Today's sports news: What you need to know

Latest - The Crusaders will welcome yet another All Black into their lineup as George Bridge returns from a long-term injury to start on the wing against the Highlanders on Friday.

The utility-back is yet to play in Super Rugby this season as he has been recovering from a pectoral injury he picked up during All Black's training in October last year.

Sevu Reece will start on the bench to make way for Bridge's return at right-wing while Leicester Fainga'anuku maintains his spot on the left-wing.

Aside from the inclusion of Bridge, the only other change to the Crusader's starting lineup will see Mitchell Drummond start at halfback over Bryn Hall.

Montoya to get first start for Warriors

New signing Marcelo Montoya will be the Warriors' fourth different centre in four weeks when he makes his club debut in Sunday's fourth-round NRL clash against the Sydney Roosters at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

The 25-year-old Fiji Bati international comes into the side for veteran Peta Hiku, who is out for several weeks after picking up a knee injury early in the second half of the 34-31 win against the Canberra Raiders on Saturday.

Hiku's injury leaves head coach Nathan Brown without both of his first-choice centres after losing offseason acquisition Euan Aitken to an ankle injury after the opening-round win over the Titans.

His inclusion for Hiku is the only change to the 17-man squad used in the epic encounter with Canberra.

With Hiku added to the casualty list, Brown is now missing four of his first choice starting players after just three rounds. As well as Hiku and Aitken (sidelined for up to 10 weeks with an ankle injury), halfback Chanel Harris-Tavita is recovering from a foot operation which will keep him out for up to 12 weeks. Also out of action is prop Jamayne Taunoa-Brown, who serves the second match of a three-game ban this week for a crusher tackle offence against Newcastle.

Winger Ken Maumalo will play his 99 NRL game this weekend while Roger Tuivasa-Sheck will edge his club total to 98 games.

New Zealand keen to co-host Rugby Championship

New Zealand is looking to co-host this year's Rugby Championship with one of its southern hemisphere partners, though South Africa has already indicated it is not interested in staging games.

Last year's Rugby Championship was held entirely in Australia due to the COVID-19 pandemic although it was rebranded the "Tri-Nations" after world champions South Africa pulled out.

South Africa, which is scheduled to host the British and Irish Lions tour in July-August, does not want to be involved in co-hosting the four-nation TRC, NZ Rugby boss Mark Robinson said.

Australia has already said it is pushing to host the entire Championship, which is likely to be staged in September-October.

Robinson said New Zealand was focused on hosting the 100th match against the Springboks, 100 years on from their first clash in Dunedin in 1921.

He added that RNZ would wait another two to three weeks before making a decision on whether to push on with the Trans-Tasman Super Rugby competition with Australia's teams.

The five-week tournament is scheduled to start on May 14 in Dunedin but quarantine requirements in New Zealand for travellers from Australia could make it untenable.

-Reuters

Vukona to help JackJumpers

The former Tall Black Mika Vukona is to take up a backroom position with the new Australian NBL team the Tasmania JackJumpers.

The five-time NBL champion will become a consultant to the JackJumpers' basketball programme.

Vukona, who retired from the international game last month, won four championships with the New Zealand Breakers and another title with the South Dragons as well as playing 152 games for the Tall Blacks.

Tasmania JackJumpers CEO Simon Brookhouse said: "We are delighted to have somebody of the calibre of Mika join us as we prepare for our first season in the NBL.

Vukona said: "To be given an opportunity to help a team like the Tasmania JackJumpers in its maiden season in the NBL and to connect with the playing group will be awesome. I'm really looking forward to sharing all the knowledge and experiences that I've picked up along the way as a player with the staff and playing group. I'm ready to help them out in anyway."

The JackJumpers will make their NBL debut this October.

-NBL

Titans set to move south

The Gold Coast Titans are expected relocate to Sydney today as the NRL look to continue the season without being too heavily impacted by the COVID cluster spread in south-east Queensland.

Titans players and staff have been told to pack their bags and be prepared to depart for Sydney today.

The Titans were due to host Canberra and Newcastle on the Gold Coast over the next two weeks.

Meanwhile Broncos players and staff will require Victorian travel exemptions to ensure their Good Friday clash with the Storm goes ahead in Melbourne.

The Broncos shifted indefinitely to Sydney on Monday.

As a contingency the Broncos could play the Storm at Stadium Australia as a part of a double header involving the traditional Bulldogs-Rabbitohs fixture.

-NRL

Powell takes over Hockeyroos

Australia named Katrina Powell as Olympic women's hockey coach after a scathing review into team culture led to the resignation of Paul Gaudoin earlier this month.

Powell becomes the first woman to coach the three-times Olympic champion 'Hockeyroos' since Colleen Quinn in 1978. She will be in charge until the end of the Tokyo Games.

Powell's predecessor Gaudoin quit before the partial release of findings from an independent review into claims of bullying in the national setup, including incidents of body-shaming and homophobia.

The review discovered a "dysfunctional culture" that was neither conducive to success or player wellbeing, HA said earlier this month.

High performance manager Toni Cumpston resigned in January, weeks after the review was launched.

Australia, gold medallists at the 1988, 1996 and 2000 Olympics, are currently ranked fourth in the world behind the Netherlands, Argentina and Germany.

-Reuters

Rangers players suspended

Five Rangers players who breached Covid-19 rules by attending a party last month have been banned for six matches by the Scottish Football Association.

Midfielder Bongani Zungu and defenders Nathan Patterson and Calvin Bassey apologised to the club's fans on their return to training in February after being removed from the squad following the protocol breach.

The trio, as well as striker Dapo Mebude and goalkeeper Brian Kinnear, who are both out on loan, were ordered to self-isolate for 10 days after local media reported that they had attended a party in Glasgow that was broken up by police.

The players have been fined by the club, who contacted the Scottish FA and the government over the incident.

It is not the first time Rangers players have been punished over Covid-19 protocol breaches, with winger Jordan Jones and defender George Edmundson each banned for seven games in November after they attended a private gathering.

Earlier this month, Rangers sealed their first league title since 2011.

-Reuters

Murray keen on football and golf

Britain's Andy Murray would be interesting in becoming a caddy on a professional golf tour or getting football coaching qualifications after he retires from tennis, the former world number one said.

Murray, a three-times Grand Slam champion, pulled out of the Miami Open last week due to a groin injury. The 33-year-old has fallen to 116 in the world rankings after long injury lay-offs because of hip surgeries.

The Briton did not mention when he would bring the curtain down on his playing career but said he was interested in exploring other sports after retirement.

"There's probably also some crossover between tennis and golf on the mental side and helping a golfer with that might be interesting."

The Scot, who turned down an offer to train with Glasgow soccer club Rangers at their youth academy when he was a schoolboy, added that he would also be keen to try a coaching role in the sport.

-Reuters

UEFA set to adjust crowd sizes in time for Euro 2020

UEFA are set to remove their maximum spectator limit, currently set at 30% of a venue capacity due to the Covid-19 pandemic, in order to allow bigger crowds at Euro 2020 matches in June.

Russian and English authorities have indicated they could allow larger crowds into venues for the tournament games in St Petersburg and London's Wembley stadium. UEFA are keen to make sure the rules are in place to allow for larger capacities elsewhere, should they be possible.

It is likely that instead of a new maximum capacity, UEFA will leave decisions on increased crowd size to local authorities.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's roadmap would allow for limited crowds of 10,000 in the early stages of the delayed tournament but opens the possibility of full-houses after the country enters stage four of the roadmap on June 21.

As well as hosting some group games, Wembley is also the venue for the semi-finals and final of the tournament.

Host venues have a deadline of April 7 to inform UEFA of their planned stadium capacities.

-Reuters