Latest - Former All Black halfback Tawera Kerr-Barlow is keen to play for the Wallabies.
Tawera Kerr-Barlow Photo: AFP
Kerr-Barlow, who was a member of the All Black's 2015 World Cup winning squad, left New Zealand in 2017 to play club rugby in France.
The 32 year old has told French website RugbyRama that he wants to take advantage of World Rugby's change in eligibility laws which allows players to switch nationalities
"Unlike New Zealand, Australia have a rule allowing players who are overseas to still be eligible for selection," Kerr-Barlow said.
"I am available to play for the Wallabies! I was born there. I have a lot of ties in this country and if the coaching staff calls me I will go without hesitation."
The Wallabies are coached by Kerr-Barlow's former Chiefs mentor Dave Rennie.
Under the new regulations - which came into effect at the end of last year - players must stand down from international rugby for three years and have either been born in the nation they wish to transfer to or have a parent or grandparent born in that country.
Individuals are only allowed to do it once and it isn't just restricted for tier one players wanting to feature for tier two sides, it is available to all.
Taylor up for a Big Bash
Former Black Caps batter Ross Taylor has made himself available for the Australian Big Bash draft.
Ross Taylor Photo: Photosport
Taylor retired from international cricket last summer after playing 112 tests, 236 ODI's and 102 T20 internationals.
The 38 year old has never played in the Big Bash, but did play seven years in the Indian Premier League as well as the Caribbean League.
332 players from 20 countries are available in the draft which starts on Sunday.
Trent Boult has been included in the platinum list of 12 players who will be available first at a price of $380,000.
There are just six New Zealanders in the draft... Taylor, Boult, Colin Munro, Todd Astle, Mitchell McClenaghan and James Neesham.
The Big Bash will be played in December and January when the Black Caps are involved in internationals in Pakistan and India.
Increase in PGA prize money
The PGA Tour is increasing prize money at 12 events to match those of LIV Golf, but the tour's chief says players who have already joined the breakaway league will not be welcomed back.
Tiger Woods Photo: AFP
Commissioner Jay Monahan has announced that 12 PGA events would now have an average purse of $32m.
Top players will play in all 12, and 20 events in total, across the season.
The changes come after Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods met other top Tour players to discuss the threat of LIV Golf.
A number of high-profile players have left the established tours for the new Saudi-backed eight-event series, which boasts a $380m prize fund.
Major winners Brooks Koepka, Phil Mickelson, Bryson DeChambeau and Dustin Johnson are among those to have joined, and the PGA responded with indefinite bans.
Asked if those who have left would be welcomed back if lured by the changes to the PGA Tour, Monahan replied: "No. They've joined the LIV Golf Series and they've made that commitment.
-BBC
Azarenka won't play fundraiser
Belarusian Victoria Azarenka will not play in this week's Tennis Plays for Peace exhibition in New York "given sensitivities to Ukrainian players" and the ongoing war in their country.
Victoria Azarenka Photo: Photosport
Tennis Plays for Peace is "supporting the humanitarian relief efforts" after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko is a key ally of Russia.
Russian and Belarusian players were banned from Wimbledon but are able to compete at next month's US Open.
Announcing Azarenka's withdrawal, the United States Tennis Association said there had been "careful consideration and dialogue with all parties".
It added: "Vika is a strong player leader and we appreciate her willingness to participate.
"Given the sensitivities to Ukrainian players, and the ongoing conflict, we believe this is the right course of action for us."
Rafael Nadal, Iga Swiatek and John McEnroe are among those who will play in the exhibition at the Louis Armstrong Stadium.
-BBC
Spaniard wins stage 5
Marc Soler ended Spain's two-year wait for a stage winner at a Grand Tour as a late solo attack earned him victory on stage five of the Vuelta a Espana.
Frenchman Rudy Molard seized the leader's red jersey after a hilly 187.2km ride from Irun to Bilbao.
Spaniard Soler (UAE Team Emirates) attacked from a chasing group to catch and pass Britain's Jake Stewart (Groupama-FDJ) on the final climb and stayed away to cross the line four seconds ahead of the chasers including Frenchman Molard (Groupama-FDJ).
The 28-year-old also won a Vuelta stage in 2020.
Defending champion Primoz Roglic (Jumbo Visma) had taken the red jersey yesterday but finished back in the peloton and is now fifth, four minutes and nine seconds back.
It was no surprise, however, that Roglic's team relinquished the jersey as they will bide their time and the Slovenian will still be favourite to claim overall victory.
Thursday's stage includes the first category one climb of this year's race with a summit finish at San Miguel de Aguayo.
-Reuters
Proteas can get better
Captain Dean Elgar believes South Africa's fearsome four-prong pace attack will only get better as he admits he is unsure of what the wicket holds for the second test against England at Old Trafford that starts tonight.
South Africa's Anrich Nortje celebrates with teammates during the 2022 test series with England. Photo: AFP
South Africa needed only 82.4 overs to take England's 20 wickets as they beat the hosts by an innings and 12 runs in the first test at Lord's, with the majority of the damage done by the pace quartet of Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi and Marco Jansen.
"I reckon they can get much better, they're still pretty fresh," Elgar said.
"Our bowlers are leading our pack at the moment and they're extremely hungry for success. The competition among them is brilliant and the way they go about things is the most professional behaviour I've seen from fast bowlers."
Elgar suggested the tourists would likely retain the same XI for the second test, with only spinner Simon Harmer a potential addition to the side, though there is not an obvious candidate for him to replace with Keshav Maharaj having also bowled well at Lord's.
Fast bowler Ollie Robinson has returned to the England team in place of Matthew Potts for the match.
-Reuters
Kerber pregnant
Former world number one Angelique Kerber is pregnant and will skip the U.S. Open, which starts in New York on Monday, the three-time Grand Slam winner from Germany said.
The left-handed Kerber, 34, last played at Wimbledon where she lost in the third round to Belgium's Elise Mertens.
She won her maiden Grand Slam at the Australian Open in 2016 before lifting the U.S. Open the same year to climb to the top of the women's world rankings.
Two years later she won the grasscourt major at the All England Club for her third major title.
-Reuters
