Daily Sports News, December, 11th.
Welcome to the Daily Sports News :
- Ian Foster promoted to All Blacks head coach role as successor to Steve Hansen;
- Pakistan v Sri Lanka: Naseem Shah impresses on opening day;
- New England Patriots admit 'unknowingly' illegally filming Cincinnati Bengals game;
- Graeme Smith: Former captain named South Africa acting director of cricket;
- Scotland's Tommy Seymour retires from international duty;
Ian Foster promoted to All Blacks head coach role as successor to Steve Hansen
New Zealand have appointed Ian Foster to coach the All Blacks, replacing Steve Hansen who left the post at the end of the Rugby World Cup.
Foster, 54, served as Hansen's assistant for eight years and saw off competition from Crusaders coach Scott Robertson to earn his promotion.
"I feel truly privileged and honoured to be given this opportunity," he said.
Warren Gatland and Joe Schmidt, former Wales and Ireland coaches respectively, had been linked with the job.
Dave Rennie, who will leave Glasgow to take up the head coach role with Australia in July, and Jamie Joseph, who committed to leading Japan to another World Cup, had also been suggested as possible replacements for Hansen.
Pakistan v Sri Lanka: Naseem Shah impresses on opening day
Pakistan enjoyed a good day with the ball as Test cricket returned to the country for the first time since 2009.
Sri Lanka, who were the visitors when a terror attack led to the suspension of all international cricket in Pakistan, closed the opening day of the first Test in Rawalpindi on 202-5.
That was a recovery for the tourists, who had lost four wickets for 31 runs in slipping to 127-4.
Pakistan's bowling attack was led by 16-year-old Naseem Shah, who took 2-51.
Shah, who is playing in only his second Test and was just six years old when Test cricket was last held in Pakistan, bowled with plenty of pace and was rewarded when opener Oshada Fernando edged to first slip, before returning late in the day to remove Angelo Mathews.
New England Patriots admit 'unknowingly' illegally filming Cincinnati Bengals game
The New England Patriots admit "unknowingly violating" NFL rules by filming the Cincinnati Bengals in their game against the Cleveland Browns.
The Super Bowl champions said the footage of the field and the Bengals sideline was for a profile of a team scout for their 'Do Your Job' series.
Despite getting filming credentials from home side Cleveland, the Patriots failed to tell the NFL and the Bengals.
The Patriots were severely punished for illegal filming in 2007.
The 'spy-gate' affair saw the Patriots and head coach Bill Belichick heavily fined and the team lost their first-round draft pick after they were caught recording the New York Jets' defensive coaches' signals from an unauthorized location during a match.
The Patriots said the production crew who were filming from the press box at the Browns-Bengals game had "inappropriately filmed the field" but that football staff had no involvement.
Graeme Smith: Former captain named South Africa acting director of cricket
South Africa have appointed former captain Graeme Smith as acting director of cricket for three months, taking in England's four-match Test series starting later this month.
Smith will take charge until the Indian Premier League starts in March, where he will take up a commentary position.
The 38-year-old initially withdrew his application for the role last month.
"I'm still as passionate about South African cricket as I ever was," said Smith.
"I'm looking forward to getting stuck into the role. I've publicly stated a number of times that I would love to assist CSA in this difficult time, particularly in developing this new role of director of cricket."
Scotland's Tommy Seymour retires from international duty
Glasgow Warriors back Tommy Seymour has announced he is retiring from Scotland duty after earning 55 caps on what he describes as "an amazing journey".
The Nashville-born 31-year-old is the second member of this summer's World Cup squad to make such a decision.
Edinburgh's John Barclay called it a day earlier this month after 76 caps.
"The pride from wearing the thistle on my chest is one of the most powerful feelings I've experienced," Seymour said on Twitter.