Today's sports news: What you need to know

The Northern Mystics have taken back top spot in the ANZ Premiership.

After briefly dropping to second behind the Central Pulse, the Mystics regained the competition lead on Monday night with a 56-44 win over the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic on Auckland's North Shore.

It was the first match since April 18 for the Magic, who were impacted by key absences with Silver Ferns pair Ameliaranne Ekenasio and Georgia Tong both not available.

Up 28-23 at halftime, the Mystics stuck with their starting line-up and eased their lead out further before dogged defence from the Magic's Erena Mikaere reduced the gap came back to four.

But the fightback did not last, the home side again pulling away to open a nine-goal buffer at three-quarter time which they extended in the final stanza.

Captain Sulu Fitzpatrick produced a strong effort in defence for the Mystics, while goal shoot Grace Nweke's figures were again outstanding, finishing with 47 goals from 50 attempts.

- RNZ

Man United back to winnings ways

Defender Raphael Varane scored his first Premier League goal as Manchester United returned to winning ways with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Brentford on a night of potential farewells at Old Trafford.

Bruno Fernandes and Cristiano Ronaldo, the latter with a penalty, also scored in what was the last home fixture of a difficult campaign for United.

Juan Mata and Nemanja Matic were given starts by departing coach Ralf Rangnick in what is likely their final season with the club, while Edinson Cavani, who is also expected to leave, came off the bench.

United remain in sixth place with 58 points from 36 games, five behind fourth-placed Arsenal but having played two more matches. Brentford have 40 points from 35 games and may need one more win to ensure they not dragged into a relegation fight.

There had been talks fans walking out of the stadium in the 73rd minute in protest of the Glazer family having owned the club for 17 years.

But there was no mass exit as the vast majority stayed to watch what was a rare commanding performance by United in recent months.

United had won only one of their previous seven games in all competitions and seen their hopes of playing Champions League football next season fade.

- Reuters

O'Sullivan wins record-equalling seventh world title

Ronnie O'Sullivan became the oldest player at 46 to win the World Snooker Championship and also equalled Stephen Hendry's record of seven titles when he beat Judd Trump 18-13 in the final at the Crucible.

O'Sullivan who won his first title in 2001, broke the record previously held by Ray Reardon who won his sixth title at 45.

"I tried to be as relaxed as I could but that is probably the greatest result I've had against somebody like Judd," O'Sullivan told BBC TV, describing Trump as an "all-time great".

"I've never bothered about records. When you get them, it's kind of nice. I've never performed well if going for that, I've just tried to enjoy my game. I don't have targets.

"I've loved every tournament this year, I've just loved playing. I like to win but it's not the be-all and end-all. The Crucible brings out the worst in me -- it's probably not the best idea but we'll probably go again next year."

Trump congratulated O'Sullivan, saying he was the "best player of all time".

- Reuters

Fulham wrap up Championship title

Fulham were in seventh heaven as they sealed the second-tier Championship title with a 7-0 win over Luton Town, giving them an unassailable lead at the top of the standings with a game to spare.

Fulham had already sealed promotion to the top flight Premier League last month after they were guaranteed a top-two finish.

The full-time whistle was followed by a pitch invasion at Craven Cottage as selfie-hunting fans mobbed the players before they were ushered off for the trophy presentation.

The London club also became the first team in two decades to score more than a 100 goals in a single season in the second tier as six different players found the back of the net against Luton.

Fulham were led by a brace from Serbian striker and top scorer Aleksandar Mitrovic, who has now scored 43 goals in 43 games this season - a record for the division since the Premier League was founded in 1992.

Fulham will finish their season with a trip to fifth-placed Sheffield United.

- Reuters

UEFA confirms more Russian bans

UEFA has banned Russia from the Women's European Championship in July and from participating in qualifying for next year's World Cup following the country's invasion of Ukraine.

European football's governing body says Portugal will replace Russia for the July 6-31 tournament in England, joining Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland in Group C.

UEFA also ruled Russia's bid to host the men's Euros in 2028 and 2032 ineligible and said the team will not participate in the 2022-23 Nations League.

Additionally, Russian clubs will not compete in UEFA's Champions League, Europa League or Europa Conference League next season.

UEFA and world governing body FIFA suspended Russian clubs and national teams from their competitions after the invasion of Ukraine, which Moscow calls a "special military operation".

In March, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) rejected an appeal from Russia's football association (FUR) to freeze FIFA's suspension, effectively ending its hopes of competing at the men's World Cup in Qatar.

The FUR last month withdrew its appeal.

- Reuters

Audi and Porsche to join Formula One

Volkswagen's premium brands Audi and Porsche will join Formula One after convincing the German automaking group the move will bring in more money than it will cost.

Discussions by the board of directors about the two brands' plans had created some divisions, said VW Chief Executive Herbert Diess at an event in Wolfsburg, where the German carmaker is headquartered.

But ultimately the brands, which next to VW's China business are the group's most important income suppliers, made the case they would pull in more money for Wolfsburg with a Formula One commitment than without one, according to Diess.

"You just run out of arguments," he said.

There has been speculation for several months the two brands were negotiating partnerships to enter the highest class of international motor racing, which for much of the last decade has been dominated by Volkswagen's German rival Mercedes.

Diess said Porsche's preparations for entering Fomula One were a little more concrete than Audi's.

Audi is ready to offer around 500 million euros (NZ$817 million) for British luxury sports carmaker McLaren as a means to enter, a source told Reuters in March, while Porsche intends to establish a long-term partnership with racing team Red Bull starting in several years' time.

In addition to the brands' economic argument, Formula One's high advertising impact was apparently also convincing. Diess said that as a result Porsche will reduce other racing activities and concentrate more on that circuit.

- Reuters

Mo Farah may end track career

Multiple Olympic and world champion Mo Farah said his elite track career could be over after he finished runner-up in the London 10,000m on his return to action.

Farah, who completed the 5,000 and 10,000 metres double at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics, was racing for the first time since June after failing to qualify for last year's Tokyo Games.

The 39-year-old Briton finished a minute outside his best time at the London course in 2010 as he was out-sprinted by 26-year-old club runner Ellis Cross, who finished four seconds ahead with a time of 28:40.

"In terms of the track, that's it, I think," Farah said. "Your body has to be ready. You have to be in the right frame of mind and compete with the guys. I love the sport and what I do, I've had a long career.

"The reality is that it has been so, so long. In my career, I've never been out that long before... Today was tough and Ellis did well to beat me," added Farah, who has won the London race seven times.

Farah said he would definitely miss the World Championships in Eugene in July but was noncommittal when asked if he would run at the Commonwealth Games or European Championships in August.

- Reuters