Today's sports news: What you need to know

Latest - The Wheel Blacks rugby side have finished eighth and last at the Paralympics in Tokyo, going down 56-53 to Denmark in the playoff for seventh.

Barney Koneferenisi was again the leading scorer for New Zealand.

The scores were locked at 13-all at the end of the first quarter but Denmark edged out a four point lead at halftime, which they extended to five at three quarter time.

New Zealand finished strongly but Denmark held on to claim seventh.

The result leaves New Zealand winless at the tournament having been well beaten by the United States, Great Britain and Canada in pool play.

-RNZ

Ronaldo returns to United

Manchester United have agreed a deal to re-sign Cristiano Ronaldo from Juventus, the Premier League club has announced, with the transfer subject to the agreement of personal terms, visa and a medical.

The Portugal forward is headed back to the club where he won eight major trophies from 2003-2009. Financial details were not disclosed but British and Italian media said United would buy Ronaldo for 25 million euros on a two-year deal.

Ronaldo, signed by Juve in 2018 for 100 million euros from Real Madrid in the hope of leading them to an elusive Champions League title, will leave the club with 101 goals, two league crowns and a Coppa Italia to his name.

The 36-year-old won the Ballon d'Or as the world's best player in 2008 at United alongside his team accolades, before sealing a then world record 80 million pounds move to Madrid.

After telling Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri on Thursday of his desire to leave Turin, widespread media reports claimed Ronaldo's agent, Jorge Mendes, had agreed personal terms with Premier League champions Manchester City.

But after City were said to have had a change of heart over the deal, rivals United got the transfer agreed.

- Reuters

Manchester City footballer denied bail

Manchester City defender Benjamin Mendy has been remanded in custody after appearing at Chester Magistrates' Court a day after being charged with four counts of rape and one count of sexual assault.

Mend is accused of offences against three women, the court heard.

The 27-year-old, who was refused bail, is likely to remain in custody until the date of his next hearing on Sept. 10, unless his legal team appeals against the decision to deny him bail.

Mendy appeared in court wearing a red Balenciaga hoodie and black Adidas jogging trousers and stood expressionless with his arms folded as the charges were put to him by the court clerk via a French interpreter.

The charges against Mendy are alleged to have taken place between October 2020 and August 2021, Cheshire Constabulary said in their statement on Thursday.

Mendy, who has played for France 10 times and won the World Cup in 2018, was signed by City from AS Moncao in 2017 for a fee in the region of 52 million pounds ($71.32 million).

He has won the Premier League three times with City although injuries have limited his playing time, with the left back undergoing knee surgery in the 2018-19 season.

- Reuters

India fightback at Headingley

Cheteshwar Pujara orchestrated India's spirited resistance with an unbeaten career-reviving 91 not out but England remained on course for a series-levelling victory in the third test at Headingley.

Under pressure to save his place in the side, Pujara added 82 runs with Rohit Sharma and 99 with Virat Kohli to steer India to 215-2 when bad light stopped third day's play.

India are still 139 runs behind but it was a much-improved performance by the tourists who had wilted for 78 in their first innings to be on the back foot.

Captain Kohli, who has had a subdued series so far, was batting on 45 and would hope to continue the good work when they resume on day four.

Earlier, England lost their last two wickets quickly to be all out for 432 in their robust reply to India's meagre first innings total.

- Reuters

Wallabies pair to miss third Bledisloe Cup test

Australia centre Hunter Paisami and lock Lukhan Salakaia-Loto will miss the rescheduled Rugby Championship test against New Zealand in Perth to return home for the births of their first children.

The pair's departure follows New Zealand's decision to not fly to the Western Australia capital last week, which forced the game's postponement to Sept 5 and drew an irate reaction from Wallabies coach Dave Rennie.

Rennie said both men would have been available had the match been played this Saturday as originally scheduled.

"Their partners are due on the first (of September) and beyond so they both came here originally and have since left," Rennie told reporters.

Rennie may call on Samu Kerevi as a replacement for Paisami after the centre's return to the squad following the Olympic rugby sevens tournament. Lock Izack Rodda could also be in the frame for what would be his first test under Rennie.

- Reuters

Surprise stage-winner in Vuelta

Florian Senechal sprinted to an unlikely maiden world tour victory in stage 13 of the Vuelta a Espana.

The Frenchman held off a late challenge from UAE Team Emirates's Matteo Trentin to secure glory on the 203.7 km flat stage from Belmez to Villanueva de la Serena.

It had appeared as if Deceuninck-Quick-Step were setting up their speedster Fabio Jakobsen for a stage victory.

However the Dutchman lost contact with his train just under a km from the finish after getting a flat tyre, allowing team mate Senechal to push on for the win.

"I don't know (what to think). We did everything perfectly for Fabio but he said on the radio there was a gap and he just told me 'sprint, Florian!'," Senechal said.

"I don't know what to say at the moment - it's crazy! I had to keep calm and was expecting people to come past me, but nobody passed me."

Norway's Odd Christian Eiking (Intermarche-Wanty-Gobert Materiaux) retained the leader's red jersey, keeping his 58 seconds lead over Frenchman Guillaume Martin (Cofidis) and 1:56 advantage over Slovenian reigning champion Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) as the race head into the mountains in its final week.

- Reuters

Red Bull re-sign Perez

Mexican Sergio Perez will race on with Red Bull next year alongside Max Verstappen, the Formula One team said in a statement.

Perez joined Red Bull from Racing Point, now Aston Martin, and won in Azerbaijan in June -- his second F1 victory after the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix in Bahrain.

The 31-year-old qualified on the front row in his second race for Red Bull at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix and is currently fifth overall.

Verstappen, who has a contract to the end of 2023, is eight points behind Mercedes's seven times world champion Lewis Hamilton in the championship while Red Bull are challenging for the constructors' title.

"Checo (Perez) is a highly respected team member and his experience and race-craft are invaluable as we fight for the constructors' championship," said team boss Christian Horner at the Belgian Grand Prix.

"His integration into the wider team has been seamless and we have been impressed by his performances during the first half of the season which demonstrate what he's capable of in our car."

- Reuters