Today's sports news: What you need to know

Latest - The New Zealand Paralympics team will leave for Tokyo on time despite New Zealand's move to alert level 4.

There are currently 24 members of the 66-strong New Zealand Paralympic team in Japan, one in USA, one in France and 40 in New Zealand.

Those in New Zealand included 20 Para athletes and 20 support staff who were to fly to Japan this week.

In a statement Paralympics New Zealand said the team will continue to travel as planned.

"Paralympics New Zealand (PNZ) has been working with Sport NZ to enable members of the New Zealand Paralympic Team to depart New Zealand for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games safely and in accordance to Alert Level 4 guidelines."

The Paralympic Games start on 24 August through to 5 September.

Black Ferns head north

Four Test matches have been confirmed for the Black Ferns in Europe at the end of the year.

The two Tests each against England and France in October/November will provide ideal preparation for the Black Ferns Rugby World Cup defence.

New Zealand Rugby Head of Women's Rugby Cate Sexton said locking in a northern tour has been a key focus for the Black Ferns programme.

"In the lead up to next year's World Cup we knew we needed to be playing some of the Six Nations teams, so confirming these fixtures is incredibly important.

"Coupled with the O'Reilly Cup and next year's Elite Women's XV competition, we are building a strong calendar of rugby for players to prepare for the World Cup," said Sexton.

The last meetings of these teams was at the 2019 Super Series in San Diego, which the Black Ferns won, and recorded a win and a loss against England and France respectively.

The Black Ferns last played France in a two-match series in 2018, the results split one-apiece. It will be the first back-to-back Tests against England since 2013.

The 2021 Black Ferns squad will be named next month.

Ko all go for British Open

Lydia Ko is planning a short break from the women's golf tour but first wants to continue her current form at this week's British Open in Scotland.

The 24 year old is about to make her 10th appearance at the major.

Ko followed up her bronze medal effort at the Olympics with a tie for second at last week's Scottish Open.

"It would be definitely nice to cap off this stretch of events on a high. I really enjoy playing links golf.

"I know at times when I'm out there playing, it's really tough and you know, there's a lot of things to think about," said Ko.

"But I haven't had, I think last year was probably my second-best finish at this championship, so I would love to be able to play more consistently well over here because it is a type of game that I enjoy playing."

Ko will play alongside Japan's Ayaka Furue and Jessica Korda of the USA in the first two rounds at Carnoustie.

Her best result at the British Open was a tie for third in 2015.

First up wins for Coll and King

New Zealanders Paul Coll and Joelle King have both won their opening matches at the British Squash Open in Hull.

Coll beat Egypt's Youssef Ibrahim 3-0 in 54 minutes to advance to the last 16.

Fourth ranked Coll will face another Egyptian, Mazem Hasham ranked 14th in the third round Friday morning NZT for a spot in the quarter-final.

Meanwhile, New Zealand's No.7 seed Joelle King recovered from an injury to her right ankle to beat England's Jasmine Hutton 3-0.

King suffered the injury in the first game, but returned with strapping to win in 40 minutes.

King will take on American Sabrina Sobhy ranked 21st in the third round on Friday morning NZT.

Sadleir leaves World Rugby

New Zealander Katie Sadleir is leaving World Rugby to become the Commonwealth Games Federation Chief Executive.

Sadleir has been with World Rugby since 2016 and was their General Manager of Women's Rugby.

Sadleir said, "I believe collectively we have achieved some huge changes that have made a real impact for rugby globally. I'm especially proud of the leadership pipeline programmes that we have put in place for women both on and off the field as we strive, where ever possible, to make sure decisions are made with women, for women and girls.

"As I move to take on this new global leadership role I am extremely excited about the potential of the Commonwealth Sport movement. The Commonwealth Games Federation have recently launched the year to go to the Birmingham Games but sport is just the beginning, the CGF aims to ensure sport is a catalyst for positive change at a community, national and international level."

Sadleir replaces American David Grevemberg who resigned from the Commonwealth Games Federation in March.

Dutchman sprints to stage for victory

Deceuninck-Quick-Step rider Fabio Jakobsen sprinted to victory on stage four of the Vuelta a Espana, earning the green jersey for the points classification in the process.

Jakobsen finished the strongest in the 164km flat stage from El Burgo de Osma to Molina de Aragon, and his victory capped an emotional comeback for the Dutch sprinter, who suffered life threatening injuries just over 12 months ago in last year's Tour of Poland.

The former Dutch national champion pipped Arnaud Demare on the line in a dramatic finish which also saw overall leader Rein Taaramae fall off his bike with just over two kilometres to go after a collision with another rider.

The Estonian, who rides for Intermarche-Wanty-Gobert Materiaux, retains his advantage as his accident came within the final three kilometres of the race, meaning he remains 25 seconds up on second-placed Kenny Elissonde and 30 ahead of Primoz Roglic, winner of the last two editions.

The sprinters will have another chance to claim glory in Wednesday's 184.4km pan-flat stage five, which goes from Tarancon to Albacete in Spain's South East.

-Reuters

Abraham heads to Rome

AS Roma have signed striker Tammy Abraham from Premier League team Chelsea on a five-year deal.

Roma confirmed the $68 million deal for the 23-year-old, who joins Jose Mourinho's team in search of game time.

Abraham ended last season as Chelsea's joint-top scorer with 12 goals in all competitions, but found himself on the periphery of the first team at the London club since Thomas Tuchel replaced Frank Lampard as manager in January.

The England international joins Roma after Champions League holders Chelsea brought Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku back to England from Inter Milan.

Abraham's move to Roma follows the exit of veteran striker Edin Dzeko, who joined Serie A champions Inter at the weekend.

-Reuters

Boks continue to rotate

South Africa coach Jacques Nienaber has rotated his team for their second Rugby Championship clash with Argentina in Nelson Mandela Bay this weekend and has reverted to something close to a full-strength side.

The Springboks beat Argentina 32-12 in their competition opener at the same venue this past weekend with a much-changed team.

However, they have restored their regular backline with the return of flyhalf Handre Pollard, wings Cheslin Kolbe and Makazole Mapimpi, and the centre pairing of Lukhanyo Am and Damian de Allende.

The line-up is similar to the one that played the third test against the British & Irish Lions and clinched the series.

Props Thomas du Toit and Trevor Nyakane will partner hooker Malcolm Marx in the front row, with Marvin Orie to get a first test start at lock alongside Lood de Jager.

Captain Siya Kolisi, Franco Mostert and number eight Jasper Wiese make up the loose-forwards.

-Reuters