All Blacks lock Brodie Retallick has stonewalled a journalist who regurgitated an incident from five years ago ahead of the World Cup semi-final with England

Before the sides' 2014 series, Retallick was asked to name some English opponents - he responded with "Michael Laws" when trying to answer with lock Courtney Lawes.



Wales have called up wing Owen Lane to the tournament.

He replaces loose forward Josh Navidi, who has been ruled out with a hamstring injury.



Rugby will play a cameo in Japan today.

Pomp and ceremony will take centre stage with a once-in-a-generation event - the ascension of Emperor Naruhito to the Chrysanthemum throne.



Controversy surrounds a photo of South African referee Jaco Peyper with Welsh fans re-enacting the elbow that saw French lock Sebastien Vahaamahina red-carded in the quarter-final loss.

French Rugby vice-president Serge Simon has labelled the photo 'shocking', but Wales coach Warren Gatland has brushed it off as "PC gone mad".

World Rugby is investigating.



Henry Nicholls and Cole McConchie have provided a highlight on the opening day of the Plunket Shield cricket season.

The Canterbury pair both made centuries in a 182-run fourth-wicket partnership against a New Zealand bowling attack - disguised as Northern Districts - in Christchurch.

Canterbury are 327 for eight.

Wellington are 94 for one after dismissing Otago for 199 at the Basin Reserve.

Auckland are 185 for seven against Central Districts at Eden Park outer oval.



Bangladesh's cricketers have decided to go on strike until a first XI of demands are met.

The players want an increased say in how the sport's run, and an improvement of domestic pay packages.

Test captain Shakib Al Hasan's leading the campaign.



A Glasgow University study suggests former footballers are approximately three-and-a-half times more likely to die from neurodegenerative diseases than the general population.



Rory Fallon's following in the footsteps of his father.

The former All White has joined the New Zealand men's football side as an assistant coach under Danny Hay.



Wellington Phoenix midfielder Liberato Cacace has been handed a two-match suspension for a dangerous challenge in his side's A-League loss to Sydney FC.



Serbia's been ordered to play their next Euro 2020 qualifier against Luxembourg behind closed doors due to racist behaviour from fans during last month's loss to Portugal in Belgrade.