German Grand Prix: Hockenheim will host this year’s German Grand Prix in July instead of alternating with the Nuerburgring, Formula One’s commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone told Reuters yesterday. “It’s going to be at Hockenheim, we’re in the middle of doing something with them. It can’t be Nuerburgring because there’s nobody there,” said the 84-year-old Briton. The 20-race 2015 calendar does not currently specify a venue for the July 19 grand prix. The season starts in Australia on March 15.

Tennis: Britain’s Andy Murray will play in the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championship, the organisers of the February tournament said. Murray will join a stellar field including world number one Novak Djokovic and 17-times grand slam champion Roger Federer. The Scot, ranked six in the world, has had mixed fortunes in Dubai, finishing runner-up to Federer in 2012 but suffering quarter-final defeats in two of his three other visits. Djokovic and Federer have won the Dubai title 10 times between them.

Six Nations: France have included uncapped Clermont winger Noa Nakaitaci in a provisional 31-man squad for the Six Nations. Fiji-born Nakaitaci, who was part of the New Zealand tour in 2013 but did not play in a test, has caught the eye of France coach Philippe Saint-Andre with some impressive club form. “He has become an undisputed first choice at (Clermont). He scores tries and makes differences,” Saint-Andre was quoted on Le Figaro’s website.

Golf: Rory McIlroy overcame a slow start to shoot a five-under 67 in the opening round of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship yesterday, three strokes behind leader Martyn Kaymer. McIlroy, who finished second at the UAE capital’s tournament in three of the past four years, ended the day level with playing partner Rickie Fowler who was making his Middle East debut. Despite a first-hole birdie McIlroy, 25, struggled for rhythm on the season opener for many of the European Tour’s prominent players, finding sand as a bogey at his eighth hole left him on par at the turn.