18 Jun 2019

Today's sports news: What you need to know

2:13 pm on 18 June 2019

Latest - Seven uncapped players have been named in the Black Ferns squad for next month's rugby super series in San Diego.

Black Ferns.

Black Ferns. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

A 30 strong squad has been named for the competition which includes tests against Canada, the United States, France and England.

The Black Ferns first match is against Canada on Saturday week.

The uncapped players are hookers Forne Burkin and Luka Connor, prop Olivia Ward-Duin, locks Karli Faneva and Joanah Ngan-Woo, loose fowards Kennedy Simon and Pia Tapsell and halfback Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu.

"This is a very exciting squad - a real mix of experienced players and younger players ready to make their mark," said coach Glenn Moore.

"We will be facing four of the top teams in the world in USA, Canada, France and England - it's going to be fantastic festival of rugby," he said.

World records tumble for Pascoe

Sophie Pascoe has broken two World Para Swimming World Records at the New Zealand Open Championships in Auckland.

New Zealand para-swimmer Sophie Pascoe.

Photo: PHOTOSPORT

The Christchurch swimmer set a new mark in the women's S9 50m Freestyle with a record time of 27.32 seconds and followed that up with a record in the 100m Backstroke with a time of 1:07.41 seconds.

Pascoe also swam under the qualifying time for September's World Para Swimming Championships in London for both events.

Gold Coast Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Lewis Clareburt of Wellington qualified for this year's FINA World Championships in the Men's 400m Individual Medley, while backstroker swimmer Ali Galyer of North Shore also qualified in the women's 200m Backstroke.

Long wait for Bulls

The Bulls chances of beating the Hurricanes in Saturday's Super Rugby quarter-final just got a little harder after their trip to Wellington was delayed 24 hours.

The Bulls thought they were to leave Johannesburg on Sunday, but Sanzaar's travel office said they could only fly on Monday.

The side won't now arrive in the capital until midnight tonight and will only have one day of training before the captain's practice and the game.

Baby Blacks beaten again

New Zealand Baby Blacks walk of the field dejected after a loss at the 2019 World Rugby U20 Championship match in Argentina.

The New Zealand U20 men's side were beaten 8-7 by Wales. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

The New Zealand Under 20 rugby side is set for its worst ever result at a world championship after losing to Wales in their first play-off game in Argentina.

Having missed the semi-finals the New Zealanders were beaten 8-7 by Wales in their first play-off game for fifth to eighth.

The Baby Blacks missed a penalty with the last kick of the game to hand Wales just their second ever win over New Zealand.

The result means New Zealand will finish outside the top six for the first time in the tournaments history.

They will play Ireland for seventh place, while defending champions France will play Australia in the final.

Black Sox too strong for Botswana

The New Zealand men's softball team has beaten Botswana 7-0 in their latest game at the World Championships in Prague.

The Black Sox opened the game with three runs in the first innings and added another four in the fourth.

Leadoff batter Ben Enoka hit a 2-run homer.

Daniel Chapman was the winning pitcher.

New Zealand now has a record of 3 and 1 in their group.

Lawson makes his return to NZ team

Gary Lawson

Gary Lawson Photo: Photosport

Maverick lawn bowler Gary Lawson will make his long awaited return to the New Zealand side as the Asia Pacific Championship starting on the Gold Coast today.

Lawson, who last represented his country 10 years ago, will partner reigning world singles champion Shannon McIlroy in the men's pairs.

They'll take on China, Samoa and the Philippines in today's opening action.

After picking up just two medals at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games last year, the New Zealand team has targetted five medals from eight events at the 19-nation tournament.

The men's triple and the women's singles and fours are also this week.

Ferrari ask for review of Canadian GP

Ferrari have formally asked for the decision that cost Sebastian Vettel victory in the Canadian Grand Prix to be reviewed.

Sebastian Vettel of the Ferrari Team.

Sebastian Vettel. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Vettel was handed a five-second time penalty during the race on June 9 for going off track and returning in what was deemed to be an unsafe fashion.

The German had led the race from start to finish but lost out to Mercedes' championship leader Lewis Hamilton after the addition of the penalty.

Significant and relevant new evidence that was not available at the time of the ruling is required for a team to submit a 'right of review'.

Ferrari have not offered details on what this may be, but have confirmed the submission of their request to Formula One's governing FIA.

Stewards will now have sole discretion to determine whether such a significant and relevant new element existed, with their decision final.

-Reuters

Roy to miss two games

England batsman Jason Roy has been ruled out of their next two World Cup matches after tearing his hamstring in their win over West Indies while captain Eoin Morgan's back problem will be monitored.

England's Jason Roy raises his bat after scoring a half century during the World T20 cricket semi-final match between England and New Zealand

Jason Roy Photo: AFP

Opener Roy, who left the field early in West Indies' innings and did not bat, will miss the matches against Afghanistan tonight and Sri Lanka on Friday.

There was better news for England regarding skipper Morgan, who suffered a back spasm in the West Indies match.

"The spasm has settled down and (he) will be monitored over the next 24 hours ahead of the next match against Afghanistan at Old Trafford," the ECB said.

England are fourth in the table with six points from four matches.

-Reuters

More Cricket World Cup news

United feature in racisim statistics

Manchester United supporters have been involved in more football-related arrests where racism was an aggravating factor or a feature than any other football club in England in the four seasons up to 2017-18, data from the Home Office shows.

Data released under a Freedom of Information request by the Press Association shows that 27 individuals recorded as United fans by police were arrested during the seasons 2014-15 to 2017-18.

Championship clubs Leeds and Millwall each had 15 supporters arrested, while Leicester had 14 and Chelsea 13.

The 2018-19 season in England was marred by a series of racism-related incidents and arrests.

Where racism has been recorded as a feature of an incident, it requires the arresting officer to tick a box, which is why the Home Office says the overall accuracy of the data cannot be guaranteed.

-AAP

Coulthard future appears secure at Shell V Power

Team Penske boss Tim Cindric has given the strongest hint yet that Australia's Shell V-Power Racing will enter 2020 with an unchanged driver line-up.

Fabian Coulthard (Freightliner Holden). 2015 Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000. V8 Supercars Championship Round 10. Mount Panorama, Bathurst NSW. 8-11 October 2015. Photo: Clay Cross / photosport.nz

Fabian Coulthard is the fastest man at Bathurst again Photo: Photosport

Fabian Coulthard, 36, is out-of-contract and his future beyond his current deal appeared under threat after an underwhelming 2018, where he finished eight places behind champion team-mate and fellow New Zealander Scott McLaughlin.

However, Coulthard's form has improved dramatically with the introduction of the Mustang in 2019, currently second in the Supercars standings with two wins to his name.

While Penske has a policy of not speaking publicly about driver contracts, Cindric hinted at status quo when asked of DJRTP's 2020 line-up at Hidden Valley.

"I think the guys we have are doing a good job and continue to push each other forward," he told Supercars.com.

Out-of-contract Tickford Racing star Chaz Mostert has been heavily linked to a future at DJR Team Penske, but may now have to wait until at least 2021 if he wants to join the squad.

That could be in place of either Coulthard or McLaughlin, who has been open about a desire to eventually race in the United States.

Tsitsipas says young players need to stand up

Younger players must take responsibility and break the hegemony at Wimbledon to ensure there is a new champion this year, Greek world number six Stefanos Tsitsipas has said.

Since 2003, one of Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal or Andy Murray have won the title at Wimbledon, with the Swiss leading the way with eight titles.

"I would love to see something different this year. Hopefully it will be me," Tsitsipas, 20, told reporters. "It would give it a little bit of variety, something different to these guys.

Wimbledon begins on 1 July.

-Reuters