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The British & Irish Lions series against the world champions South Africa remains on course for July next year but South African Rugby have confirmed there is a "slight chance" it could be moved to align with a new global calendar following the disruption of Covid-19.

"The tour is going on and the time is still fixed on where it is, but there might be a date change," SA Rugby CEO Jurie Roux said.

"There is a slight chance that, to align with a new global calendar, it might move to either a September/October or October/November window and that is only because if that is the only hurdle of getting the global calendar across the line, we wouldn’t want to be the hindrance to that."

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The Press Association reports that the safety advisory group considering Goodison's suitability as a venue for the Merseyside derby on 21 June has now brought forward its meeting to Wednesday morning.

The derby was one of only two games - Manchester City-Liverpool being the other - in the initial rounds of Premier League fixtures published on Friday to have ‘venue TBC’ at the side of it, with all other fixtures given the go-ahead to be played at the usual home venue.

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West Ham have extended the loan of midfielder Tomas Soucek until the end of the season.

The Czech joined the Hammers in January from Slavia Prague on a deal until the scheduled end of the season in May, before the coronavirus pandemic brought the season to halt.

But ahead of the Premier League resumption on 17 June, rules were changed to allow loan deals due to end before 30 June to continue until the revised completion of the campaign.

More Beautiful ensured trainer Aidan O'Brien got off to a winning start as Irish racing resumed at Naas on Monday.

O'Brien claimed Sunday's 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket with Love, and More Beautiful was a similarly impressive winner of the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden - the first race staged in Ireland following the coronavirus shutdown.

• Latest results and racecards

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You can watch more from that Raheem Sterling interview mentioned in our last post by clicking play below.

England and Manchester City forward Raheem Sterling has backed protests taking place across the UK, saying "the only disease right now is the racism that we are fighting".

Thousands of people have taken part in Black Lives Matter marches in the UK, despite government warnings to avoid mass gatherings because of the threat of coronavirus.

"This is the most important thing at this moment in time because this is something that is happening for years and years," Sterling, 25, said. "Just like the pandemic, we want to find a solution to stop it."

Jason Kenny is among the first dozen GB cyclists who have returned to training at the Manchester velodrome after a two-month hiatus because of the coronavirus lockdown.

Several new health and safety measures are in place to minimise the risk of Covid-19 infection.

"We have an app to assess our health as well as a temperature check when we enter the building," he said.

"There's a one-way system corridor that runs all the way outside the track and it's all about social distancing.

"We've been doing hand-held starts with our coach, who's fully PPE'd up from head to toe.

"I come out of the track centre and I'm hoarse because we're all spread out and shouting at each other."

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Sky Sports says Premier League referees and their assistants will be tested for coronavirus for the first time in the next 72 hours.

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English Football League clubs will vote on the framework for ending the 2019-20 season on Tuesday, with the bottom two divisions then set to vote on whether to cut the campaign short amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The EFL board has proposed a framework which would keep promotion and relegation, retain the four-team play-offs and decide the final league tables on an unweighted points-per-game basis.

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Lionel Messi trained again with his teammates on Monday to give Barcelona a massive boost ahead of their La Liga return against Mallorca on Saturday.

Messi has been suffering from tightness in his right thigh and had not trained fully since last Tuesday. He sat out sessions on Wednesday and Friday before working alone at Camp Nou on Saturday.

But Barcelona said in a statement their captain has re-joined "the rest of the team in the week of the return to competition in the Spanish league."

Asked if Messi would be able to face Mallorca, Barca coach Quique Setien told Movistar on Sunday night: "It is some minor tightness and we have it under control. He is doing perfectly and will not have any problem."

Harry Wilson will see out the season with Bournemouth after signing an extension to his loan deal from Liverpool.

The loan was due to expire on June 30, but with the season extended due to the coronavirus pandemic Wilson will remain on the south coast.

The 23-year-old winger has made 27 appearances for the Cherries this season, scoring seven goals.

Frank Keogh
BBC Sport

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Royal Ascot may be taking place without spectators next week because of the coronavirus pandemic but organisers hope people will still dress up to raise money for charity.

The racecourse has made a £100,000 donation to four frontline charities as part of the initiative.

With the usual glitz and glamour missing from the track at this year’s five-day meeting which starts on 16 June, people are being encouraged to enter the fashion stakes at home.

As part of the ‘Royal Ascot at Home’ campaign, racing fans are being invited to wear a hat, share a photo on social media with the hashtag #StyledWithThanks and donate £5.

Money raised will benefit the National Emergencies Trust Relief Fund, NHS Charities Together, the Care Workers Charity and the Berkshire Community Foundation.

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The coronavirus shutdown wiped out hope of Tyson Fury facing Deontay Wilder for a third time in July.

Fear not, there are now whispers they could get it on in Australia on Christmas Day.

More on that is available in our Fight Talk round-up here.

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The English Football League has published the fixtures for the 2019-20 Championship restart, and confirmed the initial 11 television selections for the first three rounds.

The season is set to resume on 20 June, with the regular campaign due to be completed on 22 July.

London rivals Fulham and Brentford will go up against each other in the first televised game, at 12:30 BST on 20 June.

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La Liga will use virtual images of stands in television broadcasts with added 'fan audio', produced by the makers of the Fifa video game, when it returns to action on Thursday.

Domestic broadcasters in Spain will offer their viewers the choice of a 'natural' broadcast of games played behind closed doors with no fans but the international audience will receive only the enhanced broadcasts with added audio and graphics.

The stands will be "virtualised" and will offer to-scale images of seated fans wearing the home club's colours. A La Liga statement explained: "It will be adapted to the flow of the game as certain situations occur, such as a goal or a foul, creating what is known as Atmospheric Audio."

BBC Radio 5 Live

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British number one Dan Evans has told 5 live the world's top two tennis players, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, have a duty to take part in the US Open in order to help lower-ranked players.

Djokovic said that the protocols put in place, including only being allowed one person with him on site, are "extreme" while Nadal currently has no inclination to travel for tournaments.

"There has to be a bit of give and take I think from the players and there’s rumours that the US Open really need this to go ahead and I think as tennis players I think we should give something back and get out there and play," he insists.

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The Press Association reports that a decision on whether the Merseyside derby on 21 June should be played at Goodison Park or a neutral venue will not be taken until Friday.

The derby was one of only two games - Manchester City-Liverpool the other - in the initial rounds of Premier League fixtures published on Friday to have 'venue TBC' at the side of it, with all other matches given the go-ahead to be played at the usual home venue.

Everton are understood to be happy to host the fixture, where local rivals Liverpool could wrap up the title with a win, if closest challengers Manchester City lose to Arsenal on 17 June.

It is believed the relevant documents regarding the derby were not received until last Friday and the members of Liverpool City Council’s safety advisory group need more time to read them.

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Undefeated American Mikaela Mayer is "heartbroken" after a positive Covid-19 test ruled her out of boxing's first major event since the sport's shutdown.

Mayer, 29, was due to fight Nigerian Helen Joseph on Tuesday in Las Vegas, where the sport has been suspended since March because of coronavirus.

Mayer has no symptoms and said testing positive was "a complete surprise".

"I was really looking forward to bringing back boxing for all of you," Mayer posted on Instagram.

You can read more here.

Supporters are going to be allowed back into stadiums to watch the opening weekend of New Zealand's domestic rugby union competition after the country lifted almost all restrictions.

Super Rugby Aotearoa, which involves New Zealand's five Super teams, kicks off on Sunday.

"We're incredibly proud, and grateful, to be the first professional sports competition in the world to be in a position to have our teams play in front of their fans again," New Zealand Rugby chief executive Mark Robinson said in a statement.

Irish racing will return after a 76-day absence on Monday in a behind-closed-doors meeting at Naas.

Racing has been suspended since 24 March because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Initial plans suggested it would not restart until the end of June, but the date was brought forward following talks between the Irish government and Horse Racing Ireland.

New protocols will be in place to ensure social distancing.

Racing in Great Britain enters its second week since resumption, with meetings on Monday at Chelmsford, Haydock and Lingfield.

The five-day Royal Ascot meeting, also being held without spectators, starts next Tuesday (16 June).

• Check out the latest racecards and results here.