Latest- Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson has confirmed talks have begun to try and lure All Black TJ Perenara to the rugby league club.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The 29-year-old is currently playing rugby for the Red Hurricanes in Japan, but his contract with New Zealand Rugby is due to expire at the end of this year.
The Roosters have injuries at hooker and Perenara is seen as a potential No 9 option should he switch codes.
Robinson got Sonny Bill Williams back to the Roosters midway through last season, six years after the dual international had left league to chase another rugby World Cup with the All Blacks.
Stokes out of series against Black Caps
England all-rounder Ben Stokes will be sidelined for about three months after fracturing his finger while playing for Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Stokes had an X-ray and CT scan which has revealed the extent of the damage and he will fly home for surgery in Leeds.
England's home two-test series against New Zealand begins on 2 June , meaning Stokes is extremely unlikely to be fit in time. He is also likely be unavailable for the white ball internationals against Sri Lanka in June.
However, he should be recovered for the five-test series against India, starting on 4 August.
"It's a big blow but it's not the end of the world because Ben Stokes would have needed resting in this difficult scheduling year anyway," former England skipper Nasser Hussain told Sky Sports on Friday.
"But Ben Stokes gets very bored very easily and he won't want to be missing any cricket. But there is an Ashes coming up and a World T20 and an iconic series v India, so it's a little bit of rest and getting him fit mentally and physically for a lot of cricket ahead."
Stokes, ranked as the second-best all rounder in the world, sustained the injury while attempting to make a catch in the deep off West Indies batsman Chris Gayle in the IPL game against Punjab Kings.
- Reuters
Van Gisbergen in for sixth straight win
Shane van Gisbergen has claimed a record-equalling sixth straight win in 2021 in an assured performance at Symmons Plains in Tasmania.
Shane Van Gisbergen Photo: EDGE
Van Gisbergen recovered from a poor start to regain the lead from Cameron Waters, who led the early stages only to be overtaken at turn six by the championship leader.
Van Gisbergen pitted on lap 23, and having managed his tyres to perfection, emerged ahead of teammate Jamie Whincup to retain the Red Bull Ampol one-two.
The formation remained until the chequered flag, van Gisbergen cruising to victory in the 44-lap sprint by over four seconds.
Van Gisbergen joins Allan Moffat and Mark Skaife as drivers to have won six straight races to open a season.
"It was a bad [start], then Jamie pulled a nice move and got me," the New Zealander said.
"Did some big bombs at the end of the straight and got them back, it was fun racing at the start.
"Just tried to build a gap and manage it, but burnt up the rears, which puts us in a bit of a spot for tomorrow."
Sadowski-Synott second in Alaska
Zoi Sadowski-Synnott has grabbed yet another podium finish - her eighth this season - in taking second place at the Natural Selection Tour finals, held in the Tordrillo Mountains in Alaska.
Zoi Sadowski-Synnott Photo: © Iain McGregor / Winter Games NZ 2018
Coming in fresh off her snowboard slopestyle world championship win, Sadowski-Synnott was a clear semi-final winner, advancing to the two-woman final against Robin Van Gyn.
The experienced Canadian took the win by a margin of 12 points, with Sadowski-Synnott not quite able to land a completely clean run in the finals.
The 20-year-old from Wanaka has impressed with her ability to cross over from big air and slopestyle to the natural features of the back-country, winning last month's first stop on the Tour in Jackson Hole, Wyoming as a last-minute wildcard.
McDowell-White stars in Breakers win
A breakout performance from guard William McDowell-White led the New Zealand Breakers to their biggest win of the season in the Australian National Basketball League.
The Breakers beat the Brisbane Bullets 91-71 on Friday on the back of a triple-double from McDowell-White.
Playing at their home away from home in Tasmania, the Breakers dominated the contest leading by as much as 27 points at one point.
McDowell-White finished with 13 points, 14 assists and 10 rebounds.
New import Levi Randolph had his best performance with the Breakers too with 20 points and three rebounds on four of seven from three-point territory.
Finn Delany continued his tremendous form with 17 points, four rebounds and three assists with Tom Abercrombie putting up another 16 points, five boards, three assists and two blocks.
Matt Hodgson top-scored for the Bullets with 16 points, six rebounds and two blocked shots.
The Breakers have a short turnaround and now head to Perth to play the Wildcats on Sunday.
Morris proves worth in IPL
The Indian Premier League's (IPL) most expensive signing Chris Morris proved he is worth every penny as the all-rounder fired Rajasthan Royals to a thrilling three-wicket victory against Delhi Capitals.
South Africa's Chris Morris celebrates the dismissal of Colin Monroe. Photo: Photosport
Rajasthan made a splash in February's players auction by splurging a record $2.17 million to sign the 33-year-old South African after a fierce bidding war with Punjab Kings.
Morris began repaying that huge outlay with a spectacular late assault for the 2008 champions.
With Rajasthan needing 27 runs off the last two overs with three wickets in hand, Morris smacked four sixes off the final 10 balls to seal the victory.
"There are guys who get paid for batting and there are guys who get paid for slogging. I know which one I am," Morris said after his unbeaten 36 off 18 balls secured his team's first win in this year's tournament.
"I am a slogger at the end of the day who swings at everything he can."
- Reuters