Kane Williamson is confident that his hip injury is "settling" and that he will be fit enough to captain New Zealand in the first Test against England on November 21.

Williamson, who has been rested for the ongoing five-match T20I series, has played only one game in the last two months, and has batted just four times since the World Cup final in July, making a total of 50 runs.

"It's been an ongoing niggle, really," he told Sky during New Zealand's defeat in the fourth T20I at Napier. "That comes at goes. It is settling, which is nice.

"A lot of [the last few months] has been rehab to get the hip right. I had a four-dayer recently [he made 26 for Northern Districts in a Plunket Shield game in October] and there's a gap between this series and the first Test, so it's basically training going into it."

Williamson admits it will be "tough" to readjust to the rhythm of batting given his lack of match practice, but is confident that he will be able to make runs regardless. He was training with the New Zealand squad in Napier ahead of the T20I, rather than playing in the ongoing round of Plunket Shield fixtures.

"A lot of it is mindset," he said, "so trying to get that right, trying to prepare as well as well as you can to give yourself the best chance.

"I guess if you're looking at preparation and perfect preparation, gametime can be nice - spending time in the middle - but it'll be tough to come by seeing as there's not a lot of cricket between now and then. So it's just trying to get the mindset right to go on and execute your plans as well as you can."

Williamson was also rested for New Zealand's T20I series in Sri Lanka, and spent the start of October in the UK where his commitments included a test on his bowling action at Loughborough. He has now been cleared to bowl, though is unlikely to be required much against England.

The first game of that series will also be the inaugural Test match at Mount Maunganui, one of Williamson's home grounds when he plays for Northern Districts in domestic cricket.

"[It's a] really exciting time for cricket in the Bay of Plenty," he said. "I know everyone there is looking forward to the occasion, and I know the guys are looking forward to some red-ball cricket as well.

"[We're] looking forward to get involved in the Test matches, which'll be a really exciting opportunity for us, taking on a strong English side."

Rick Pitino is taking over as Greek national team coach as it looks to qualify for the 2020 Olympics, he confirmed via Twitter on Friday.

Really honored to be coaching the Greek National team. Have a lot of work and preparation ahead but I'm looking forward to the challenge.

— Rick Pitino (@RealPitino) November 8, 2019

Pitino told reporters Friday that he will begin coaching the team for the Olympic qualifying tournament in June. Greece will be one of 24 teams playing for four Olympic bids during the June 23-28 event.

"Obviously it's a great honor for me to accept this position, and I'm looking forward to it," Pitino said. "I'll spend most of the winter, once the brackets are announced, studying the film and we'll go to work."

Prior to accepting the job, Pitino told reporters earlier this week that he would work for free, calling it an "honor" to coach Greece.

The move could lead to Pitino coaching Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo, who played for Greece at the World Cup earlier this year. Pitino said he planned to meet with Antetokounmpo and his brother, Thanassis, in March.

Pitino most recently coached in the Greek League with Panathinaikos, leading the team to a championship win earlier this year. In June, he turned down an offer to return as president and coach, saying he wanted to pursue an NBA job.

More details of his role with Greece are expected to be discussed at a news conference Monday.

Olympic and world triple jump champion calls for change and a greater athlete voice in wake of Diamond League changes

Christian Taylor has launched The Athletics Association – a new union which aims to give elite track and field athletes greater say in the future of the sport.

The American two-time Olympic and four-time world triple jump champion released a manifesto on Thursday following the recently-announced changes to the Diamond League series, which will see the triple jump – along with the 200m, 3000m steeplechase and discus – being controversially cut from the Diamond League Final next year.

Britain’s world sprint champion Dina Asher-Smith is among those to have voiced support for the new association, which Taylor says will “fight for athletes’ rights”.

In a statement posted on social media, Taylor said: “It’s time for real change. I refuse to sit back any longer.” He also encouraged athletes to register interest via email and follow the movement’s social media channels.

“I am incredibly disappointed that the IAAF/World Athletics and the Diamond League have decided to remove more events from the programme for 2020,” Taylor wrote. “Our sport is about unity and diversity and separating the events can only damage this sport we all love.

“For some time now I have been in discussion with other elite track and field athletes and we have been talking about how we can have a greater say in the future of our sport.

“Today I am announcing the formation of The Athletics Association – an association for all professional track and field athletes around the world.

“We will fight for athletes’ rights and ultimately demand a seat at the table and a say in how our sport is run and how the sport can grow and evolve without ripping out its very core. At the moment we, the athletes, have no power. Yes there is an Athletes’ Commission but we need something independent of the IAAF/World Athletics.”

It's time for real change.

I refuse to sit back any longer.

Please read the full statement below and join and follow the movement.

REMEBER:#WeAreTheSport

Register:
[email protected] @WeAreTheSport@WorldAthletics@Diamond_League pic.twitter.com/eGPmdYTeyB

— Christian Taylor (@Taylored2jump) November 7, 2019

He signed the manifesto, listing his achievements including being a seven-time Diamond League champion – a tally he will be unable to add to in 2020.

Following release of the statement, world 200m champion Asher-Smith replied: “You know you always have my support!! Let’s do this.”

Six new members were elected to the IAAF Athletes’ Commission in Doha recently, including France’s world pole vault record-holder Renaud Lavillenie and New Zealand’s two-time Olympic shot put gold medallist Valerie Adams.

Two members of the Athletes’ Commission – one male and one female – currently hold voting positions on the IAAF Council.

The BBC has secured rights to broadcast highlights of Guinness Pro14 matches from Sunday, 10 November.

The deal includes every round of Pro14 action, as well as the play-offs and the finals, for the next two seasons, including the 2020 final in Cardiff.

BBC Wales' flagship rugby round-up show Scrum V will show highlights of Pro14 matches each week on BBC Two Wales.

The BBC lost broadcasting rights for the Pro14 to Premier Sports in March 2018.

"BBC's return to the Guinness Pro14 is terrific news for our fans and adds yet another committed broadcast partner to our Championship," said Dermot Rigley, commercial director of Pro14 Rugby.

"As a tournament we have set a new standard by ensuring every single game is available live to our viewers in the UK and now with our highlights available to Free-To-Air audiences via the BBC, rugby fans will have unprecedented access to the matches."

A brand new programme on BBC Wales, airing on Monday nights, will bring further highlights from the Pro14, and fans will also now be able to access videos of key moments online and on social media.

In addition to the highlights deal, BBC Radio Wales and BBC Radio Cymru will continue live commentary and coverage of Pro14 matches.

BBC Wales will also continue the live production of Pro14 games for Clwb Rygbi on S4C.

"Together with the fascinating Rugby World Cup in Japan and a dramatic challenge at the top of the conference tables, this is a great time to see the championship highlights return to the BBC," said BBC Cymru Wales's head of sport, Geoff Williams.

"Rugby forms part of our national conversation and we'll bring all the action to fans across the country."

BBC Scotland will also show highlights, including games involving Edinburgh and Glasgow, in an hour long programme on a Monday night.

Grigor Stirling, Sport Commissioning Executive, BBC Scotland said: "It's a welcome addition to our wide portfolio of sports on the channel."

"We're sure that rugby fans will enjoy the Championship highlights after each round on our new programme."

A ground-breaking first Rugby World Cup in the Americas is now unlikely to take place until 2031, with Australia emerging as a prime contender to host in 2027.

France will stage the tournament in four years' time.

A southern hemisphere country is then expected to host, with a breakthrough event in the USA now lined up for the following tournament.

The formal bidding process for 2027 and 2031 starts next November.

'Australia an important rugby nation'

Australia have already announced their bid to stage the event in eight years' time, with administrators down under seeing it as an opportunity to revive a flagging rugby nation, especially given their strong track record of hosting major tournaments.

And despite their recent difficulties on and off the field, Australia remains a crucial part of the global landscape, says Bill Sweeney, chief executive of England's Rugby Football Union.

"You would think 2027 would need to go somewhere southern hemisphere," Sweeney told the BBC.

"Australia is a really important rugby nation, who have had some financial challenges.

"Anything that World Rugby can do to support the game in Australia would be supported by all of us, I think."

A southern hemisphere World Cup also brings South Africa strongly into the equation after they narrowly missed out to France to host in 2023.

The South African Rugby Union - buoyed by the Springboks' status as world champions - is considering another bid, but has yet to confirm.

USA in 2031?

Meanwhile World Rugby is desperate for the sport to catch fire in the USA, and a bid for the 2031 showpiece would allow more time for rugby union to develop in the States, with Sweeney adding that there was "a massive opportunity for the game to kick off" there.

Hosting in 2031 rather than 2027 would also avoid the rugby showpiece being sandwiched between the Football World Cup in 2026 - which is hosted by the USA, Canada and Mexico - and the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.

The governing body is also open to a joint bid from the USA and Canada, while a South American Rugby World Cup - revolving around Argentina and Uruguay - is another intriguing option.

With the bidding process starting in November 2020, the host nations for 2027 and 2031 World Cups will be announced together at some point in 2021.

MANCHESTER -- Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said Manchester United fans saw the "template" for how he wants his team to play following the win over Partizan Belgrade.

United booked their place in the knockout rounds of the Europa League with a 3-0 win at Old Trafford thanks to goals from Mason Greenwood, Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford.

"This is a little bit of a template on how we want to play," Solskjaer told a news conference.

"Too many times we're 1-0 up and haven't got the second but these boys are learning and it will give them loads of pointers of how we play."

Early qualification from Group L means Solskjaer can afford to rest players for the 7,000-mile round trip to Kazakhstan to face Astana on Nov. 28 ahead of crucial Premier League games against Aston Villa, Tottenham and Manchester City.

"We wanted to get through as quickly as we could and that long trip is not one you want to travel to and have to win," said Solskjaer.

"It might be a possible to rest a few and be ready for a tough week after that game. We've got Villa, Spurs and City that week."

First, Solskjaer will turn his attention to Brighton's visit to Old Trafford on Sunday but he is already sweating on the fitness of midfielder Scott McTominay, who was forced off against Partizan because of an ankle injury.

"It didn't look too good," said Solskjaer.

"He said he would be be fine but he had to come off. I hope he'll recover by Sunday."

William Porterfield has stepped down as Ireland's captain after 11 years in the role. Andrew Balbirnie, the middle-order batsman, will replace him as Test and 50-over captain, while Gary Wilson will continue in the T20 job.

Porterfield led Ireland in 253 games after taking over from Trent Johnston in 2008, captaining in two 50-over World Cups and five World T20s as well as their first-ever Test match, against Pakistan at Malahide in May 2018.

"It has been an incredible journey, and a fantastic honour to have captained my country over the past 11 and a half years," Porterfield said. "There have been many highs, along with a few lows along the way, but I can honestly say that it has been thoroughly enjoyable. To have been able to lead Ireland out at various World Cups, through to our first Test against Pakistan, and again at Lord's in the summer, have been but a few of these highlights. I feel incredibly lucky and privileged to have done so."

"I feel, and in consultation with Cricket Ireland, that now is the right time to hand over that mantle. With the ODI league starting in the summer it will allow Balbo [Balbirnie] time to get into the swing of things. I feel that the selectors have made a great choice in appointing Balbo and that it has come at a great time for him personally being on top of his game, and with more to come. Having spoken to him, I know how honoured and excited he is to get going. I'm looking forward to helping and supporting Balbo in any way I can, and seeing him lead Ireland forward."

More to follow...

Bayern Munich discussed the potential of ex-Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger taking over at the German club but have decided to pursue other options.

Wenger had reached out to Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge on Wednesday to discuss the position.

The club confirmed the discussion to German outlet Bild, saying: "Arsene Wenger called Karl-Heinz Rummenigge on Wednesday afternoon and signalled his fundamental interest in the position at Bayern. FC Bayern highly value Arsene Wenger's work at Arsenal, but he is not an option to become head coach at FC Bayern."

Sources told ESPN FC that a sticking point was that Wenger would not accept a short-term contract until the end of the season, which Bayern was looking for.

Bayern dismissed Niko Kovac on Sunday after a string of bad results and uneasy mix of stagnation on the pitch and conflicts off it. Kovac took over at Bayern in 2018 after a spell in charge of Eintracht Frankfurt.

Hansi Flick, a former assistant of Joachim Low with the Germany national team, was appointed on a caretaker basis. He led the team to a 2-0 win over Olympiakos in Champions League group stage action on Wednesday.

Among other names linked to the job have been Paris Saint-Germain coach Thomas Tuchel, Ajax boss Erik ten Hag, and ex-RB Leipzig manager Ralf Rangnick. All three have stated that they would not take the Bayern position.

According to sources, another potential option is Xabi Alonso, who manages at Real Sociedad B. The ex-Spain international played at Bayern for three seasons after a stints at Liverpool and Real Madrid.

When asked about other candidates on Tuesday, Bayern sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic said: "I won't talk about any names."

Wenger told BeIN Sports on Wednesday that: "I'd never refuse to talk to Bayern Munich, because I know the people who have led the club for 30 years and I was nearly going to Bayern a long, long time ago. That's all I can say."

Wenger, 70, has been out of work since ending his 22-year reign at Arsenal in 2018.

Former Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri has also been linked but ESPN FC reported last month that he would take a sabbatical from management this season.

ESPN FC's Julien Laurens and Stephan Uersfeld contributed to this story.