New Zealand

The England Cricket Board will announce a new test match sponsor tomorrow to replace Cornhill Insurance who pulled out at the end of this year's series against West Indies.

Former New Zealand cricket captain Martin Crowe has refused to talk to the International Cricket Council (ICC) about match fixing allegations.

In New Zealand the upcoming All Black rugby tests against Argentina, Ireland and Scotland could struggle to find a decent sized television audience after it was revealed that the latest broadcasting rights had been sold to newcomer TelstraSaturn.

Alexander Brown, who led ESPN and ESPN STAR Sports? efforts in Asia, has been named president and chief operating officer of web animation firm Virtual Spectator.

World rugby union chiefs have said they had no contingency plans to stage the 2003 World Cup outside Australia and New Zealand, the two countries due to co-host the event.

An international tournament in India which promised to boast major players has been branded "a farce" after two teams withdrew, one was ruled ineligible and another failed to play because the team's baggage was delayed.

New Zealanders would reject tax hikes to fund more success in sport, according to a survey conducted by The New Zealand Herald.

The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron said on Thursday it had accepted the first German challenge for the America's Cup in the competition's 150 year history.

The Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) said on Wednesday that Port Moresby would host the 2001 OFC Club Championship.

Fifteen major international events will be staged in Western Australia in 2001.

New Zealand has pulled out of an international soccer tournament scheduled for India in January, saying it had had difficulty confirming travel and competition details with organisers.

An ex-Scotland Yard detective with the International Cricket Council anti-corruption unit has visited major Indian test stadiums as part of a worldwide inspection of venues following the match-fixing scandal.

Southern hemisphere rugby officials want the leading European and British nations to switch their playing seasons from winter to summer to reduce player burnout.

Southern hemisphere rugby union chiefs said on Tuesday that the international season should be reduced to six months to prevent burn-out.

America's Cup holders, the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, accepted the Swiss challenge for yachting's biggest prize on Monday after a month of legal wrangling.

Ad agency Saatchi & Saatchi has launched an online rugby game called Beat Rugby to keep the New Zealand All Blacks and the team?s sponsors adidas in the sporting spotlight during the international rugby off-season.