14 Apr 2021

Today's sports news: What you need to know

9:28 am on 14 April 2021

Latest - Paris St Germain have reached the European Champions League semi-finals at the expense of holders Bayern Munich.

Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappe and midfielder Idrissa Gueye celebrate after winning the Champions League quarter-final tie against FC Bayern Munich at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, on April 13, 2021.

Photo: AFP

Bayern have beaten PSG 1-0 in the second leg of their quarter-final tie in Paris but have bowed out on away goals after losing the first leg 3-2.

Chelsea are also through to the final four despite a 1-0 second leg defeat to Porto.

The Blues have progressed 2-1 on aggregate after winning the first leg 2-0.

The remaining semi-finalists will be found tomorrow (Thursday morning NZT).

Liverpool host Real Madrid, who lead their tie 3-1, while Manchester City take a 2-1 advantage into the second leg of their quarter-final at Borussia Dortmund.

Breakers edged in OT

The Breakers have fallen just short of knocking over the defending champion Perth Wildcats in their NBL game in Tasmania.

Tom Abercrombie and Rasmus Bach of the Breakers.

Photo: PHOTOSPORT

The Wildcats have prevailed 85-79 in overtime after the two sides finished locked at 72-all after four quarters.

The Breakers had led 72-69 with just 1.7 seconds remaining before Perth guard Bryce Cotton sunk a buzzer-beating three-pointer to level the scores.

Cotton then took over in overtime and ultimately led all scorers with 34 points.

Finn Delany finished the Breakers' leading scorer with 25 points, while Tom Abercrombie scored 10 in his 350th game for the club.

The Wildcats remain second on the NBL ladder and are now just one win behind top of the table Melbourne United, while the Breakers are still second to bottom.

White Ferns to tour England in September

The England and Wales Cricket Board has announced it will host the New Zealand women's team for three Twenty20 internationals and five one-dayers this year.

A dejected Sophie Devine leaves the field with the White Ferns after losing to Australia 2021.

Photo: PHOTOSPORT

The White Ferns are scheduled to play T20 matches in Chelmsford, Hove and Taunton at the start of September.

They will then play ODIs at Bristol, Worcester, Leicester, Derby and Canterbury.

It will serve as vital preparation for New Zealand in the lead-up to next year's World Cup.

England will also host India at the start of their summer.

Major ins and outs for Warriors

Prop Bunty Afoa and utility back Peta Hiku are back in the Warriors' side for Sunday's NRL match against the St George Illawarra Dragons in Sydney.

Warriors player Peta Hiku.

Warriors utility back Peta Hiku. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Afoa returns from suspension to be named on the bench, while Hiku has recovered from a knee injury to be selected on the right wing.

Hiku replaces David Fusitu'a, while second rower Eliesa Katoa has also dropped out of the extended squad.

Josh Curran will start in the second row in Katoa's absence.

Jamayne Taunoa-Brown is also back from suspension and has been named on the bench.

Captain Roger Tuivasa-Sheck will play his 100th match for the club a week after winger Ken Maumalo achieved the feat.

Second seed forced out of Monte Carlo Masters

World number two Daniil Medvedev of Russia has tested positive for Covid-19 and has been withdrawn from this week's Monte Carlo Masters.

Russian tennis player Daniil Medvedev.

Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Medvedev, who was seeded second behind top-ranked Novak Djokovic at the ATP Masters 1000 event on clay, has been put in isolation and is being monitored, The ATP said in a statement.

"It's a big disappointment not to play in Monte-Carlo," Medvedev said.

"My focus is now on recovery and I look forward to getting back out on Tour as soon and as safely as possible."

The ATP on Monday posted a video of Medvedev's practice session in Monte Carlo with Spaniard Rafa Nadal. The governing body did not respond to a request for comment on Nadal's participation in the tournament.

- Reuters

Gatland names his Lions' assistants

Warren Gatland has gone for a mix of the tried and tested alongside new blood by appointing Gregor Townsend, Robin McBryde, Steve Tandy and Neil Jenkins as his assistant coaches for this year's British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa.

Warren Gatland.

Warren Gatland. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Scotland head coach Townsend, who played flyhalf for the Lions in the triumphant 1997 South Africa series, will look after the Lions attack in his first taste of Lions coaching.

Jenkins, the goalkicking hero of that 1997 series, will be on his fourth tour as kicking coach.

McBryde, former Wales assistant under Gatland, will oversee the forwards, with Scotland's defence coach Tandy something of a surprise for that role.

"Steve has made Scotland's defence one of the most organised in world rugby, something we saw throughout the recent Six Nations," Gatland said.

Ireland coach Andy Farrell, Leicester coach Steve Borthwick and Munster forwards coach Graham Rowntree, all experienced Lions assistants, last week made themselves unavailable for the tour for various reasons.

- Reuters