MEN’S RUGBY LEAGUE: Brisbane Broncos began their NRL title defence with a big 26-0 home defeat against Penrith while last year’s runners-up Melbourne cruised to a 52-4 win over Parramatta. 

Ethan Sanders scored an extra time drop kick to give Canberra a 19-18 golden point win at Manly Warringah, Cronulla stuffed Gold Cast 50-10, NZ Warriors brushed aside Sydney Roosters 42-18 and the Rabbitohs won 40-30 at the Dolphins on Sunday morning.

MEN’S CYCLING: Tadej Pogacar began his new season as he ended the last by storming to victory in Saturday’s Strade Bianche one-day race in Tuscany. 

The Slovenian road race World Champion attacked almost 80kms from the finish line to claim his fourth Strade Bianche title in five years. 

French teenager Paul Seixas was a minute behind in second place with Pogacar’s team-mate Isaac del Toro nine seconds further back in third. 

WOMEN’S FOOTBALL: Eleven different players scored as Bosnia-Herzegovina steamrollered Liechtenstein 13-1 in Saturday’s World Cup qualifying tie. 

Among the other matches Wales brushed aside Montenegro 6-1 at Llanelli, Scotland thumped Luxembourg 7-0 and Ireland suffered a second consecutive defeat after going down 2-1 in the Netherlands. 

Reigning champions Spain saw off Ukraine 3-1, England beat Iceland 2-0 and Northern Ireland lost 1-0 at home to Turkey.

MEN’S RUGBY UNION: Defending champions France eased to a 45-26 win in Scotland to claim the Under 20s Six Nations title with a game to go. 

Ireland are second after their 48-33 victory over Wales, a point ahead of England, who won 37-17 at bottom of the table Italy. 

France will achieve the grand slam with a win over England in La Rochelle next Sunday while Ireland end their campaign against Scotland and Wales meet Italy.