Chris Jones
BBC rugby reporter

No-one transcended the sport of rugby union quite like Jonah Lomu. Bursting onto the scene of the 1995 World Cup, Lomu was a force of nature, the player of the tournament by some distance. His blend of pace, power and size never before seen.

Despite his health problems, he had been working in the UK during the recent Rugby World Cup, which makes his death all the more shocking.

Quite simply, Lomu was a giant of world rugby. The man who changed the game forever.

Image source, PA

That's almost it from Sportsday. Thanks for sticking with us. On a sad day for sport, allow us to leave you with our rugby reporter Chris Jones's tribute to Jonah Lomu...

Inverness Caledonian Thistle have suspended striker Dani Lopez after an "incident" in an under-20s game.

The 30-year-old Spaniard was sent off after scoring the only goal of the game against St Johnstone's development side.

The club said in a statement it has launched a "full investigation" and will make no comment until that was concluded.

Fifa presidential candidate Prince Ali has told the BBC that he would support the 2018 and 2022 World Cups taking place in Russia and Qatar - with some provisos.

"I think that every country in the world has the right to host the World Cup," he said. "However we have to guarantee that major issues such as human rights and labour laws are implemented."

The Jordanian prince also promised to "unlock the doors and open the windows" if elected Fifa president.

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Widnes Vikings forward Danny Galea has announced his retirement from rugby league with immediate effect.

The 32-year-old Australian joined the club from Canterbury Bulldogs in August 2013 and scored seven tries in 51 Vikings appearances.

"This decision is definitely one of the hardest things I've ever had to do," he told the Widnes club website.

The Houston Rockets have fired coach Kevin McHale, just months after they reached last season's NBA Western Conference final.

The Rockets have made a poor start to this season, with a record of 4-7, including defeats in their last four games.

Assistant JB Bickerstaff will take over on an interim basis.

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England bowlers Steven Finn and Mark Wood could be missing when the touring party for the Test series against South Africa is announced tomorrow, according to the Mirror., external

The paper suggests that the duo will be absent through injury, opening the door for Liam Plunkett, Chris Woakes or Mark Footitt to take the third seamer's spot.

However, all-rounder Ben Stokes will reportedly be fit to play despite sustaining a nasty-looking shoulder injury in the Test series against Pakistan.

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Former West Ham striker Carlton Cole says he's delighted at the prospect of making his debut for Scottish club Celtic.

Cole signed for the Scottish champions last month as a free agent until 2017.

32-year-old Cole told the club's Celtic View: "I can use my experience to help those guys and try to implement that into my game when I'm playing for Celtic."

Andy Murray has criticised the International Tennis Federation for their handling of Aljaz Bedene's Great Britain eligibility appeal.

The British number two previously represented his native Slovenia in the Davis Cup but applied for clearance to play for Britain - only to be told before the Davis Cup final that his hearing had been postponed.

Murray told the BBC: "The fact that he had to go all the way over to Prague just to be told that they hadn't made a decision, I think, is a bit disrespectful towards him.

"I can understand from his side why you would be very frustrated with that."

Everton midfielder Tom Cleverley is set to make a return to first-team action against former club Aston Villa on Saturday.

The midfielder has been out since suffering an ankle injury in August.

Toffees manager Roberto Martinez told the club's website:, external "Tom is fully fit now. He is not far away from being available for the squad."

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Chelsea Ladies are out of the Champions League after falling to a 4-1 aggregate defeat to VfL Wolfsburg Ladies in the last 16.

The Blues lost 2-0 in the second leg in Germany after a stunning 30-yard strike from Vanessa Bernauer and an own goal by Claire Rafferty.

International Cycling Union (UCI) president Brian Cookson says he has confidence in Russian cycling, despite the doping scandal that led to the suspension of the country's athletics federation.

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"I have always had concerns about all nations and all teams in our sport," said Cookson.

"It would be foolish of me to say I didn't have any concerns about any particular geography, any particular country, any particular branch of our sport.

"But I'm confident that the people running the Russian Cycling Federation are trying to do the right thing and I'm sure that if there were any problems there, they would not want to cover them up at all."

Former England centre Jeremy Guscott has been speaking to Radio 5 live about his memories of Jonah Lomu.

Guscott, who came up against Lomu in the 1995 World Cup semi-final, said: "Jonah was inspirational. He was a wonderful man. He was the most exciting rugby player I've ever seen in my life and he brought so many people to the game. He was adored by so many. 

"I have this memory of him doing a swerve and scoring tries, and a lot of those were against England, but they are still wonderful, lovely memories."

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Bristol's Lee Haskins says he has done all the preparation possible ahead of his Las Vegas debut against Randy Caballero.

The 32-year-old will challenge IBF bantamweight world champion Caballero at the Mandalay Bay Hotel on Saturday.

"I have done a lot of fitness, a lot of cardio, a lot of weight-making and everything is on track. It's been great to be out here training with a bit of sun beaming down on me," he said.

He's won titles in the Netherlands, Italy, Spain and France but Zlatan Ibrahimovic appears to have ruled out a late career switch to the Premier League.

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"I think it is too late to come to England. I am very happy in PSG, I have my last six months and let us see what happens afterwards," he said after his double took Sweden to Euro 2016 at the expense of Denmark.

"But I do not know where I will finish my career. Let us wait and see."

Germany and Borussia Monchengladbach winger Patrick Herrmann has decided against having a knee operation in order to preserve his chances of playing at Euro 2016.

Herrmann, who has two caps, tore his cruciate ligament in September.

"The decision has been taken to dispense with an operation," said Herrmann. "So I will now continue on my rehabilitation work for my comeback."

Image source, AP

Just four games into Andy Murray's 6-4 6-1 defeat to Rafa Nadal, he got out some scissors and gave himself an impromptu haircut. You can watch the bizarre footage below. 

He only won three games after that. Comparisons with Samson are already being made...