MEN’S RUGBY UNION: The Nations Championship’s summer fixtures come to a close on Saturday with unbeaten New Zealand and Ireland clashing at Auckland’s Eden Park.

South Africa put their 100 per cent record on the line against Wales, Australia and Italy are both looking for their first win before their match in Perth and Japan are up against France.

Fiji play Scotland at Murrayfield and England take on Argentina in Santiago del Estero.

SPEEDWAY: Scott Nichols top scored with 12+2 points as Ipswich Witches won the last three heats to score a flattering 52-38 victory over Sheffield in Thursday’s Premiership clash.

The Witches also won the super heat to take the aggregate bonus point.

Ryan Douglas bagged 13+1 points as second-placed Leicester eased to a 51-39 win over King’s Lynn in the other midweek meeting. Table-toppers Belle Vue were not in action.

MEN’S DARTS: Luke Littler begins his defence of the World Matchplay title when he takes on Germany’s Niko Springer at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens on Saturday evening.

Last year’s runner-up James Wade starts against Jermaine Wattimena.

Michael van Gerwen, the last player to defend the title back in 2015 when he beat James Wade, faces Norfolk’s Andrew Gilding, with world number two Luke Humphries up against Cameron Menzies.

MEN’S FOOTBALL: Greenock Morton are still looking for their first Scottish League Cup points when they visit Premiership new-boys St Johnstone on Saturday afternoon.

The Lowland League’s Linlithgow Rose face Inverness in the other Group F fixture. Among the other 14 matches the competition’s leading scorers Partick Thistle are at Livingston, Aberdeen play Queen’s Park in Group A and Brechin City take on Stenhousemuir.