Today's Sports News - What you need to know

Lastest - Anthony Joshua's rematch with Andy Ruiz Jr looks set to take place in New York in November or Cardiff in December.

Joshua, lost his IBF, WBA and WBO world titles to Ruiz in New York in June and invoked his contractual right to a rematch.

Dates have been fixed at Cardiff's Principality Stadium on December 14th or a return to Madison Square Garden on November 29th.

A west coast city in the US has also made a late offer to stage the contest while two other unnamed countries have also bid for the fight.

American Ruiz, who fights under a Mexican flag due to his heritage, has suggested Los Angeles or Mexico as venues.

Etzebeth to skipper Springboks

Lock Eben Etzebeth has been named captain of South Africa for their Rugby Championship opener against Australia at Ellis Park this weekend, leading a much-changed squad that includes three uncapped players.

Coach Rassie Erasmus will send an advanced party of 15 players to New Zealand this week, well ahead of their second match in Wellington on 27 July, and that has left the Springboks under-strength for the visit of the Wallabies.

Etzebeth, who leads the side for the 12th time, will be partnered in the second row by fit-again Lood de Jager, who missed most of the Super Rugby season for the Bulls with a shoulder problem.

Toulouse loose-forward Rynhardt Elstadt makes a first Bok appearance in the number six jersey vacated by injured regular skipper Siya Kolisi, while Stormers scrumhalf Herschel Jantjies gets a first cap in a half-back pairing with namesake Elton Jantjies.

Uncapped Bulls lock Lizo Gqoboka, who had an excellent Super Rugby campaign, is on the bench.

The backline has an inexperienced look as fullback Warrick Gelant, and wings Sbu Nkosi and Makazole Mapimpi, have only 15 caps between them.

-Reuters

Ewan snatches maiden Tour de France stage win

The Australian cyclist Caleb Ewan has snatched his maiden Tour de France stage win by the narrowest of margins.

The Lotto Soudal rider surged past Dutchman Dylan Groenewegen in a mass sprint to win by a wheel width, with Italian Elia Viviani taking third place, after an 167km ride from Albi to Toulouse.

Riding the Tour for the first time, Ewan timed his effort perfectly to add to his solitary Vuelta a Espana stage win and his three Giro d'Italia victories.

"On a transition day without big difficulties, the main favourites did not take any risks and there were no significant changes in the overall standings.

France's Julian Alaphilippe retains the overall leader's yellow jersey with Nelson's George Bennett 26th overall, 11 minutes behind Alaphilippe.

Roy's World Cup form leads to test callup

Opening batsman Jason Roy has been named in England's Test squad for the first time for the one-off match against Ireland starting at Lord's next Wednesday.

Roy racked up 443 runs in England's triumphant 50-overs World Cup campaign, but is not a regular top-order batsman for Surrey in red-ball cricket.

The 28-year-old is expected to open the batting with Surrey team mate Rory Burns and will have an opportunity to impress the selectors ahead of the Ashes series against Australia starting on 1 August.

Somerset all-rounder Lewis Gregory has also been called up for the first time, while uncapped fast bowler Olly Stone, who picked up an injury on this year's tour of West Indies, returned to the squad.

England's leading wicket-taker James Anderson was included, despite picking up a calf injury this month.

-Reuters

Newcastle appoint replacement for Benitez

Newcastle United have appointed Steve Bruce as Rafael Benitez's replacement after their search for a new manager finally came to a close.

The Magpies have confirmed that the 58-year-old Geordie has left his job at Sheffield Wednesday to become the 10th permanent boss of controversial owner Mike Ashley's 12-year-plus reign and has signed a three-year deal.

The former Manchester United defender completes an unlikely treble when he accepted Newcastle's offer. He has now managed three sets of derby rivals - Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday, Birmingham and Aston Villa and Sunderland and Newcastle.

Bruce was given an immediate indication of the size of the task facing him as Newcastle were outplayed by Wolves to lose 4-0 in the opening match of the Premier League Asia Trophy in Nanjing.

-AAP

Wallabies chasing first away win over Springboks in eight years

Australia have called uncapped New South Wales Waratahs prop Harry Johnson-Holmes into their squad ahead of this weekend's Rugby Championship opener against South Africa at Ellis Park, but six players have been released by coach Michael Cheika.

Props Scott Sio (adductor) and Tom Robertson (ankle), as well as flyhalf Christian Lealiifano (shoulder), have all been ruled out with injury and will return to Australia to continue their rehabilitation.

The absence of Lealiifano settles the debate over who will wear the number 10 jersey with Bernard Foley now in pole position.

Lealiifano had been hoping to play his first test since 2016 after overcoming leukaemia.

Australia are seeking a first away victory over the Springboks since 2011, before they return home for a meeting with Argentina in Brisbane on July 27.

-Reuters

Man United in hot pre-season form

Marcus Rashford and Paul Pogba have continued their hot pre-season form to help guide Manchester United to a 4-0 win over Leeds United in Perth.

First-half strikes to 17-year-old Mason Greenwood and Rashford got the Red Devils off to the perfect start, before Phil Jones and Anthony Martial scored after the break in the entertaining win.

Rashford also scored in last week's 2-0 win over Perth Glory, and his sublime move to bamboozle two Leeds defenders before scoring on Wednesday night set tongues wagging.

Pogba's pinpoint passes broke down Leeds' defence time and time again in the first half before Manchester United subbed off their entire starting XI at the break.

-AAP