Rugby Union: England centre Billy Twelvetrees appears to have lost his race to be fit for Saturday’s first Test against New Zealand at Eden Park. Twelvetrees missed training once again yesterday in the final practice session before head coach Stuart Lancaster names his team tonight. The 25-year-old has been nursing an ankle injury sustained on club duty on May 3 and his inability to train this week means he will miss the series opener against the All Blacks.

Cricket: Christchurch’s Hagley Oval will get the first trial of its upgraded facilities ahead of next year’s World Cup with a Boxing Day test match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka. New Zealand’s second-largest city, still recovering from a devastating earthquake in February 2011, will host three pool matches for the Feb. 14-March 29 World Cup, which is being co-hosted by Australia. The venue will host the first of two tests between New Zealand and Sri Lanka, starting on Dec. 26, and then a one-dayer between the sides on Jan. 11.

Golf: Former British Open champion Justin Leonard led a host of big-name players who fought their way through qualifying tournaments for the US Open on Monday. With 10 sectional sites throughout the country, little-known competitors and former champions alike battled for the chance to qualify for the June 12-15 tournament at the Pinehurst No.2 course, North Carolina. The 41-year-old Leonard, who won the 1997 British Open, finished in a three-way tie for the top spot with a 36-hole total of five-under 137. He was joined by South Korean youngster Noh Seung-yul while Britain’s Paul Casey, American Bo Van Pelt and Australians Aaron Baddeley and Robert Allenby were also among the 16 qualifiers from Columbus.