC title from him in a rematch in February last year.
Suspensions continue in NRL
Queensland forward Jai Arrow has been suspended for game three of State of Origin for allegedly breaching Covid-19 protocols by bringing an "unregistered guest" into Maroons camp.
A dejected-looking Jai Arrow after Queensland lost game two of the 2018 State of Origin series. Photo: Photosport Ltd 2018
Arrow has been accused of breaking NRL biosecurity rules by inviting the guest into the team hotel and was served with a breach notice by the game's governing body on Thursday.
The Rabbitohs lock is facing a two-game suspension that would rule him out of both game three and South Sydney's round 18 match against Canterbury.
Both New South Wales and Queensland are observing the NRL's level-four Apollo protocols in camp, which stipulate players can only leave their homes, or in this case their team set-up, to attend training or shop for essential items.
"I know I have let a lot of people down, including my teammates, coaching staff and fans right across the rugby league community," Arrow said in a statement on the Queensland Rugby League website.
"For this I am truly sorry. I have fully cooperated with the NRL Integrity Unit, and I understand the scrutiny and criticism coming my way."
Lions to play Sharks again
The British & Irish Lions will play back-to-back matches against South Africa's Sharks to replace this weekend's postponed fixture against the Bulls, who have been hit hard by COVID-19.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The Lions beat the Sharks 54-7 in Johannesburg yesterday and will now play them again on Sunday morning (NZ time) at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria, where they had been originally fixtured to take on the Currie Cup champions.
Several positive COVID cases in the Bulls camp at the start of the week led to the postponement of the match because the Bulls were unable to field a team.
"The choice of the Sharks was dictated by the fact that they have been in a bubble, have returned negative tests throughout and were prepared to take on the fixture," said SA Rugby chief executive officer Jurie Roux.
"No other team in the country could meet those conditions right now without going into a five-day lockdown. It is not an ideal situation, but COVID-19 has made sure that we do not live in an ideal world."
COVID-19 infections are rampant as a third wave hits South Africa, which has been placed under lockdown. Cases also forced the cancellation of South Africa's warm-up test against Georgia today.
-Reuters
Giants go on the offence against Bulls
The Nelson Giants have put together their biggest offensive game of the National Basketball League season.
The Giants have crushed the Franklin Bulls 119-85 in Nelson, with six of their players scoring double digits.
Nic Trahen led the way with 24 points, while Hunter Hale scored 23.
The Giants remain seventh on the ladder, one place ahead of the Bulls.
Nelson are back in action tomorrow night against the Canterbury Rams, while Franklin round out their season against the top of the table Wellington Saints next week.
UEFA investigates laser at semi-final
European football's governing body UEFA opened disciplinary proceedings against England over a laser pen shone at Denmark goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel during the deciding moment of their Euro 2020 semi-final.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Television footage showed Schmeichel was targeted by a spectator using a green laser as England captain Harry Kane stepped up for a penalty in extra time to give the home side a 2-1 win during yesterday's match at Wembley.
The keeper saved Kane's initial effort but could not stop the rebound which sent Gareth Southgate's side into Monday morning's final against Italy.
UEFA said it was also investigating England over fans' lighting of fireworks and disrupting the national anthem.
Fans booed when the Denmark anthem was played before kickoff. Jeers were also heard when the German anthem was played at Wembley last week when England beat Joachim Loew's side in the round of 16.
England are looking to win their first major trophy since the 1966 World Cup and play Italy in the European Championship final at Wembley.
-Reuters
Nakarawa returns to Fiji side
Fiji lock Leone Nakarawa will return to test rugby for the first time since the last World Cup in the first of two tests against New Zealand tomorrow.
Fiji lock Leone Nakarawa. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Coach Vern Cotter named the 33-year-old former European Player of the Year in his second row alongside Temo Mayanavanua for the match against the All Blacks in Dunedin.
A veteran of three World Cups and an Olympic gold medallist in sevens in Rio, Nakarawa will bring a wealth of experience to a Fiji pack playing in front of young scrumhalf Simione Kuruvoli.
The 22-year-old gets his chance after the more experienced halfback options of Frank Lomani, Moses Sorovi and Teti Tela were unable to enter New Zealand because of a recent outbreak of COVID-19 cases in Australia.
Australia-based flyhalf Ben Volavola will start, however, and powerhouse left winger Nemani Nadolo will be a familiar face to New Zealand rugby fans after two successful seasons with the Crusaders before he moved to Europe.
The All Blacks, who thrashed Tonga 102-0 last week, will host the Fijians in a second test in Hamilton on July 17.
Team: 15-Kini Murimurivalu, 14-Eroni Sau, 13-Waisea Nayacalevu, 12-Levani Botia (captain), 11-Nemani Nadolo, 10-Ben Volavola, 9-Simione Kuruvoli, 8-Albert Tuisue, 7-Mesulame Kunavula, 6-Johnny Dyer, 5-Leone Nakarawa, 4-Temo Mayanavanua, 3-Mesake Doge, 2-Samuel Matavesi, 1-Peni Ravai
Replacements: 16-Peni Narisia, 17-Haereiti Hetet, 18-Leeroy Atalifo, 19-Tevita Ratuva, 20-Peceli Yato, 21-Setareki Tuicuvu, 22-Eneriko Buliruarua, 23-Manasa Mataele
Raiders too good for Manly
The Canberra Raiders have moved on to the verge of the NRL's top eight after beating the high-flying Manly Sea Eagles 30-16 in Sydney.
Both sides were missing two players because of State of Origin commitments.
The Raiders outscored the Sea Eagles five tries to three, with stand-in playmaker Sam Williams scoring twice for Canberra.
They are now ninth on the NRL ladder, behind the eighth-placed Cronulla Sharks on points differential.
Manly remain fifth, four points outside the top four.
German wins stage 12 on Tour
German Nils Politt won the 12th stage of the Tour de France, a 159.4-km ride from Saint-Paul-Trois-Chateaux, to claim the biggest win of his career.
The 27-year-old rider prevailed from the day's breakaway, making his decisive attack 11.8 km from the line.
Spain's Imanol Erviti was second, with Australian Harry Sweeny third, both 31 seconds behind, according to provisional timings.
Overall leader Tadej Pogacar of Slovenia crossed the line safely in the bunch, almost 16 minutes behind but the top positions in the general classification remained unchanged.
Tonight's 13th stage is a 219.9-km flat ride from Nimes to Carcassonne.
-Reuters
Sawhney stands down from ICC
The International Cricket Council's chief executive Manu Sawhney will step down with immediate effect, four months after he was sent on leave following an investigation into his style of working.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Sawhney, the former managing director of ESPN Star Sports, joined the Dubai-based cricket world governing body in January 2019, succeeding David Richardson of South Africa, who was in the role for seven years.
"Geoff Allardice will continue as Acting CEO supported by the Leadership Team working closely with the ICC Board," the sport's governing body said.
ESPNcricinfo reported that Sawhney was suspended in March after a number of allegations -- including bullying -- against him surfaced following an internal review conducted by an audit firm.
Sawhney has denied the allegations and vowed to appeal should he be found guilty by a disciplinary hearing.
-Reuters
Rafa to return this month
World number three Rafa Nadal will return to action for the first time in more than a month at the Washington Open at the end of the month, as the Spaniard looks to put his French Open semi-final defeat by Novak Djokovic behind him.
Nadal last played at Roland Garros, where he was knocked out by eventual champion Djokovic on June 11 in a four-set thriller -- only his third loss on the Parisian clay where he has won a record 13 titles.
The 35-year-old later announced his withdrawal from Wimbledon and the Tokyo Olympics, saying he took the decision after consultations with his team in a bid to prolong his career.
Nadal will play at the July 31-Aug. 8 Washington tournament for the first time and will be joined by Canada's Denis Shapovalov, Australian Alex de Minaur and others.
-Reuters