Sport

Today's Sport News: What You Need to Know

08:55 am on 3 December 2020

Latest - Auckland will host the penultimate round of the Supercars championship series next year with confirmation of the calendar for 2021.

Auckland is back on the Supercars schedule but will reigning championship driver New Zealand's Scott McLauglin be making an appearance now that he has moved to Indycar? Photo: PHOTOSPORT

The Auckland race is scheduled to be held on November 6th and 7th but a venue and final details are still being finalised.

This season's Auckland round was dropped due to the global pandemic and the Supercars season was curtailed.

The 2021 season will start at the iconic Mount Panorama circuit with the creation of a new sprint event.

The Mount Panorama 500 will replace the traditional season opener in Adelaide, which has been scrapped after over two decades on the calendar.

The new event will be held from February 26-28, starting a 12-event championship.

"We are still working with all government partners on fan limits for each event, but we are confident of strong crowd numbers across Australia and New Zealand, in line with the current loosening of COVID-19 restrictions," said Supercars CEO Sean Seamer.

Rugby boss switches to NFL

World Rugby Chief Executive Brett Gosper will leave his role in January 2021 to take over as the head of the National Football League (NFL) in Europe and the United Kingdom.

World Rugby CEO Brett Gosper. Photo: Photosport

Gosper leaves after almost nine years in the role, having ensured rugby sevens' return to the Olympic stage and delivering successful men's and women's World Cups during his tenure.

The governing body added Gosper is set to embark on a new challenge at a time when the body looks to launch a new strategic plan and with preparation on track for World Cups in 2021 and 2023.

Chief Operating Officer Alan Gilpin will take interim charge to ensure business continuity between Gosper's exit and the appointment of a new Chief Executive.

-Reuters

Pandya heroics help India avoid clean sweep against Australia

India all-rounder Hardik Pandya scored his highest one-day international score of 92 to set up a thrilling 13-run win for his team against Australia in the third match in Canberra and avoid a clean sweep in the series.

Pandya's unbeaten knock in 76 deliveries featured seven fours and one six and he added 150 in an entertaining unbroken stand for the sixth-wicket with Ravindra Jadeja to help India post 302 for five.

The hosts seemed cruising in their chase but India's pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah dismissed Glenn Maxwell with Australia 35 runs away from a win to turn the game in his team's favour.

Bumrah returned in the last over to take the final Australian wicket to bundle them out for 289 with three deliveries remaining.

Hosts Australia had already bagged the series with two victories in as many matches in Sydney

The two sides will next play three Twenty20 matches, starting with the first on Friday at the same venue.

-Reuters

James signs on for two more years

LeBron James has agreed to a two-year, $120 million contract extension with NBA basketball champions the Los Angeles Lakers.

James, who turns 36 later this month, led the Lakers to their first title in a decade in October having previously won two championships with the Miami Heat and one with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Lakers are favourites to again win the title in the upcoming season which tips off later this month.

-Reuters

Grosjean leaves Bahrain hospital after fireball crash

French Formula One driver Romain Grosjean has left hospital in Bahrain after being treated for burns to his hands suffered when his Haas car was engulfed in a fireball.

The 34-year-old had an astonishing escape after the vehicle penetrated the metal crash barriers in Monday's race at Bahrain Grand Prix, splitting in two and erupting in flames.

The same circuit hosts another race this weekend but Grosjean will not take part, replaced by the team's Brazilian reserve Pietro Fittipaldi.

Haas said Grosjean will remain in Bahrain to continue private treatment.

The driver said on Tuesday that he still wanted to drive in next week's season-ending race in Abu Dhabi.

-Reuters