Today's sports news: What you need to know

Latest - A pair of former All Blacks and two of New Zealand's most promising professionals will headline the undercard for next month's Fight for Life charity boxing event.

A veteran of 43 tests, former flanker Liam Messam would be joined by 35-test first five-eighth Carlos Spencer at the event on Auckland's North Shore on July 21.

Also on show would be undefeated pro duo Jerome Pampellone (12-0) and Andrei Mikhailovich (17-0) out of the thriving Peach Boxing stable in west Auckland.

Classy light-heavyweight Pampellone was set to face Shane Cameron-trained fighter Joshua Francis, while heavy-handed middleweight Mikhailovich would go up against Francis Waitai (5-0).

Neither Messam nor Spencer would be stepping in the ring for the first time, having both fought on previous editions of the Fight for Life.

Messam, who was taking on two-time NRL champion and former Kiwis back Paul Whatuira, had also fashioned a 3-0 record and fought as recently as last month when he picked up a points decision win at an event in New Plymouth.

The 38-year-old had been sparring with Olympic medallist David Nyika and, like main event headliner and fellow former All Black Keven Mealamu, had aspirations of making a run at the New Zealand heavyweight title.

Spencer, 46, was stopped by Monthy Betham at the 2014 Fight for Life and would be chasing redemption against former Warriors and Samoa prop James Gavet.

A portion of ticket sales from the event would be donated to leading youth mental health and suicide prevention charity I Am Hope.

- RNZ

England salvage draw with Germany

England were spared a second successive Nations League defeat as Harry Kane's 50th goal for his country, a coolly-taken late penalty, salvaged a 1-1 draw away to Germany in Munich.

Germany deservedly led through Jonas Hofmann's 50th-minute effort but were unable to finish England off and Kane levelled in the 88th minute after being tripped in the area.

After suffering a first defeat by Hungary for 60 years at the weekend in their opening League A, Group Three fixture, England fielded an experienced lineup in a noisy Allianz Arena but were second best for much of the clash.

England stay bottom of the group with one point.

Italy beat Hungary 2-1 in Cesena top top the group with four points, Hungary have three, Germany two and England one.

- Reuters

Zverev undergoes ankle surgery

German world number three Alexander Zverev has undergone surgery on torn ligaments in his right ankle after he was forced to retire from his French Open semi-final against 22-times major champion Rafa Nadal last week.

Zverev was trailing 7-6(8) 6-6 against Nadal when he rolled his ankle and he screamed out in agony. The 25-year-old was fighting for his first Grand Slam title and would have taken over as world number one had he succeeded in his quest.

"After further examination in Germany, we received confirmation that all three of the lateral ligaments in my right ankle were torn," Zverev said on Instagram.

"To return to competition as quickly as possible, to ensure all the ligaments heal properly, and to reclaim full stability in my ankle, surgery was the best choice. My rehab starts now and I'll do everything to come back stronger than ever!"

Zverev's brother Mischa told German newspaper Bild that Wimbledon is "out of the question" for the 25-year-old, with the grasscourt major set to be held from June 27 to July 10.

- Reuters

Socceroos one step closer to World Cup

Australia will take on Peru next week for a place at November's World Cup finals after beating the United Arab Emirates 2-1 in Asia's final eliminator for Qatar 2022.

Defender Ali Salmeen deflected Ajdin Hrustic's volley past Khaled Eisa with six minutes remaining at Al Rayyan's Ahmad bin Ali Stadium to keep alive Australia's hopes of qualifying for a fifth consecutive World Cup finals.

Jackson Irvine had put Graham Arnold's side in front with a close-range strike in the 53rd minute but Caio Canedo levelled four minutes later with an emphatic finish into the roof of Mathew Ryan's net.

The Socceroos will meet Peru in the same venue next Monday in the first of two intercontinental playoffs to determine the remaining spots at the finals, with New Zealand playing Costa Rica in the final eliminator 24 hours later.

- Reuters

Hobbs stars on first day of Oceania Champs

Zoe Hobbs recorded an Oceania record in winning the 100m title at the Oceania Atheltics Championships in Queensland.

Three times during the domestic season Hobbs lowered the New Zealand women's 100m record and on a wet track and in lightly falling rain in Mackay she clipped a further 0.06 from that time, recording 11.09.

World Championship-bound athlete Sam Tanner maintained his outstanding recent form by cruising to victory in the senior men's 1500m.

Matthew Taylor was third.

Hamish Kerr retained his Oceania high jump title as he defied the wet to strike gold with a best of 2.24m.

Australia edged New Zealand in a highly-competitive senior men's 100m final as Eddie Osei-Nketia took silver in 10.23 (+1.2m/s) with fastest qualifier Tiaan Whelpton having to settle for fourth in 10.36.

Tori Peeters defeated Australia's world champion Kelsey-Lee Barber in a high-class women's javelin but had to settle for silver behind Barber's compatriot Mackenzie Little.

Courtney Ruske won the 5000m race walk title and double Paralympic sprint medallist Danielle Aitchison defied a nagging back injury to win bronze in the women's para 100m.

Just 2 changes to Warriors lineup

New Warriors coach Stacey Jones has made minimal changes to his side for his first game in charge against Cronulla on Sunday.

Back rower Josh Curran makes a welcome return from a six-game injury lay-off and has been named on the interchange bench.

Curran, who turns 23 on Friday, has been out since the Anzac Day clash against Melbourne when he was helped off the field in the opening minute of the second half with a medial collateral ligament (MCL) strain in his right knee.

Jones has listed the same starting line-up used in last Saturday night's 12-44 loss to Manly but has indicated there could be some changes to the side once he and the coaching staff have discussed options.

The only other change to the 17 -man squad sees new signing Dunamis Lui return to the interchange for Aaron Pene.

Also listed on the extended bench is new halfback Ronald Volkman who made his debut for the Dolphins in their 54-0 win over the Ipswich Jets last weekend.

Woods to skip major

Tiger Woods has decided to withdraw from next week's U.S. Open outside Boston, citing a need for more time to get his body ready for major championship golf but still plans to play the British Open at St. Andrews in July.

Woods returned to competition at the Masters in April, 14 months after nearly losing his right leg in a car crash, then played in last month's PGA Championship where he withdrew in pain after posting a nine-over-par 79 in the third round.

Despite opting to sit out the U.S. Open, an event he has won three times, Woods said he still plans to play in the JP McManus Pro-Am, a two-day event in Ireland, before hopefully competing in the July 14-17 British Open the following week.

Meanwhile Danny Lee has qualified for the US Open and will join fellow New Zealander Ryan Fox in the field.

-Reuters

Black Cap to play for Kent

New Zealand seamer Jacob Duffy has answered an SOS call from Kent and will play the English County's next two championship cricket matches.

Duffy was a part of the Black Caps enlarged squad in England, but was released just before the first Test.

Kent currently have four pace bowlers out injured so have called up Duffy for games against Gloucestershire and Surrey.

Fellow Black Cap Matt Henry is due to return to Kent after the third Test at Headingly.

Englist star in doubt for SW19

U.S. Open champion Emma Raducanu has no idea if she would be fit to play at Wimbledon, the 19-year-old said after a "freak injury" forced her to retire from her opening match at the WTA 250 event in Nottingham.

Britain's Raducanu retired when she was a break down at 4-3 in the opening set against Switzerland's Viktorija Golubic, nearly half an hour into the match after she suffered what appeared to be a side strain.

Raducanu reached the last 16 at Wimbledon in 2021 but will need a quick recovery to compete at this year's tournament which will be held from June 27 to July 10.

"It could've just seized up and spasmed and then it's really bad for a few days. But I've got no idea. I can't diagnose myself, so I'll get it checked out."

Raducanu, who has been without a full-time coach since April, shot to stardom last September when, as a qualifier, she won the U.S. Open title, becoming Britain's first female Grand Slam champion since Virginia Wade in 1977.

-Reuters

Johnson leaves US tour

American two-time major champion Dustin Johnson says he has resigned from the PGA Tour to compete in the inaugural LIV Golf Invitational that kicks off this week.

By doing so, Johnson has likely made himself ineligible for the American Ryder Cup team and could potentially jeopardise his chances of playing in golf's majors.

"It's hard to speak on what the consequences might be but I've resigned my membership of the Tour and that's the plan for now," Johnson said at the Centurion Club, north of London, host of the first of eight events.

Johnson is the second golfer to resign from the PGA Tour to join the contentious new event which is bankrolled by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund and offers a total prize pot of $394 million.

Fellow American Kevin Na said he had also chosen that option last week.

Meanwhile Phil Mickelson plans to hop from London this week to the U.S. Open in his return to competitive golf on American soil.

Mickelson maintains PGA Tour status as a lifetime member.

-Reuters

Minimum skating age to rise

The International Skating Union Congress has voted to gradually raise the minimum competition age for senior figure skating competitions from 15 to 17.

The decision, voted on at the ISU Congress in Phuket, Thailand, comes after Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva tested positive for a banned substance while at the Beijing Winter Olympics in February, when she was 15.

Valieva's case prompted questions over whether the minimum age for competitors in figure skating needed to be raised to protect minors.

The decision was not unanimous, with 100 countries voting in favour and 16 against. A two thirds majority, 79 votes, was required for the motion to be passed.

-Reuters