World number one Lydia Ko is the favourite to win the third major of her career at the US Women's Open, which is due to begin at the CordeValle Golf Club in California tomorrow.

The New Zealander won the opening major of the season, the ANA Inspiration, in April, which added to

It reminds me of New Zealand,” Ko said.

Female players from France and Spain will become the first rugby Olympians since 1924 at Rio 2016, it has been confirmed.

two matches on the opening day of competition, which comes just a day after the Opening Ceremony.New Zealand

champions Fiji in their first match in Pool A.They will be joined by United States and Argentina, with New

Zealand, Britain, Kenya and Japan featuring in Pool C.World Rugby Chairman Bill Beaumont said: "We are

think that millions more fans will be created when the men's and women's events are beamed globally to new

Reducing the number of vice-presidents from four to two and abolishing the position of treasurer are among proposals put forward following a two-day International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Governance Structure Reform Forum in Amsterdam.

A total of 15 proposals have now been drawn-up, including the introduction of a new independent integrity

 The Executive Board would have a new role as "guardian of the IAAF" and be a "governance board

from Congress, Council and the Executive Board".Many of the reforms today were manifesto proposals of new

his own," he added.Today's forum ahead of the European Championships in the Dutch capital was led by New

Zealand sports lawyer Maria Clarke, chair of the IAAF Governance Structure Reform Working Group.It was

United States' Kevin Jardine is to chair a new Coaches Advisory Group set up by International Paralympic

best-qualified Para-skiing coaches in the world.He has previously served as head coach of both the US and New

Zealand teams.Jardine will be joined by fellow North American Jean-Sebastien Labrie as well as three

Christian Femy and The Netherlands' Falco Teitsma.They will be joined by South Korea's Kazuhiko Ban and New

The Russian Rowing Federation (RRF) will launch an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) over the Rio 2016 ban imposed on their men’s quadruple sculls crew, according to reports.

Fedorovtsev’s positive test, the team were stripped of their Olympic spot, which has been given to New

Flannery, George Bridgewater and John Storey, who finished third at the qualifying event in Lucerne.New Zealand

ImagesThe decision was made by World Rowing last week and came after reports emerged that a number of New

now be made to wait for their Olympic place to be confirmed due to the RRF’s pending appeal.Rowing New

Zealand chief executive Simon Peterson had admitted he was “disappointed they were competing against

Greece opened their International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Olympic qualifying tournament campaign with a comfortable victory over Iran at the Pala Alpitour in Turin.

Group A of the third qualifying tournament in Manila.The Philippines are due to take on France and New

Zealand in Group B in front of their home fans.The top two countries in each group in each tournament

New Zealand Karate President Leo Donnelly has been appointed to the role of Ombudsman the country’s Parliament

“In his role as Deputy Ombudsman, Investigations and Inspections, Mr Donnelly has assisted the New Zealand

temporary Ombudsman.”Leo Donnelly has been credited with helping to develop karate in Oceania ©Karate New

Bill Beaumont has called for World Rugby to guard against complacency having officially begun his mandate as the international governing body's chairman today.

;Beaumont also played for the British and Irish Lions and later accompanied them as tour manager to New

Zealand in 2005.Argentina’s Agustín Pichot will serve as Beaumont’s understudy at World Rugby having

England has launched a bid to host the 2021 Rugby League World Cup, it was announced today.

staged the most recent World Cup in 2013, which was won by Australia - co-hosts of the 2017 event with New

Zealand and Papua New Guinea.British Government backing of £15 million ($20 million/€18 million) has

Hosts United States are among the four nations set to compete in the 2016 Women’s Rugby Super Series, scheduled to get underway tomorrow in Salt Lake City.

Rugby World Cup - winners England, runners-up Canada and third-placed finishers France.France replace New

Zealand, who beat England to top spot at the inaugural edition of the annual Super Series held last

France replace last year’s winners New Zealand in the competition ©Getty ImagesThe Super Series follows

Favourites Fiji, South Africa and New Zealand have all been drawn in separate groups for the Rio 2016

 Number three seeds New Zealand open the competition, scheduled to take place from August 9 to 11

Olympic Qualification Tournament in Dublin on Sunday (June 26), will realise their Olympic dream against New

Zealand, France and Kenya in Pool B.The pick of the groups is arguably Pool C, which includes the much-fancied

We knew it would open the door to reach and inspire new participants and fans worldwide and enable our

I anticipate that it will be one of the highlights of Rio 2016 as we showcase this great sport to a new

medallist Richie Patterson is one of two weightlifters along with Tracey Lambrechs that will represent New

Zealand at this year’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, it has been announced today.

 Nigel Avery and Olivia Baker competed for New Zealand in Sydney, where women’s weightlifting was

Zealand sporting community in the New Zealand Olympic team.

signalled a great step forward for the sport in New Zealand."

Zealand."

Zealand team for Rio 2016 to 111 athletes.

Tonga's Pita Taufatofua has claimed he never gave up on his dream of qualifying for the Olympics, even after injury ended his hopes for Beijing 2008 and London 2012. 

gold medal in the over 80 kilogram class at the Oceania qualifying tournament for Rio 2016 in Papua New

lot of work and just reaching it finally has been actually a big relief,"  Taufatofua said Radio New

Zealand.

My first shot at the Olympics I left New Caledonia in a wheelchair - that was 2008," he said.

 "The other countries they send athletes - they inspire me - and the New Zealand athlete that I

Spain's women's rugby sevens team booked their place at Rio 2016 today after defeating Russia in the final of the last Olympic Qualification Tournament in Dublin.

available qualifying slot in the final qualifying tournament.Spain will join hosts Brazil, Australia, New

Zealand, Canada, Great Britain, the United States, Colombia, France, Fiji, Japan and Kenya at Rio

Hosts England powered to a third World Rugby Under-20 Championship title in four years after cruising to a 45-21 win over Ireland at Salford's AJ Bell Stadium.

attacking rugby which proved too much for their opponents.Ireland, who shocked defending champions New

Zealand earlier in the tournament, fought-back from converted tries of their own from Adam McBurney

clinching the victory in the final moments.It bettered their previous best finish of fourth place in 2012.New

Zealand had to settle for fifth-place after a 55-24 win over Australia in today's playoff.Next