Former World Rugby player of the year Brodie Retallick has signed a new deal with New Zealand Rugby that will see him take a break from the All Blacks.

The 28-year-old second row will leave New Zealand after the World Cup later this year to play two seasons in Japan, including an extended family break.

He will return to the All Blacks set-up in May 2021 through to the following World Cup in 2023.

Retallick said he made the "big decision" to "give his body a break".

"I'm grateful to be able to have the opportunity to head over to Japan and experience not just the rugby but for my family and to be immersed in another culture," he said.

"I've been playing high-octane rugby with the Gallagher Chiefs and All Blacks since 2012, and while I've loved every minute of it and my workload has been managed well, I've decided to give my body a break from the New Zealand game, so that ultimately I can extend my career here."

Like England, the All Blacks have a policy of not selecting players who have moved abroad to play club rugby.

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said: "While there's a playing sabbatical during that time - and Brodie will no doubt be missed - it also gives the future All Blacks coaches the opportunity to build even more depth in that position.

"I congratulate NZR on being inventive in their contracting process, as there would have been many offers for him to leave permanently."

Warren Gatland has been confirmed as head coach of the British and Irish Lions for a third time.

Gatland, currently Wales coach, will take charge in South Africa in 2021, having already presided over a series win in Australia in 2013, and a draw in New Zealand four years later.

The 55-year-old New Zealander is standing down as Wales boss after the World Cup this year.

He will officially start with the Lions in the summer of 2020.

"I'm hugely honoured and delighted to lead the Lions again," said Gatland, who becomes just the second man in history - after Sir Ian McGeechan - to take charge of three tours.

"It is exciting and a great challenge. The Lions rightly have a truly special place in the game and I jumped at the chance to be involved again when I was approached about the role."

Gatland in focus

While Gatland will take a short break after his 12-year Wales stint, it is understood Lions chiefs are investigating the possibility of him acting as a coaching consultant in between jobs, before starting with the Lions in August next year.

"I'm delighted to now have everything in place to begin full-time in August 2020 as that gives me the best possible chance to plan for South Africa, but for the time being my focus is entirely on the World Cup and delivering a successful campaign for Wales," Gatland added.

Lions managing director Ben Calveley says they have the "best coach in the world" signed up, and an early appointment allows time for Gatland to be closely involved in planning for the series against the Springboks.

"Naturally he was our first-choice candidate from the start of the process," explained Calveley.

"Appointing him two years ahead of time ensures Warren can also be involved in planning the logistics and scheduling elements of the tour.

"I'm looking forward to working alongside him to give the Lions the best chance of success in South Africa. The supporters are central to what make the Lions special, and with the world's finest coach at the helm, excitement will grow even further."

Major structural shake-up

Gatland will not confirm his assistant coaches until much closer to the tour, but it is believed incoming Ireland head coach Andy Farrell is already being targeted after his leading contributions in 2013 and 2017.

The Lions are also keen on succession planning, with Farrell being earmarked as a potential head coach for the tour in 2025.

Either way, the Lions are set for a major structural shake-up.

The old-fashioned tour manager model is to be disbanded, with Lions bosses keen to modernise the concept, which would lead to a reconnection with more recently retired ex-players.

England World Cup-winning prop Jason Leonard, who went on three Lions tours, has already come on board as chairman - and possibly tour manager.

"We may be playing away in the heartland of South Africa, but I am confident that yet again, we will have enormous support and they will feel like home games," said Leonard, who was part of the last winning series against the Springboks in 1997.

"As a player it made all the difference, and now I can't wait to be part of the famous sea of red enjoying the tour of a lifetime."

The long-term agreement with Sanzaar (the governing body that represents Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Argentina) has also expired, providing an opportunity to start afresh and to negotiate individually with the relevant southern hemisphere union, in an attempt to avoid the scheduling issues which have dogged previous tours.

There is also renewed optimism about working with the English clubs, with Calveley in regular dialogue with his Premiership counterparts.

Gatland's previous Lions tours

Australia 2013 results:

First Test - Australia 21-23 Lions

Second Test - Australia 16-15 Lions

Third Test - Australia 16-41 Lions

Lions win series 2-1

New Zealand 2017 results:

First Test - NZ 30-15 Lions

Second Test - NZ 21-24 Lions

Third Test - NZ 15-15 Lions

Series drawn

BECHTELSVILLE, Pa. — Ryan Watt picked up his second Thunder on the Hill Racing Series victory in Tuesday night’s 358 modified feature at Grandview Speedway.

Ryan Godown led the field to the drop of the green flag with Watt quickly moving into the second spot. Godown set the pace, but Watt closed quickly, stalking the leader and waiting patiently to make a move for the top spot.

The only yellow of the event flew on lap 10, as the leader, Ryan Godown slowed entering turn three handing the lead over to Watt.

On the restart, Craig Von Dohren charged inside the leader, with Duane Howard close on his tail – but neither could complete the pass on Watt. Howard moved passed VonDohren a few laps later, setting his sights on the leader.

The leaders approached lapped traffic on the 20th circuit closing the gap and allowing Howard to challenge for the win. Howard’s No. 357 machine moved inside Watt’s, showing the nose but unable to complete the pass.

The pair raced down the backstretch side-by-side as the checkered flag approached. The battle for the lead shaped up, but Watt gained an advantage while Howard struggled with a noticeable right-rear flat tire.

Watt would roll on for the victory, Howard held on for the second position, Craig VonDohren finished in third, Jared Umbenhauer in fourth and Brett Kressley rounding out the top five.

Brady Bacon won the companion USAC sprint car race.

The finish:

Ryan Watt, Duane Howard, Craig VonDohren, Jared Umbenhauer, Brett Kressley, Doug Manmiller, Rick Laubach, Jeff Strunk, Billy Pauch Jr., Mike Gular, Frank Cozze, Kevin Hirthler, Louden Reimert, Alex Yankowski, Justin Grim, Dylan Swinehart, Kris Graver, T.J. Lilly, Richie Hitzler, Brian Hirthler, Jordan Henn, Ryan Godown, Danny Erb, Mike Lisowski.

BECHTELSVILLE, Pa. — In each of the last two years, Brady Bacon had to pull some late-race heroics out of his pocket in the final laps of the Jesse Hockett Classic Eastern Storm opener at Grandview Speedway.

Tuesday night’s race was anything but a nail-biter as the Broken Arrow, Okla., driver led all 40 laps in dominant fashion to collect $10,000 and become the first driver in Eastern Storm history to win three races at a single track.

As opposed to his 2017-’18 Grandview triumphs, Bacon felt he had car to beat right from the get-go, though it very nearly ended as soon as it started with a huge bike in turn two during hot laps that he managed to save, carry on and then thrive, on a night and a third-mile track he seems to have a knack for.

“This is the first year I actually think we had the best car,” Bacon admitted. “The other couple of years, we managed to sneak to the front and find some stuff to get the wins. This time, I feel like we had a really good car all night. We had a game plan going in here, and even though it was rough at the beginning of the night, we wanted to stick to our guns and make sure we got tight enough for the feature.”

Bacon’s victory was also special in personal ways, both for the car owner he won his two USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car titles for and for the race’s namesake, who won at Grandview in 2009, and was one of Bacon’s closest fellow competitors on the USAC trail.

“This is the first win since the passing of (car owner) Richard Hoffman and with this being the Jesse Hockett race, I was close friends with him too. That’s pretty special,” Bacon beamed.

To set Bacon’s Grandview backstory, in 2017, Bacon started sixth and worked his way to lead laps 25-35 before being overtaken by C.J. Leary with five laps remaining. Bacon reeled Leary in and on lap 38 in lapped traffic, Bacon shot underneath as Leary got hung up on the outside.

In 2018, Bacon started from the pole, fell back, then charged to the front to lead laps 13-29 before Kevin Thomas Jr. snatched the lead away with 11 laps to go.

Again, when it all looked to be over for Bacon, he found his second wind and tracked down Thomas with three to go to pull off the victory.

None of that transpired Tuesday night. Bacon got the jump on the start, using the topside from his outside front row starting position to power around polesitter Justin Grant to grab the lead exiting turn two. By the fourth lap, Bacon was wheels up and just about ready for takeoff as he crossed the stripe with a one second lead.

As would be the case throughout the duration of the race, the battle was for second on back. Just before the end of the first quarter of the 40-lapper, Tyler Courtney went around the outside of Grant for position in turn four. Grant fought back to reclaim second going into turn three before Courtney got Grant at the line on lap six.

Grant got the runner-up position back from Courtney on lap seven and the pair tussled until the ninth lap when Courtney made contact with Grant’s rear bumper. Courtney swung wide in turn three, laying down the red carpet for series point leader C.J. Leary to duck underneath for third.

Moments later, disaster struck for local favorite and 12th running Timmy Buckwalter, who slid wide off turn four, clipped the right rear against the wall and rode out a wild flip down the front straightaway.
By the halfway mark, Bacon stepped away once again as second through seventh were all under a blanket, but the one surging through it all was ninth-place starter Chris Windom.

The two-time and defending Eastern Storm champ zipped by Kevin Thomas, Jr. for fourth on the bottom. Then, on lap 22, disposed of Leary for third in the same spot on the track.

On lap 24, Windom slid Grant into turn one. Grant countered back underneath off turn two. On lap 25, it was déjà vu with both swapping the lead on each end of the track before Windom prevailed a lap later with the position in turn three. Leary moved to third by Grant one lap later, likewise, on the bottom of three.

All the while, Bacon was grinning as he constructed an unchallenged 3.5-second lead with less than 10 laps left and to four seconds with just five to go. Although, the race for second was not on ice just quite yet. Leary stormed his way back by Windom with just two laps left to nab second at the end, though, still 4.352 seconds behind Bacon at the finish.

Leary finished second ahead of Windom, Courtney and Thomas.

To see full results, turn to the next page.

Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final is scheduled for Wednesday night between the Boston Bruins and the St. Louis Blues at TD Garden. The Blues can win the first Stanley Cup in franchise history with a victory. The Bruins can win their seventh Stanley Cup with a victory. This is it, folks. There is no Game 8. Here's a little primer in today's Stanley Cup Playoffs Daily.

It's a Game 7 for the Boston Bruins in Boston. What do the numbers tell us about that?

Historically, this means good things. The Bruins are 6-1 all time with an opportunity to clinch the Stanley Cup. That's the best of any team in NHL history with a minimum of five chances to do so. That also includes Game 7 of their series against the Vancouver Canucks, which was the last Game 7 we've had in a Stanley Cup Final (back in 2011). Home teams are 12-4 in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final, however the past two home teams to host one have lost -- Vancouver to the Bruins in 2011 and the Detroit Red Wings to the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2009.

It's a Game 7 for the St. Louis Blues in Boston. What do the numbers tell us about that?

The bad news is more centered on Game 6 than Game 7. The Blues are the sixth team in Stanley Cup Final history to lose Game 6 at home after leading 3-2 in the series. Of those six, only the 1945 Toronto Maple Leafs bounced back to win the Stanley Cup. And they were some odd ducks; the Leafs had actually squandered a 3-0 series lead before recovering to hoist the chalice.

Yikes, that's brutal. Any good numbers?

The good news is that if the Blues were going to win the Stanley Cup, it was probably going to be like this. They're 9-3 on the road, and the numbers explain why: They average 3.16 goals per game on the road vs. 2.54 at home, and they give up just 2.41 goals per game on the road vs. 3.07 at home. Ask the Blues and they'll tell you that their style of play lends itself to road success. "I think when you're at home, you're maybe trying to play a little differently at times. On the road, more of a simpler approach, I think, directness, predictability probably has a lot to do with it. We've just been a good road team for a long time. We feel pretty comfortable on the road," said coach Craig Berube.

That said, won't the Bruins be a little more comfortable, given the disparity in experience?

Sure. The Blues are the antithesis of the Bruins' experience advantage, with only Oskar Sundqvist having played on an eventual Stanley Cup championship team (the 2016 Penguins). The Bruins have a core of five players from their 2011 Stanley Cup-winning team and the 2013 team that lost in the Final: Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand, David Krejci, Zdeno Chara and Tuukka Rask, who was a backup to Tim Thomas in 2011 and the starter in 2013. The players on both teams have been in championship situations before, but the Bruins certainly are the ones who have tasted from the Cup, and then tasted the bitterness of not winning one.

"It's the best thing in the world for the team that wins, and it sucks for the team that loses. Being on both sides of it, you realize how hard it is, and just how s----y it is to lose. It sticks with you forever," said Marchand. "Winning and losing sticks with you forever. You don't forget everything that happens when you win, and you definitely don't forget what happens when you lose. Again, unfortunately, there's going to be both sides of that tomorrow. See how it plays out."

How good has Rask been in these situations?

In Game 7s, Rask is 3-2 all time, and the numbers aren't pretty: a 3.18 goals-against average and an .877 save percentage. But his numbers in elimination games this postseason are a different story: In wins over Toronto (twice), Columbus, Carolina and St. Louis in Game 6, Rask is 5-0 with a .973 save percentage, including a shutout against the Blue Jackets.

"He's an ultimate professional and obviously has been in the zone the last couple of months here since the playoffs have started. It gives us a lot of confidence playing in front of him," said forward Karson Kuhlman.

What can we expect from his counterpart, rookie Jordan Binnington?

If there's one thing that defines Binnington, other than being known as "the rookie Jordan Binnington," it's his ability to bounce back from losses. Including the regular season, Binnington is 13-2 with a 1.83 goals-against average and a .934 save percentage in games immediately following a loss. In the playoffs, he's 7-2 with a 1.86 goals-against average and a .933 save percentage. The Blues are confident that, win or lose, they won't have to worry about their goaltending.

Are the Blues going to have to worry about their special teams?

Oh, very much so. The Bruins' power play (32.9 percent) remains the best the NHL has seen in the playoffs since the 1981 New York Islanders. They're 7-for-21 in this series, and the power play has been a difference-maker in all three of their wins. The Blues, meanwhile, are a pathetic 1-for-18 on the power play, although they peppered Rask with 12 shots in Game 6 in going 0-for-4. Overall, Boston is outscoring the Blues 8-1 on special teams, including an empty-net goal.

What's the solution for St. Louis?

Short of declining the penalties they draw? That they aren't many in Game 7, because even when they have a power play and aren't killing one off, that means they're not rolling lines at 5-on-5 to establish their forecheck, and that's when they're at their best.

Is that feasible in a Game 7?

Potentially. There are have been 61 Game 7s in all rounds since the 2006 Stanley Cup Playoffs, aka after the canceled season and the reset button on rules changes. The average total penalty minutes in those games was 14.4, or 7.2 per team. If the Blues get that in Game 7, it would be near a tie with the penalty totals in Games 1 and 4 in this series, in which the Blues were 1-1. They were 1-2 when the penalties were more than 14 total. Incidentally, the Game 7 average has dropped recently -- since 2015, they've averaged 11.2 penalties per game in total. Let 'em play, ref!

Any lineup changes?

One mystery for the Blues: Robert Thomas. The rookie returned for Game 6 after being out since Game 2, but his line was statistically the worst for the Blues that night; although, it should be said, they got only 6:37 in ice time with all those power plays. Does Berube bring Sammy Blais back up to the Tyler Bozak line with the return of Ivan Barbashev from suspension to play on their fourth line?

The Bruins are expected to go with the same lineup, which means speedy Karson Kuhlman is in and David Backes, the veteran former Blues captain, will watch his current team attempt to win the Stanley Cup against his former team from the press box. Which has to be devastating.

What should Game 7 look like?

As physical as any in the series and likely on the low-scoring side given the acumen of the netminders in the game.

Who are the favorites for the Conn Smythe Trophy for playoff MVP?

There's a convincing case that Rask should be the MVP, win or lose for the Bruins, becoming just the fifth player in NHL history to win it in a losing cause. Goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere of the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim was the most recent winner-as-loser, in 2003. If the Bruins win, it's certainly Rask. If the Blues win, a case could be made for Binnington, especially if he plays well for most of Game 7, but the smart money remains on Ryan O'Reilly, unless this award is truly Rask's to lose.

Thanks to ESPN Stats & Information for assistance throughout.

Manchester United forward Romelu Lukaku has said he expects a hectic summer, amid interest from Inter Milan.

Sources have told ESPN FC that, while new Nerazzurri boss Antonio Conte is interested in making Lukaku his first signing at San Siro, there has not yet been any contact between the two parties.

- When does the new Premier League season start?
- Who has qualified for Europe from the Premier League?
- When does the transfer window close?

Asked after Belgium's 3-0 Euro 2020 qualifying victory over Scotland, whether he expected a hectic summer, Lukaku replied: "Yes, I think so."

He added: "I have a contract with Manchester United, but I will speak to my agent Federico Pastorello to ensure I make the best decision."

Pushed further on whether a move to Inter appealed to him, Lukaku simply smiled.

Lukaku, 26, joined United from Everton in 2017 and was a regular starter under Jose Mourinho. However, he lost his place to Marcus Rashford when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer came in.

In April, the Belgium international's agent said they would assess the forward's future in the summer.

Lukaku has scored 42 goals in 96 appearances for United and played in both the 2017 UEFA Super Cup and 2018 FA Cup final, while helped United to a second place finish in his debut season with the club.

Brazilian police have charged Flamengo's former president with manslaughter for a fire that killed 10 teenage players in February.

An investigators' report obtained by The Associated Press shows Eduardo Bandeira de Mello and seven others were charged over the fire at the club's training facility.

- Flamengo: Tragedy in the Vulture's Nest

Mello did not respond to a request for comment on Tuesday. The Rio de Janeiro-based team said it didn't know of the charges.

The report signed by investigator Marcio Petra says Mello and a monitor "could and should have acted to avoid the result, which, by omission, transforms them into the perpetrators" of the fire.

Officials have not given an official cause for the blaze, but said they investigated the possibility an air conditioning unit caught fire after a power surge.

Welcome to ESPNcricinfo's coverage of Australia v Pakistan from Taunton. The Live Report is your pitstop for all the analysis and talking points from our correspondents and writers. If the blog doesn't load straightaway, please refresh the page

Rishabh Pant will fly in this week to join the Indian squad as a cover for Shikhar Dhawan, who suffered a hairline fracture after being hit on the left thumb against Australia on Sunday. Pant was one of the standbys announced by the selectors in April, while announcing the 15-man squad for the World Cup.

The selectors have worked out that KL Rahul can perform Dhawan's role should he fail to recover, which is the rationale behind choosing Pant, a middle-order batsman, as cover. Rahul was originally picked as the third opener in the squad, but sneaked into the XI last minute as No. 4.

Dhawan is also currently India's only specialist left-hand batsman in the squad, and he disrupted Australia's bowling plans during his century earlier this week, negating legspinner Adam Zampa. This purported advantage against legspin in the middle overs is another significant reason the selectors have opted for the left-handed Pant.

He has played five ODIs since his debut against West Indies in October last year and averages 23.25, and he was part of India's squad during their home series against Australia this year. But Dinesh Karthik's experience and wicketkeeping had edged him ahead of Pant when the World Cup squad was named.

"It's definitely a case where we have debated at length and all of us in unison felt that either Rishabh Pant or DK [Karthik] will only come into the playing XI if Mahi [Dhoni] is injured," selector MSK Prasad had said of the decision. "If it is a crucial match, like a quarter-final or a semi-final or like an important game, wicketkeeping also matters. So that's the only reason that we went ahead with Karthik. Otherwise Pant was almost there."

On Tuesday, India had opted to retain Dhawan and monitor his recovery rather than name an official replacement for him. He has already been ruled out of the two matches India are scheduled to play later this week: against New Zealand at Trent Bridge on Thursday, and against Pakistan at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Dhawan had travelled to Leeds to consult specialists, where the fracture was ascertained. ESPNcricinfo understands the selectors have got a positive signal from the medical team that Dhawan is likely to be fit to play in the latter half of the tournament, closer to the June 30 match against hosts England.

It is believed that in addition to this week's games, Dhawan will also sit out the Afghanistan match, which will be played in Southampton on June 22 as well as the game against West Indies in Manchester on June 27. He is likely to rest a few days after recovery before he starts batting. It is understood that the selectors don't mind giving Dhawan extra time to recover and ideally want him fit for the England match, which has been built up as probably the biggest contest of the tournament.