Today's sports news: What you need to know

Latest - Queensland rugby league legend Billy Slater has been named the state's new State of Origin coach.

The Dally M and Clive Churchill Medal winner represented Queensland in 31 State of Origin matches over a 15-year career.

Slater replaces Paul Green, who had only been in the job for one year, but was under a cloud after this year's 2-1 series loss that started with a 50-6 thrashing in game one.

Since retiring from the professional playing ranks in 2018, Slater has impressed with his football intellect and his understanding of the modern-day game through his work as a commentator, Maroons selector and mentor.

The 38-year-old's former Origin teammates Johnathan Thurston, who was an assistant to Green in this year's 2-1 series loss, and Cameron Smith may also be involved with next season's campaign but only Slater's position has been finalised at this stage.

The QRL is keen to find an experienced mentor to help him in his first coaching role, with Wayne Bennett believed to be a target for the role.

-NRL

Spaniards to lead Europe

World number one Jon Rahm and Sergio Garcia were chosen on Thursday to spearhead Europe's Ryder Cup defence with captain Padraig Harrington sending out the Spanish duo in the opening foursomes to face Americans Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth.

In a clear indication Europe will try to grab the early momentum, Harrington turned to two of his big guns in U.S. Open champion Rahm and Garcia, the record Ryder Cup points scorer, to play world number six Thomas and a resurgent Spieth, who is once again showing the form that won him three major titles.

The second match at Whistling Straits in Wisconson tomorrow pits the U.S. partnership of former world number one Dustin Johnson and British Open champion Collin Morikawa against Briton Paul Casey and Norwegian Ryder Cup debutant Viktor Hovland.

The British pairing of Lee Westwood, playing in a record- equalling 11th Ryder Cup, and Matt Fitzpatrick will take on big-hitting American Brooks Koepka and Daniel Berger.

The last match of the first session could be the most explosive with the fiery pairing of Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy and the "Postman" Ian Poulter taking on Olympic gold medallist Xander Schauffele and the in-form Patrick Cantlay, coming off his win at the Tour championship.

-Reuters

World Rugby wants to limit contact training

World Rugby are suggesting elite players have a maximum 15 minutes of full contact training per week as part of new guidance aimed at improving player welfare.

The global governing body has issued the "contact training load" guidance after consultation with nearly 600 players from 18 elite competitions around the world.

World Rugby estimates that up to 40% of injuries are sustained in training and the guidance aims to reduce the amount of time players spend in any kind of contact in preparation for matches from the current average of around two hours a week.

Australia coach Dave Rennie said he had not been consulted by World Rugby's researchers and wanted more guidance as to what constitutes "full contact". He also raised the concern that players needed to be primed for the physical demands of matches.

New Zealand coach Ian Foster gave cautious endorsement of the 15-minute rule but was also curious about World Rugby's definition of "full contact".

"Fifteen minutes I would say would be about right, gut feel," he said.

World Rugby is also engaged in a wide-ranging study with New Zealand Rugby and Otago University aimed at understanding "nature and frequency of head impacts" in the game.

-Reuters

Ronaldo tops rich list

Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo has reclaimed top spot in the list of the world's highest-paid soccer players from Lionel Messi, according to Forbes.

Ronaldo rejoined United from Juventus in August after 12 years away, while Messi has swapped boyhood club Barcelona to join Paris St Germain.

Forbes said Ronaldo, among the world's most popular athletes with over 500 million followers across Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, is set to make $176 million before taxes in the 2021-22 season, with $100 million coming from salary and bonuses at United.

The rest will come from endorsements and partnerships with brands including Nike, Herbalife, Clear and his CR7 brand.

Messi, who topped last year's list, will be paid a salary of $106 million with an additional $50 million from endorsements.

The Argentine's strike partner at PSG Neymar, who in May signed a new contract until 2025, is third on the list with total earnings of $134 million.

Another PSG player, Kylian Mbappe ($60 million), is fourth on the Forbes list while Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah ($58 million) is fifth.

-Reuters

Miami given date for F1 return

Miami has been given a May 8 date for the city's first Formula One race around the Hard Rock Stadium next year.

Miami will be the 11th location Formula One has raced at in the United States since the world championship started in 1950.

Florida last featured on the calendar in 1959 when Sebring hosted a season-ender won by New Zealander Bruce McLaren.

The Hard Rock Stadium belongs to real estate mogul and owner of the Miami Dolphins NFL team Stephen Ross, who is funding construction of the track and covering race costs.

Formula One's 2022 calendar is not due to be published until next month but some venues have announced provisional dates.

-Reuters

Usyk says he's up to it

Ukrainian challenger Oleksandr Usyk has dismissed concerns that he did not possess the size and strength to take out world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, saying that the "power is in your spirit".

The Briton will put his IBF, WBA and WBO belts on the line in London this weekend against the undefeated Usyk, a former cruiserweight who is 18-0 in his professional career.

"People talk a lot... we'll see on Saturday what happens... because the power is in your spirit, it's not about being big or small," said Usyk, who has fought only twice before as a heavyweight.

While new to the heavyweight division, Usyk tore through the cruiserweight class after turning pro eight years ago, becoming one of boxing's rare unified champions in 2018 by winning all four belts in the category.

Joshua, who last fought in December 2020 when he knocked out Bulgarian challenger Kubrat Pulev, said: "Happy to be back again, you have to want to train and put the work in and improve and practise... I'm not an easy fight for anyone, I like fighting. God has blessed me, shown me the path to get into boxing."

The 31-year-old was slated to take on compatriot Tyson Fury in Saudi Arabia this year but the fight was cancelled after an American arbitrator ordered Fury to take on Deontay Wilder in a third bout.

-Reuters

Thompson will donate brain to research

Rugby World Cup winner Steve Thompson, who was diagnosed with dementia aged 42, has pledged to donate his brain for research on chronic traumatic encephalopathy, the former England hooker said.

Thompson is one of a group of nine former players who filed a class-action lawsuit against World Rugby and other governing bodies in December, alleging their failure protect them led to early onset of dementia.

The Concussion Legacy Project, a new "brain bank" formed in partnership with the Jeff Astle Foundation -- named after the former England forward who died of dementia in 2002 -- will use Thompson's brain to research CTE and other consequences of brain trauma in athletes and military veterans in Britain.

"I'm pledging my brain so the children of the people I love don't have to go through what I have gone through," said Thompson, who revealed last year he had no memory of winning the 2003 World Cup final.

"It's up to my generation to pledge our brains so researchers can develop better treatments and ways to make the game safer."

Thompson played 73 times for England from 2002-2011 and won three caps for the British & Irish Lions.

-Reuters

England cricket family likely to be allowed into Australia

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has asked his Australian counterpart Scott Morrison to help ease strict quarantine rules to allow the families of England's cricketers to tour with the players during the upcoming Ashes series.

England players are seeking assurances their family members will be allowed to join them in Australia during the five-test series in December and January.

Australia's borders are effectively shut in an effort to control COVID-19, with caps on international arrivals and limited places available in the country's mandatory hotel quarantine regime.

Johnson said he had discussed the Ashes with Morrison in Washington this week when the pair met for dinner.

Morrison said he thought there would be no need for "special deals" allowing the families of players to accompany them.

Australia plans to ease border and quarantine restrictions by the end of 2021, when at least 80% of adults are expected to have received two COVID-19 vaccination shots.

However, officials in the COVID-free states of Western Australia and Queensland have said they will set their own timetables for opening up and may keep their borders shut for longer.

-Reuters

Iceman returns to action

Alfa Romeo's Kimi Raikkonen will return for this weekend's Russian Grand Prix in Sochi after missing the last two Formula One races because of a positive COVID-19 test.

The 2007 world champion said on Thursday it was good to be back behind the wheel.

"Obviously nobody wants to test positive, but it happened and we had to follow the rules: but that is all in the past and now my focus is on Sochi," the 41-year-old Finn said in a team press release.

Alfa Romeo are ninth out of 10 teams and Raikkonen has scored two of their three points so far in 2021.

Raikkonen is retiring at the end of the season, with compatriot Valtteri Bottas moving from Mercedes to take his place at Alfa Romeo.

He was replaced for the Dutch and Italian Grands Prix by Polish reserve driver Robert Kubica.

Alfa have yet to confirm their second driver for 2022, with uncertainty surrounding Italian Antonio Giovinazzi's future.

Meanwhile Russian Nikita Mazepin and German Mick Schumacher will continue to race for F1 tail-enders Haas next season.

-Reuters

UEFA doubles prize money for women's Euro

UEFA has doubled its prize fund for the 2022 Women's European Championship to $27 million with increased guaranteed payments for the 16 qualified teams.

European football's governing body said in a statement that it had also approved the introduction of a programme which will see teams that release players for the Euros rewarded with payouts from a $7.5 million fund.

The women's tournament, originally scheduled for this year but postponed by 12 months because of the COVID-19 pandemic, is set to take place in England in July 2022.

UEFA also approved changes to its solidarity payment model for men's teams not participating in club competitions in the 2021-24 cycle, with full details to be announced soon.

It added that there would be increased shares for all associations outside the top five - England, Spain, Germany, Italy and France.

The move comes after UEFA had to fend off an attempt by 12 top European clubs earlier this year to form a breakaway European Super League.

-Reuters