Oceania

One of New Zealand's most powerful tribes, the Tainui tribe who are worth at least $NZ157 million ($134m), have joined forces with former Kiwi coach Graham Lowe in a bid to buy the Auckland Warriors.

THE High Court has ordered an insurance company to pay about $5 million to a ski-field operator in compensation for lost profits during Mt Ruapehu's 1995 and 1996 eruptions.

London based ad agency Saatchi & Saatchi says it has won the global advertising contract for New Zealand's national rugby union team, the All Blacks, by their new sponsor Adidas-Salomon AG.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in association with Citibank and Visa International have announced a new credit card aimed at promoting the development of cricket in India, officials said.

New Ltd is reportd to have upped its offer to buy the Super league contract of New Zealand Rugby League club the Auckland Warriors.

A New Zealand syndicate backed by the Maori Tainui tribe are the new owners of the Auckland Warriors rugby league side after the city's league clubs agreed to the sale late on Tuesday.

Xerox is to be an official sponsor of Rugby World Cup 1999 to be hosted by Welsh Rugby Union.

Europe's leading soccer leagues have taken on world governing body FIFA about releasing players for the controversial Confederations' Cup in January.

FIFA are looking into the possibility of rescheduling the Confederations Cup from January to August 1999 after world champions France withdrew last month.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is poised to appoint a commission to investigate allegations of betting and match-fixing, and it has vowed to take tough action against anyone found guilty.

New Zealand Rugby League vice chairman and former prime minister David Lange has stood down after three years involvement at management level.

New Zealand minister Murray McCully recently resigned his tourism portfolio amid a row over policy but will retain responsibility for sports, fitness and leisure.

Millions of dollars of funding for the planned Waikato stadium in New Zealand are on the line in the next few weeks as the region's councils debate their input.

Leading rugby apparel company, Canterbury of New Zealand, has been appointed official kit supplier to English rugby union team Saracens.

Membership sales for a new stadium in Wellington, New Zealand have passed the halfway mark - six months before construction of the $121 million complex is completed.

Clothing company Canterbury International has signed a five-year licence and sponsorship deal with the Australian Rugby Union and the Wallabies.