Today's sports news: What you need to know

Latest - Young New Zealand driver Liam Lawson says he no longer wishes to remain in the German Touring Car Championship after he was denied the championship in last weekend's final round.

Lawson was denied the chance to win the DTM title in his rookie season when he became an innocent victim to an opening lap collision triggered by his championship rival Kelvin van der Linde in the final race at the Norisring.

With his Ferrari suffering mechanical damage, the 19 year old watched on as Maximilian Gotz snatched the title from his grasp with the help of team orders from Mercedes.

Lawson, a Red Bull junior driver, told Motorsport.com that while he thoroughly enjoyed his rookie campaign in the DTM, the events at Norisring left him with a sour taste in the mouth about the quality of racing in the championship.

"The season as a whole was fantastic and I'm really proud of the whole team, but the way the season finished, no, it's not something I expected or saw coming or would like to be a part of in the future."

Red Bull are yet to decide if they'll continue in the DTM, but have said Lawson will now focus on F2.

Olympic champion Fijian sevens team looking for a new coach

Gareth Baber has decided against renewing his contract as coach of the Olympic champion Fijian men's sevens team.

The Welshman has turned down a new three-year offer from Fiji Rugby to pursue a new opportunity in 15s.

Fiji beat New Zealand 27-12 in the final in Tokyo to claim their second straight Olympic gold.

"It is with a heavy heart that I have to inform Fiji Rugby and the people of Fiji that I will not be accepting the contract offer to coach the Fijian 7s team to the next Olympic Games," Baber said.

"I have a burning ambition to challenge my coaching again in the 15s environment and know that I must immerse myself in this if I'm truly to be measured and to progress in my coaching career."

The Fiji Rugby Union will advertise the position.

Fiji women's sevens coach Saiasi Fusi will oversee the men's programme and will be supported by captain Jerry Tuwai as the team prepare for next month's world series tournament in Dubai.

Breakers to prepare for season in Tasmania

The Australian National Basketball League's pre-season tournament will be split across three states as the country continues to juggle competition during Covid-19.

The New Zealand Breakers will join new club the Tasmanian JackJumpers, Brisbane Bullets, Adelaide 36ers, Perth Wildcats and Cairns Taipans in Tasmania from 14 November for two weeks of action in the NBL Blitz.

Melbourne United, South East Melbourne Phoenix, Sydney Kings and Illawarra Hawks will play their pre-season games across Victoria and New South Wales, beginning 13 November.

Each team across all three states will play at least four games with a points system to determine the winner of the pre-season tournament.

The season proper starts on 3 December and the Breakers will play the first half of the season based in Australia.

Good start for Fox

Auckland golfer Ryan Fox is tied for fourth after the opening round of the latest European Tour event in Spain.

Fox fired a one under par 70 at the Andalucia Masters in southern Spain.

He's three shots behind the leader Julien Guerrier of France.

Fox is expected to play one more tournament in Spain before returning home.

Fellow New Zealander and former US Open champion Michael Campbell had a nine over par 80 to be tied for 120th.

World number one John Rahm of Spain also had a tough day, he's just two shots better than Campbell.

Nonu to play for East Coast

Ma'a Nonu will turn out for Ngāti Porou East Coast in the Heartland Championship to try and help them end their eight-year winless run.

The 39-year-old former All Blacks midfield back has been named on East Coast's bench for tomorrow's match against Buller in Ruatōria.

East Coast are coached by 14-test All Black Hosea Gear, who is also poised to make his debut for the province off the bench.

Gear hasn't played a competitive match since 2018.

Their old Hurricanes teammate Faifili Levave has also been named amongst the East Coast reserves.

Nonu, who played 103 tests for the All Blacks before retiring after the 2015 World Cup win over Australia, returned home to New Zealand this year after stints in America and France.

East Coast's last win came against Poverty Bay in September 2013.

Buller, who are also winless four games into this year's Heartland Championship, were supportive of Nonu's inclusion on their Facebook page.

"What an amazing opportunity for our lads to come up against one of the games greats! Awesome for Heartland rugby!!!

"Anyone got DC's number? Or Richie? Asking for a friend."

Tour de France route revealed

Tour de France organisers have designed a highly treacherous route for the 2022 edition which will feature rides in gusting winds, cobblestones and punishing mountain stages.

The race will start with a 13km individual time trial in Copenhagen before the second stage takes the peloton over the 18km Great Belt bridge.

"It's windy 364 days a year, here," Tour director Christian Prudhomme said.

"This Tour can be lost as early as the second day."

Those who get past the three-day opening block in Denmark and fourth stage through the Flanders hills must cope with the fifth stage through cobbled sectors between Lille and Arenberg.

Meanwhile the women's Tour de France will be revived next year.

The women's Tour had not been held since 1989 and will this year start from Paris and end eight days later at the top of the Super Planche des Belles Filles climb at the end of an eight-stage ride through eastern France.

The 2022 women's Tour will run from July 24-31, starting two weeks after the end of the longest women's race on the calendar, the Giro Donne.

The women's Tour will have half a millio dollars in prize money.

-Reuters

Nadal still unsure when he'll return

Rafa Nadal said he still does not know when he will play tennis again as he works to complete his recovery from a recurring foot injury that cut short his 2021 season.

The 20-times major winner, who struggled with back issues at the start of this year before pulling out of Wimbledon and the Tokyo Olympics, last played in August at the Citi Open in Washington.

He announced ahead of the U.S. Open that the injury to his left foot would rule him out for the rest of the year.

"I want to recover from this injury in good condition," the 35-year-old Spaniard, currently ranked sixth, said.

"I don't know when I will play again, I work a lot every day, I follow a specific plan with a marked roadmap...

"There are always things that I can't control one hundred per cent, but inside my head I'm clear on what my objectives are and I trust that things will follow a positive course."

- Reuters

No Chinese Grand Prix again

Formula One will publish a record 23-race 2022 calendar this weekend but the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai is set to be absent for the third year in a row.

Multiple sources told Reuters that China was not on a draft schedule presented to teams yesterday but would feature as a possible reserve for later in the season in the event of another round dropping off.

Formula One sees China as a key growth market but the race, usually in April, was cancelled in 2020 and this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic and travel restrictions.

Italy's Imola circuit, brought back as a stand-in for cancelled races this year and last, is expected to take China's slot while Miami comes in as a second round in the United States.

This year's Chinese Grand Prix was originally postponed from April to later in the year due to the pandemic and then cancelled, with a revised 22-race calendar published.

China will be hosting the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing in February and has cancelled or rescheduled global sporting events since the start of the pandemic.

Formula One chief executive Stefano Domenicali has already said the 2022 season will run from mid-March to mid-November, with the sport eager to avoid a clash with the World Cup in Qatar in late November and December.

- Reuters