Rugby

Rugby-No formal charges in Curry-Contepomi tunnel incident

Dec 5 (Reuters) - No formal sanctions will be issued in the incident where Argentina coach Felipe Contepomi accused England player Tom Curry of hitting him after last month's Autumn Series fixture, organisers Six Nations Rugby said on Friday.

Football

Soccer-Arteta says tricky Villa trip is opportunity for Arsenal

BIRMINGHAM, England, Dec 5 (Reuters) - Aston Villa have proved a thorn in Arsenal's side in recent seasons but manager Mikel Arteta regards Saturday's trip to the Midlands as an opportunity, not an obstacle as his side seek to stretch their lead in the Premier League title race.

Football

Soccer-Maresca defends rotation, hopes Chelsea learn from Leeds loss before Bournemouth clash

Dec 5 (Reuters) - Rotating players is something Chelsea must do to protect players who cannot play every three days, manager Enzo Maresca said ahead of a trip to Bournemouth where his team will look to put Wednesday's 3-1 loss at Leeds United behind them.

Football

Soccer-Liverpool aim for top-four revival amid inconsistent form, says manager Slot

Dec 5 (Reuters) - Liverpool are not in an ideal position and are determined to break into the Premier League's top four, manager Arne Slot said on Friday, having secured only two wins in their last nine league matches.

Football

Trump attends pageantry-filled World Cup final draw designed with him in mind

WASHINGTON, Dec 5 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump will preside over the soccer World Cup draw on Friday in a ceremony filled with pomp, pageantry and lavish performances fit for a showman.

Motorsport

Motor racing-Norris quicker than Verstappen in Abu Dhabi practice, Piastri lags

ABU DHABI, Dec 5 (Reuters) - McLaren's Formula One leader Lando Norris made a perfect start to the title-deciding Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend with the fastest laps in both Friday practice sessions while Red Bull rival Max Verstappen was second.

Rugby

Rugby-Erasmus gets new contract to stay with South Africa until 2031

CAPE TOWN, Dec 5 (Reuters) - South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus has been handed a four-year contract extension through to 2031, giving him two more Rugby World Cups to aim for, SA Rugby announced on Friday.

Football

Soccer-Turkey orders top-tier players, club chairmen detained in gambling probe

ANKARA, Dec 5 (Reuters) - Turkish prosecutors ordered the detention of 46 people, including footballers from top-tier clubs, club presidents, commentators and others, as part of a widening investigation into insider betting in Turkey's professional leagues.

Motorsport

Motor racing-McLaren will use team orders if necessary to secure F1 title-Brown

ABU DHABI, Dec 5 (Reuters) - McLaren will impose team orders if necessary to secure the Formula One drivers' title and deny Red Bull's Max Verstappen a fifth in a row, chief executive Zak Brown said on Friday.

Badminton

Malaysia boast most nominees at BWF Player of the Year awards

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia will take centre stage at this year's Badminton World Federation (BWF) Player of the Year awards, leading the pack with a record six nominees - four in the doubles categories and two in the para badminton events.

Motorsport

Motor racing-Norris says F1 title means everything and he has most to lose ahead of Abu Dhabi decider

ABU DHABI, Dec 5 (Reuters) - Lando Norris says winning the Formula One world championship would mean everything to him, but being the frontrunner also means he has most to lose.

Golf

Golf-McIlroy makes Australian Open cut with late surge

Dec 5 (Reuters) - Rory McIlroy grabbed three birdies in his last four holes to make the cut at the Australian Open on Friday, while Portugal's Daniel Rodrigues and Denmark's Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen set the pace at Royal Melbourne on nine-under par.

Bowling

Women's bowling team win silver at IBF World Championships

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian women's team won a silver medal after going down 1-2 to the United States in the IBF World Championships team final in Hong Kong on Friday (Dec 5).

Other Sports

Olympics - Winter Games flame lit at Italy's presidential palace

ROME, Dec 5 (Reuters) - The Olympic flame flared into new life under a cloudy sky in the square of Italy's presidential palace on Friday before starting its journey across the country ahead of the 2026 Winter Games.

Cricket

Cricket-Australia's Hazlewood suffers fresh injury setback

Dec 5 (Reuters) - Australia paceman Josh Hazlewood's hopes of playing in the third Ashes test in Adelaide have dimmed after he suffered a new injury setback during his recovery from a hamstring strain.

Motorsport

Indian actor Ajith swaps film set for fast lane in Sepang

PETALING JAYA: Popular Indian actor Ajith Kumar has caused lots of excitement in Malaysia as he is currently racing in Sepang.

Diving

Diving-Ukraine strips Lyskun of titles after Russia switch

Dec 5 (Reuters) - Ukraine's diving federation said it has stripped Sofiia Lyskun of her titles following her decision to switch allegiance to Russia.

Cricket

Cricket-Hope's hundred keeps West Indies afloat against weakened New Zealand

Dec 5 (Reuters) - Shai Hope's unbeaten hundred steered West Indies to 212-4 in a mammoth chase of 531 on day four of the opening test against New Zealand at Christchurch's Hagley Oval on Friday.

Cricket

Cricket-Australia take lead in second Ashes test as England fumble at the Gabba

Dec 5 (Reuters) - Australia dominated day two of the second Ashes test on Friday with a punishing batting assault on a lifeless Gabba pitch as England shot themselves in the foot with five dropped catches.

Football

Soccer-On eve of World Cup draw, MLS commissioner says US soccer is thriving

WASHINGTON, Dec 5 (Reuters) - Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber said the arrival of elite players such as Lionel Messi has helped the sport cement its place in a crowded U.S. market, as anticipation builds across the country for Friday's World Cup draw in Washington.