Julian Savea's returning to the Hurricanes

The former All Black wing will join the squad as cover for the team's final two games of the Super Rugby Aotearoa season, following the departure of Ben Lam.

Hurricanes coach Jason Holland welcomes the chance to bring a franchise centurion back into the fold.

Prop Fraser Armstrong and midfielder Ngani Laumape both need surgery on fractures suffered in the win over the Crusaders, ruling them out of the competition.



The chances of the Springboks playing in a New Zealand-based Rugby Championship rest on South Africa's ability to stage a domestic competition first.

The world champions are at a disadvantage to New Zealand and Australia with no sport being played in the covid-19-ravaged country.

New national coach Jacques Nienaber says insufficient game time would prevent the Springboks playing.

Commonwealth Games Federation president Dame Louise Martin has stepped down from the Birmingham 2022 board amid concerns over a lack of diversity.

The Games' organising committee has been criticised for having an almost entirely white executive management team and board.