Whitelock OK for Crusaders

Crusaders coach Scott Robertson has confirmed All Blacks lock Sam Whitelock has been cleared to play for the Super Rugby champions in the relaunched competition. Whitelock had been playing in Japan prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, which led to him returning home from his New Zealand Rugbyapproved sabbatical. The two-time Rugby World Cup winner was keen to play for the Crusaders in the Super Rugby Aotearoa competition, and Robertson confirmed yesterday that permission had been granted. ‘‘Sam’s available to play – it’s great to have him back,’’ Robertson said. Whitelock, 31, has played 143 games for the Crusaders since 2010, and captained the team to its recent Super Rugby titles. He made 115 test appearances before being granted leave to play for the Panasonic Wild Knights, coached by former Crusaders and Wallabies coach Robbie Deans.

Penrith face losing superstar halfback Nathan Cleary for the next two NRL games after the integrity unit sensationally came down hard on him for being ‘‘untruthful’’ about his social distancing slip-up on Anzac Day. Panthers team-mate and Cleary’s housemate Tyrone May has also been issued a breach notice and faces a A$15,000 (NZ$16,000) fine and twomatch suspension ahead of the May 28 competition reboot. Cleary landed in hot water last month when images of him partying with a group of young female friends emerged on social media during the Covid lockdown. A day after he was fined by the NRL and described his actions as ‘‘naive’’, Cleary was left red-faced when further footage of him dancing on TikTok with the same group of girls surfaced.