Latest - Midcourter Sam Winders and shooter Monica Falkner have been elevated into the Silver Ferns squad following their recent performances.
Monica Falkner and Sam Winders embrace after the first Taini Jamison Trophy test against England in Hamilton Photo: Photosport Ltd 2020
Winders and Falkner were named in the New Zealand development squad in August but earned their promotions after impressing throughout the Cadbury Netball Series in Palmerston North and against the England Roses in Hamilton.
Silver Ferns coach Dame Noeline Taurua said both players had proven their resilience and desire to wear the black dress.
"Sam has worked really hard this year and shown her fight to earn a spot in the squad. She leaves everything out on court and her commitment is a real asset," Taurua said.
"Since rupturing her ACL in last year's Cadbury Netball Series Monica has found a new drive in her netball career and to see how far she has come in a year is impressive."
Winders has 37 test caps after making her Silver Ferns debut in 2017 while Falkner earned her first ever international appearance in last month's first test against England.
Munro signs with Perth Scorchers
Unwanted by the Black Caps, big hitting Auckland batsman Colin Munro has signed with the Perth Scorchers for the upcoming Big Bash T20 cricket league, starting next month.
The 33-year old will be released from his Auckland Cricket contract but will remain available until he joins the Scorchers.
Colin Munro playing for the Trinbago Knight Riders in the Caribbean Premier League. Photo: Photosport
Munro last played in the BBL in January 2017 and recently played for the Trinbago Knight Riders in the Caribean Premier League.
The left-handed opener made three appearances for the Sydney Sixers.
"To jump on board with such a successful, established club, that has been playing great cricket since the BBL started, was what really appealed to me. It's going to be pretty special to be part of it," said Munro.
Head Coach Adam Voges looks forward to welcoming the world's fifth-ranked T20I batsman to the Scorchers.
"Colin's naturally aggressive instinct with the bat and his ability to take the game away from the opposition quickly will make him an extremely important impact player for us this summer."
One-sided result to open new hockey league
The Northern Tridents and Central Falcons have won the opening two women's matches of the new Premier Hockey League in Hamilton.
Northern Tridents captain Stacey Michelsen celebrates scoring one of her two goals Photo: Hockey NZ
The Tridents have beaten the Hauraki Mavericks 5-0 in the first game of the competition, before the Falcons downed the Southern Alpiners 4-1.
Black Sticks captain Stacey Michelsen scored twice for the Mavericks, while Kate Ivory, Sophie Hildesley and Rose Tynan also found the back of the net for the northern team.
Hope Ralph scored twice for the Falcons, while Black Sticks striker Olivia Merry scored the Alpiners' only goal.
The next round of matches are tomorrow (Saturday), with the men's league starting next week.
Magpies prop banned from remainder of Mitre 10 Cup
Hawke's Bay prop Sona Taumalolo has been suspended for three weeks after being cited in his team's Ranfurly Shield defence against Wellington.
Sona Taumalolo is back with Hawkes Bay after nine years away. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The incident occurred late in the second half of the match with Taumalolo deliberately striking an opposition player several times.
Duty Judicial Officer Nigel Hampton QC deemed his actions to be intentional and deliberate with a starting point sanction of six weeks.
The sanction was reduced to three weeks on account of Taumalolo's early admission of wrongdoing, expression of regret and a good judicial record over a long career.
Taumalolo will miss the remainder of the Mitre 10 Cup.
Draw made for ATP Finals
Defending champion Stefanos Tsitsipas was placed in the same round-robin group as Rafa Nadal when the draw for the ATP Finals was made in London.
Stefanos Tsitsipas Photo: Photosport Ltd 2019
The Greek will also face Austria's U.S. Open champion Dominic Thiem, who he beat in last year's final, and Russian debutant Andrey Rublev in the London group.
World number one Novak Djokovic, bidding for a record-equalling sixth title at the event, is in the Tokyo group with Russian Daniil Medvedev, Germany's Alexander Zverev and Argentine first-time Diego Schwartzman.
The ATP's elite year-ender, celebrating its 50th edition, is being staged at London's O2 Arena for the final time having moved their in 2009. Next year it will move to Turin.
Usually a hugely-popular week for tennis fans, this year's tournament will be staged without fans due to the surging COVID-19 pandemic which has forced another lockdown in London.
- Reuters
Rossi cleared of COVID-19
Seven-times MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi has been cleared to race at this weekend's Valencia Grand Prix after a second consecutive negative test result for COVID-19.
Valentino Rossi. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Rossi, 41, returned a "positive with very low viral load" COVID-19 result on Tuesday, but tested negative for the novel coronavirus the following two days.
"Both follow-up tests came back negative for the COVID-19 virus, confirming Rossi's attendance for this race weekend," his Yamaha team said in a statement.
The Italian earlier missed two races at Spain's MotorLand Aragon circuit in October after contracting the virus but was cleared to race in the European GP last weekend, where he pulled out on lap five due to a mechanical failure.
Rossi has not finished a race since the San Marino Grand Prix at Misano at the start of September and sits 15th in the championship standings with 58 points.
- Reuters
Another major injury setback for Liverpool
Liverpool defender Joe Gomez will miss a "significant part" of the rest of the Premier League season after having surgery on his left knee.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Gomez sustained the injury during a training session with England yesterday and was withdrawn from the squad before this morning's friendly against Ireland.
Liverpool said in a statement that Gomez had undergone surgery to repair a tendon in his left knee, with "no damage to any other associated knee ligaments".
"The operation to correct the damage, which took place in London on Thursday morning, was a success and the 23-year-old will make a full recovery," the club added.
"No time scale is being placed upon his return, though the issue is likely to rule him out for a significant part of the remainder of 2020-21."
Gomez's injury is a massive blow to manager Jurgen Klopp whose side are already without key centre back Virgil van Dijk because of a season-ending knee injury.
- Reuters