Today's sports news: What you need to know

Latest - Waikato will get to host the NPC Premiership final against Tasman in Hamilton this weekend.

Because of Covid-19 restrictions Waikato have played their recent home games in Tauranga and Rotorua

Following Government's announcement that parts of the Waikato region will move down to Alert Level 2 from midnight tonight, New Zealand Rugby has confirmed that Waikato can play the game at Waikato Stadium.

The Waikato team relocated to Bay of Plenty earlier in the season due to COVID-19 restrictions in the Waikato region and will return to Hamilton ahead of this weekend's match.

Steve Lancaster General Manager of Community Rugby said, "All teams have been impacted this season with varying levels of uncertainty and challenges. The Waikato squad has spent the past six weeks away from home so it is great they're able to return to their home ground for the NPC Premiership final."

The final will operate under Ministry of Health Alert Level 2 guidelines.

The game is at 7:05pm on Saturday, while the Championship final between Taranaki and Otago is in Inglewood at 2:05pm.

All Blacks miss out on nominations

No All Blacks have made the short list for World Rugby's Player of the Year.

Ian Foster and the Black Ferns Sevens coaches Alan Bunting and Cory Sweeney have been nominated for coach of the year, with Black Ferns Sevens captain Sarah Hirini and All Blacks Sevens co-captain Scott Curry up for sevens players of the year.

No New Zealanders were nominated for the men's or women's 15s player of the year.

The last time no All Blacks were nominated for player of the year was 2004.

The men's 15s Player of the Year finalists are Antoine Dupont (France), Michael Hooper (Australia), Maro Itoje (England/British and Irish Lions) and Samu Kerevi (Australia).

Will Jordan is up for Breakthrough player of the year.

Luke Jacobson touch down against Argentina is nominated for try of the year.

Boult named in tournament team

Pace bowler Trent Boult is the only Black Cap to make the T20 World Cup tournament team.

Three players from champions Australia made the eleven with Pakistan captain Babar Azam chosen to lead the side.

The team in batting order is Jos Buttler-England, David Warner-Australia, Babar Azam-Pakistan, Mitchell Marsh-Australia, Charith Asalanka-Sri Lanka, Moeen Ali-England, Wanindu Hasaranga-Sri Lanka, Josh Hazlewood-Australia, Adam Zampa-Australia, Trent Boult-New Zealand, Anrich Nortje-South Africa.

The team picked by a selection panel of commentators, former international players and journalists.

Pre-tournament favourites India, who failed to get past the Super 12 stage, did not have any players in the side.

England's Jos Buttler was chosen to don the wicketkeeping gloves with Moeen Ali picked as the all-rounder.

-Reuters

Kiwis and Kiwi Ferns confirmed for World Cup

Australia and New Zealand will play in the re-scheduled 2021 Rugby League World Cup, organisers have confirmed.

The tournament in England, due to start last month, was postponed for a year after both teams withdrew because of "safety concerns" related to Covid-19.

The five-week tournament will now take place between 15 October and 19 November next year.

Australia and New Zealand will join 30 other competing nations across the men's, women's and wheelchair events in a "bigger and better" tournament in 2022.

Despite the postponement of the original event, only five matches have been impacted, with the full 61-match schedule set to be released this weekend.

England will still open the tournament with a group game against Samoa at St James' Park, Newcastle.

The Kiwis are in the same group as Lebanon, Jamaica and Ireland the Kiwi Ferns are grouped with Australia, France and Cook Islands.

-BBC

Canterbury struggles

Plunket Shield leaders Canterbury will head into Day Two of the last pre-Christmas round of the national championship on the back foot after a hectic opening day at Bay Oval saw 19 wickets fall in one day.

After having been asked to bowl, Canterbury restricted host Northern Districts to a modest 187, with dangerous ND captain and number four batsman Joe Carter left unbeaten on 74* as his team collapsed around him during their first innings of the season.

However, by stumps Canterbury had suffered a similar fate - and were 82/9 still trailing their hosts by 109 runs.

Meanwhile at the Basin Reserve, Wellington ended day one against central on 233/9 with Blair Tickner taking 4-56 for Central.

Djokovic wins ATP Finals opener

World number one Novak Djokovic began his quest for a sixth title at the season-ending ATP Finals with a 7-6, 6-2 victory over Norway's Casper Ruud in their round robin encounter in Turin.

Djokovic suffered a fall and lost his opening service game but recovered to find his rhythm against Ruud, who is making his debut at the event following five tournament wins this season.

Ruud's powerful forehand helped him keep pace with Djokovic for much of the first set, but he was outplayed in the tiebreak as the 20-times major winner forced his 22-year-old opponent into a string of errors to take the opener.

It was plain sailing in the second set for Djokovic, who broke in the first game and dominated the longer rallies as Ruud struggled on serve before eventually going down in an hour and 31 minutes.

Djokovic was later presented with the year-end world number one trophy for a record seventh time, bettering the mark set by 14-times Grand Slam champion Pete Sampras.

Greek world number four Stefanos Tsitsipas plays Russia's Andrey Rublev in Monday's other Green Group clash.

-Reuters

Dean Smith off to Norwich

English Premier League club Norwich City have appointed former Aston Villa manager Dean Smith as head coach in place of Daniel Farke.

Norwich sacked Farke this month when Smith was also fired by Villa following a run of five straight league defeats.

Smith joined Villa in 2018 following a spell in charge of Brentford where he developed a reputation for playing exciting, attacking football.

He guided Villa back to the top flight via the playoffs in his first campaign with a club record 10-match winning run at the end of the season.

Villa have appointed former Liverpool and England captain Steven Gerrard as their manager.

He had been in charge at Rangers since 2018.

-Reuters

Sexton out with injury

Ireland captain Johnny Sexton will miss their final autumn international series test against Argentina after being ruled out for between four to six weeks due to injuries.

The first-five, 36, twisted a knee and ankle in the win over the All Blacks in Dublin at the weekend but will remain in the squad for the visit of the Pumas on Sunday.

Jack Carty has been called up as a replacement while Gavin Coombes has recovered from illness and will be available for selection for the back row.

Ireland last played Argentina in November 2018, coming out on top 28-17.

-Reuters