World Cup

The former world player of the year, who will be 38 by the time the competition comes around, is aiming to play in his fourth World Cup and his first as captain having been handed the role after the 2019 tournament in Japan.

"Yeah, finished, 2023 World Cup. I'm delighted to be able to say it," Sexton said.

Ireland have become increasingly reliant on the three-time Six Nations winner in recent years with the Leinster flyhalf's form showing little sign of dipping and few younger players emerging to really challenge him for the number 10 jersey.

In her fourth Cricket World Cup Sophie Devine will captain a 15-strong White Ferns squad for the tournament hosted by New Zealand.

Devine's deputy Amy Satterthwaite as well as Suzie Bates will be making their fourth appearance at the tournament.

Wicketkeeper Katey Martin and experienced quick bowler Lea Tahuhu are set to feature in their third World Cup and have over 150 ODI appearances between them.

The Under 21 Championship was originally scheduled for June in Suva, with Fiji, Samoa, Tonga and the Cook Islands set to represent the Pacific, but was postponed by six months because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

President, RubyAnn Sorovaki, said she understood why the International Netball Federation decided to cancel the event, but now their focus needs to be on keeping players engaged.

The All Blacks will play France, Italy and two yet-to-be-determined qualifiers (Africa 1 and Americas 1) in pool play at the tournament.

The match against France will be played on 8 September 2023 at Stade de France in Paris.

The All Blacks then head to the south of France to the city of Toulouse to play Africa 1 a week later on 15 September at Stadium de Toulouse.

The team's last two Pool games will be played at Parc OL, Lyon: Italy on 29 September and Americas 1 on 5 October.

The 28-year-old prop has joined the Robins on a two-year contract from reigning NRL champions Melbourne Storm.

Vete has played twice for Tonga since making his international debut in 2015 and is hoping strong performances for Hull KR will earn him selection in Kristian Woolf’s Tonga squad for the World Cup this autumn.

When asked if he would like to play for Tonga at the World Cup, Vete replied: “100%, not just because they are doing well right now but because it is such a privilege to represent your heritage and culture.

The Fijiana will face the 2014 world champions in the second match of a triple-header in Auckland on 18 September.

The other two teams in Pool C, France and South Africa, will square off in the opening clash at Eden Park before Fiji run out against the world top-ranked women's team, who finished runners up to the Black Ferns at the 2017 Rugby World Cup.

Tournament hosts New Zealand will face Trans-Tasman rivals Australia in the feature match, with organisers aiming to set a new match attendance record.

With an eye on the 2021 Olympics and 2023 Rugby World Cup, Australia's elite male and female players are being put through their paces to see how they compare with gold standard speed measurements.

The Wallabies are currently ranked a lowly sixth in world rugby, just ahead of Scotland.

The Wallaroos come in at fifth, behind England, NZ, Canada, and France.

In Sevens rugby, the Australian men's side was coming fourth in 2020 before the competition was put on hold, while the Australian women were in second spot.

Head coach Jamie Joseph said Japan, who had games against England and Wales cancelled earlier this year due to the outbreak, had been due to play against Europe’s top teams in an eight-nation tournament later this year.

Japan have not played a test match since their quarter-final loss to eventual champions South Africa at last year’s Rugby World Cup on home soil.

“We have concluded there will be no test matches this year,” JRFU Chairman Kensuke Iwabuchi told a media briefing on Monday.

This year's Men's T20 World Cup has been postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The PNG Barramundis had been set to make their senior World Cup debut in Australia but coach Joe Dawes said the team has taken the news in their stride.

"It's been probably one of the worst kept secrets for quite a while now. Although disappointing it's totally understandable in the state of the world at the moment."

World Rugby's general manager for women's rugby Katie Sadlier said next year could be pivotal for women's rugby.

"I talk about 2021 being the golden year for women's rugby I don't think there'll ever be a time again, hopefully, that you've got the Olympic Games and a Rugby World Cup this close together and in the same year so you know that provides such an amazing opportunity in terms of a long term profile campaign of lifting the game," Sadlier said in an online chat to Women in Sport Aotearoa from her base in Ireland.