The elite Golden League series could be doubled to 12 meetings next year, taking the lucrative athletics circuit outside Europe with the creation of events in the United States, the Middle East and China.

Four international-class overseas players are among those prevented from joining their new British clubs by visa problems.

A French sailor who was trapped in an air pocket inside his capsized yacht in the freezing, storm-tossed waters of the Southern Ocean for 16 hours was rescued yesterday after a fellow competitor in the round-the-world Vendée Globe race went to his aid.

A full-scale air and sea rescue operation was underway today after a distress call from French competitor Jean le Cam in the Vendée Globe solo round the world race.

Warriors captain Steve Price fought back tears today, as he spoke of the anguish over teammate Sonny Fai, missing after disappearing in the surf at a beach on Auckland's west coast on Sunday.