Latest - Highlanders flanker Shannon Frizell is in line to miss the start of the All Blacks' season, which opens with a test against his country of birth, Tonga.
Shannon Frizell of the Highlanders in action during the Super Rugby match between the Highlanders and the Reds. Photo: Photosport
The Highlanders have announced Frizell will be sidelined for up to six weeks with an ankle injury sustained against the Melbourne Rebels on Sunday.
The All Blacks' first test of the year is a month away against Tonga in Auckland.
With Frizell unavailable, James Lentjes and Billy Harmon will start on either side of the Highlanders scrum against the Waratahs in Dunedin on Saturday night, with Japan's Kazuki Himeno at number eight.
All Blacks halfback Aaron Smith is being rested, with Kayne Hammington to play his 50th game for the Highlanders in the nine jersey.
Phoenix play-off hopes all but extinguished
Another result has gone against the Wellington Phoenix in their hopes of playing in the A-League finals.
Photo: Photosport Ltd 2021
The Brisbane Roar have beaten the Perth Glory 2-1 in Brisbane to secure the fifth place in the top six.
Wellington are now relying on the Western Sydney Wanderers doing them a favour tonight.
The Phoenix need the Wanderers to beat Adelaide United to remain in playoff contention.
Wellington will then need need to beat Macarthur FC on Friday night to claim the last remaining finals berth.
Webster brothers run hot in Rotorua
Tai Webster has led the Breakers to an 84-78 win over the Cairns Taipans in their penultimate game of the Australian basketball league season.
Photo: Photosport Ltd 2021
Webster has scored a game-high 23 points in Rotorua, draining seven three-pointers.
Older brother Corey Webster chipped in with 16 points off the bench, while Colton Iverson, Levi Randolph and Finn Delany also scored double figures.
It's the Breakers' 12th win from 35 games and remain second to bottom, above only the Taipans.
The Breakers conclude their forgettable season against the South East Melbourne Phoenix in Auckland on Saturday night.
No major upsets at Roland Garros
The top seeded players have safely advanced to the third round in today's action at the French Open in Paris.
Stefanos Tsitsipas Photo: Photosport Ltd 2021
There were wins for men's fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece, sixth seed Alexander Zverev and Roberto Bautista Agut, the 11th seed.
Three time quarter-finalist Kei Nishikori did beat Russian 23rd seed Karen Khachanov.
In the women's draw there were wins for 10th seed Belinda Bencic and 15th seed Victoria Azarenka.
Venus Williams and Coco Gauff, 23 years apart in age, fell at the first hurdle of the French Open women's doubles on Wednesday when they lost 7-6(5) 4-6 3-6 to 13th seeds Ellen Perez and Zheng Saisai.
Top Japanese medical adviser speaks out against Olympics
Japan's most senior medical adviser said hosting the Olympics during a pandemic was "not normal" while media reported thousands of volunteers quitting in advance.
Photo: AFP
Most Japanese oppose holding the Olympics - due to start on July 23 after postponement from last year - while doctors fear the event would strain a healthcare system seeing record numbers in critical condition and struggling to vaccinate the nation.
In one of the strongest warnings yet, government medical adviser Shigeru Omi said organisers should explain to the public why they are going ahead.
"It's not normal to hold the Olympic Games in a situation like this," Omi told a parliamentary committee.
Potentially, thousands of athletes, officials and media would descend on Japan, where last week a state of emergency in Tokyo and other areas was extended to June 20.
- Reuters
Foden shortlisted for top football awards
Manchester City midfielder Phil Foden has been nominated for the Professional Footballers' Association men's Player of the Year as well as the Young Player of the Year award.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Foden, 21, has made 50 appearances for City across all competitions this season, helping Pep Guardiola's side to win the Premier League and League Cup while they also reached the Champions League final where they finished runners-up.
City dominate the six-man shortlist, with last year's winner Kevin de Bruyne, Ruben Dias and Ilkay Gundogan also in contention.
Manchester United midfielder and top goal-scorer Bruno Fernandes plus Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane, who topped the league with 23 goals and 14 assists, complete the list of nominees.
Foden has also been shortlisted for the Young Player of the Year award alongside fellow England internationals; Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold, Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount, West Ham midfielder Declan Rice, Arsenal forward Bukayo Saka and Manchester United forward Mason Greenwood.
- Reuters
Kentucky Derby winner may be disqualified
A second post-race drug test for Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit confirmed a prohibited substance was present, raising the possibility the dark bay colt might be disqualified.
The lawyer for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, who won a record seventh Kentucky Derby with Medina Spirit on May 1, said a second sample found the anti-inflammatory drug betamethasone at a prohibited level.
Baffert has previously said Otomax, an anti-fungal ointment to treat dermatitis, could be the source of Medina Spirit's positive test and the trainer's lawyer said further testing is being conducted.
Medina Spirit's initial sample after the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs showed 21 picograms of betamethasone, over the legal limit in Kentucky racing, and Robertson said the second test confirmed findings of the substance at 25 picograms.
Churchill Downs has previously said that if a second round of testing showed the presence of betamethasone, Medina Spirit would be disqualified and runner-up Mandaloun would be declared the winner.
- Reuters
