High Performance Sport New Zealand is putting faith in cycling in the next Olympic cycle - boosting funding for the sport by 770 thousand dollars, with canoe racing and athletics also seeing sizeable jumps in support

The government funder has taken a big stick to hockey, which is down 1.4 million on its last grant.



Spinning all-rounder Mitchell Santner has replaced Kane Williamson as the Black Caps' white ball captain...and will take over the reigns in the post-Christmas series against Sri Lanka.



A-League leaders Auckland FC will be without three key players for Saturday's showdown against Western United at Mt Smart.

Belgian midfielder Louis Verstraete is out for another week or two with a back issue, while All White Cam Howieson will miss four to five weeks with a calf injury and defender Dan Hall is out for two to three months with a broken bone in his ankle.