Latest - The Wellington Phoenix have signed All Whites midfielder Clayton Lewis to a one-year contract with the club.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
23-year-old Lewis joins the Phoenix after playing last season with Auckland City in the National Premiership, where he made nine appearances and scored a goal.
Prior to this, Lewis spent two seasons playing for Scunthorpe United FC in English football's League Two division, as well as a previous stint with Auckland City in which he made 29 appearances and scored nine goals.
Lewis has played 14 times for New Zealand since 2015.
Yesterday the club announced the re-signing of forward David Ball.
Hockey gets new boss
Hockey New Zealand has appointed the former deputy CEO of New Zealand Cricket, Anthony Crummy, as its new boss.
Crummy will start his new role in mid-January.
Current Chief Executive Ian Francis announced in July that he was stepping down from the role.
Anthony Crummy, Hockey NZ chief executive. Photo: Hockey NZ
Hockey NZ Chair Mike Bignell said Crummy brings to the role vast sports management experience and a track record of building high-performing teams.
"We are looking forward to leveraging Anthony's expertise, not only in propelling hockey's growth and development from the strong base built over the past decade, but also in continuing the sport's transition to semi-professionalism."
"We were particularly impressed with the transformative work Anthony has undertaken during his time at New Zealand Cricket, including the Women and Cricket Review, and helping lead the sport's strategic plan focused on broadening cricket's appeal and reach across all levels of the game."
Crummy says he's excited about the possibilities for hockey, both in the elite game and in building on its strong community base.
"The Black Sticks have a reputation for performing well on the world stage, and hockey is a sport where the men's and women's games are truly on an equal footing."
Wins for Liverpool and City
In European Champions League football Liverpool struggled to a 2-0 win over Denmark's Midtjylland at Anfield for their second straight win of the competition.
Manchester City were barely troubled as they claimed their second victory in Group C by beating Olympique de Marseille 3-0 at the Stade Velodrome.
Title holders Bayern Munich made it two wins from two with a hard-earned 2-1 victory at Lokomotiv Moscow.
13-time champions Real Madrid scored two goals in the final minutes to rescue a 2-2 draw at Borussia Moenchengladbach and grab their first point of the competition.
-Reuters
Bennett improves in Vuelta
New Zealand cyclist George Bennett has improved three places to be 10th overall after the seventh stage of the Vuelta a Espana, a 159km hilly ride.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Bennett finished 13 seconds behind stage winner Michael Woods of Canada and is now 2'39" behind overal leader Richard Carapaz of Ecuador.
Bennett's Jumbo-Visma team-mate Primox Roglic is 30 seconds behind the tour leader in fourth place.
Bennett was a part of an 18-rider group that made a break on the peleton, which finished a minute back.
Wednesday's eighth stage is a 164-km mountain ride.
Henry in doubt for Black Caps
The New Zealand fast bowler Matt Henry is in doubt for the start of the international cricket season after breaking his thumb while training with Canterbury.
Matt Henry Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Henry fractured his thumb while batting in the nets and could be out of action for up to six weeks.
The first T20 against the West Indies is just over four weeks away.
Meanwhile the CD pair of Blair Tickner and Ajaz Patel will miss their round two Plunket Shield game against leaders Auckland starting on Eden Park today because of injuries.
Canterbury will also be without injured Black Caps batsman Henry Nicholls for their game against Wellington at Hagley Oval.
Northern Districts host Otago at Bay Oval in the other game.
Baabaas players won't be investigated for protocol breaches
Police say they will not investigate Barbarians players for breaking Covid-19 rules ahead of their cancelled match against England last weekend.
Sean Maitland Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The game at Twickenham was called off after 12 Barbarians players were stood down for breaching regulations.
The players left their hotel bubble - contrary to team protocols - to have dinner at a London restaurant.
During its inquiries, the Rugby Football Union discovered another breach where players left the hotel.
The New Zealander Sean Maitland was one of those to have breached the protocols and he will miss Scotland's Six Nations game against Wales this weekend.
-BBC
Infantino tests positive
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has tested positive for COVID-19, global football's governing body said.
Infantino, who is 50 years old, has reported mild symptoms and is in self-isolation and will quarantine for at least 10 days, FIFA added.
"All people who came into contact with the FIFA President during the last few days have been informed accordingly and they are being requested to take the necessary steps," the statement said. "FIFA sincerely wishes President Infantino a speedy recovery."
-Reuters
NBA season sets to start on Christmas day
The NBA offseason could end on December 1 under a proposed 2020-21 schedule that would include starting the regular season on Christmas Day.
Reports say the NBA is discussing the feasibility of a short free agency period following the Nov. 18 draft with training camps starting Dec. 1.
The proposal, in part, is a response to the league's reported $2 billion financial shortfall caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, including loss of in-stadium revenue, the costs of staging the NBA restart near Orlando and diminished additional revenue streams.
According to the New York Times, the proposal being considered includes 72 regular-season games instead of the usual 82.
The NBA was on hiatus from March 11 until mid-July, when teams in playoff contention reported to Florida. The postseason ended Oct. 11 with the Los Angeles Lakers winning their 17th title.
-Reuters
Masters to have two tee starts
Because of a lack of daylight the Masters golf tournament will have a two-tee start with groups of three for the first two rounds.
Because of Covid-19 the tournament was moved to November 12th when the days are shorter.
Augusta National has cancelled the annual Par-3 Contest, which is played on club's adjacent Par-3 Course on the Wednesday of tournament week.
A two-tee start is standard practice at PGA Tour events with large fields, but the Masters has an invitational field that is usually fewer than 100 players.
