in germany, explaining the floods in germany, but actually, these big wavy patterns, you do not tend to get much day—to—day change. uk underneath this ridge, descending down towards the ground, it collects, so our weather is related to what is going on in germany, the flip side of the same coin. we will keep that dry weather from the next few days, thanks to the high pressure staying around our shores. tonight, a bit cloudy for scotland and northern ireland, bit of patchy cloud running into east anglia and south—east england, but should be a bit less extensive. quite a one night for sleeping, 15 celsius your overnight lows in both belfast and liverpool, but this high—pressure is going nowhere very far very fast. we do have weak weather fronts toppling around the top side of it, bringing thicker cloud to northern and western scotland, weather could be the odd bit of rain. but by and large, a sunny day. 2a celsius in aberdeen, up to 23 for belfast, but some 26s for birmingham, cardiff,

and london. more of the same heading into the weekend, potentially the odd patch of rain in the western isles, highland, orkney and shetland, but otherwise dry it with lots of sunshine, continuing to get a bit warm as well. temperatures, we are up to 25 in aberdeen at this stage of the weekend. further south, 28 for cardiff and for london. and if anything, it gets hotter still as we head into sunday, when temperatures could peak at around 30 celsius across parts of the cell. at the same time, looks like we might well see some fresh air moving into scotland, temperatures easily little here, but still warm in the sunshine. for most of us, a fine weekend on the cards. a reminder of our top story. dozens of people have died in germany and belgium after record rainfall causes flooding across parts of western europe. dozens are still missing.

hello, welcome to sportsday — i'm austin halewood, coming up this evening. it's back and so with the fans. after two years away the hundred and 49 open championship is under way at royal st. george's. george's. leaving the rest behind... it's another stage win for tarday pog—archer — he takes another big step towards defending his tour de france title. and the rugby league world cup will go ahead but will the reigning champions be there? good evening, welcome to sportsday. after two years of waiting, the 149th open championship is underway at royal st george's in

kent. as the first round closes in its south african louis 0osthuizen. 0ur reporter ben croucher is at the course for us. ben, we've heard the horror stories of the course in the build—up — the huge bunkers, the heavy rough — but even with all that, there's been some great scoring out there today. they made a mockery of this course. it's been a glorious day here in sandwich on the kent coast. the wind is been blown, the sun is been baking the course. the early starters really enjoyed it and front and centre of all of that is the first round leader in the clubhouse louis 0osthuizen. the south african 20 - louis 0osthuizen. the south african 20 — ten shot a brilliant round of 64th to see it on six underpar. he described as the perfect round, made

five birdies in seven holes. that leaves him a shot clear of spieth and harmon. 0ne leaves him a shot clear of spieth and harmon. one of the english contingent? that hasn't been an english winner on the open for nearly 30 years. that hasn't been an english winner in the open in england since 1969. there was a quartet sitting on three under par at the minute. that's sullivan, willett, rose and seen. you may be forgiven for never hearing a jack senior. 0nly forgiven for never hearing a jack senior. only qualified for the scottish open last week. he was ranked 353 in the world at the time. but he made a fine bogey 367 today. if you were to pull off a miraculous win on sunday which is not unheard of in st. george's he will be doing it on his 33rd birthday. that of in st. george's he will be doing it on his 33rd birthday.— it on his 33rd birthday. that really would be special. _ it on his 33rd birthday. that really would be special. still— it on his 33rd birthday. that really would be special. still plenty - it on his 33rd birthday. that really would be special. still plenty of. would be special. still plenty of players out there on the course at the moment rory mcilroy one of them. we know it was heartbreak for him

two years ago he didn't make the cut. ., , ., ., ., , cut. how is he getting on today? it looks like it _ cut. how is he getting on today? it looks like it could _ cut. how is he getting on today? it looks like it could be _ cut. how is he getting on today? it looks like it could be another- looks like it could be another difficult weekend at fort rory mcilroy. he will be battling just to make the cut. started off really well with a birdie but things started to unravel. he made three straight bogeys through five, six and seven and that leaves him on two over par with seven holes still to play of his first round. this is a trend we've seen from rory mcilroy since he won his last major title backin since he won his last major title back in 2014. he doesn't start the majors very always leaves himself too much work to do and 78 shots off the lead at the moment. that is going to be a real battle just to make the cut again. if we take a look at that leaderboard louis 0osthuizen sitting out in front on six under par and a fine cattle at four under par including the south african and hughes of canada and stewart sink as well a another form

of open champion. there is 69 players level par or better. while we have had traffic incisions in the afternoon with the greens being a little bit drier and firmer and the wind swirling a little bit more the players really had demonstrated that you can play links golf in some of these tough conditions. {131 you can play links golf in some of these tough conditions. of course it's been great — these tough conditions. of course it's been great to _ these tough conditions. of course it's been great to see _ these tough conditions. of course it's been great to see fans - these tough conditions. of course it's been great to see fans back. it's been great to see fans back there today. they waited for two years for the open to return. what years for the open to return. what has gotten — years for the open to return. what has gotten them _ years for the open to return. what has gotten them excited _ years for the open to return. wnat has gotten them excited today? 32,000 of them allowed in each day here royal st. george's. 0ne 32,000 of them allowed in each day here royal st. george's. one of the governments test events. got very excited on the 16th when he nearly made a hole in one and then the very next hole only went and drained this shot from the middle of the fairway for in eagle two. that has left them onto underpar. if you want a sense ofjust how busy this course is been, its not been full capacity of

course around 32,000 coming in today, they have all been following rory mcilroy and the likes of tommy fleetwood and nicholson. they are way over on the far side of the court. we are here on the second, there are thousands still here watching rory mcilroy and fleetwood to finish this evening. great watching rory mcilroy and fleetwood to finish this evening.— to finish this evening. great to have the open _ to finish this evening. great to have the open back. _ to finish this evening. great to have the open back. thank- to finish this evening. great to | have the open back. thank you to finish this evening. great to - have the open back. thank you very much. after months of speculation, it's been announced today that the rugby league world cup in england will go ahead, as planned, this october. for the first time ever, the men's, women's and wheelchair competitions will take place at the same time, with the finals at old trafford in november. but australia — the holders of the mens and womens title have yet to sign up. well our reporter tulsen tollett, a former rugby league player himself, joins me now. tulsen, why haven't the australians signed up yet? i think they are taking a pragmatic approach. what happened in the past

week or so in greater city area and in victoria has meant that clubs are having to relocate to queens land when they are apparently covid free at the moment. the next month or so is going to play in queens land. there's three or dozen or so teams from either victoria or new south wales who are having to relocate up to the queensland state which means that the game is can be played up there. families can go with them. after this with the fact that you've also got a situation where if players are then having to go away for that and then they are coming back and then they're going away and have to possibly go back again for quarantine perhaps before christmas. i guess they're looking from it a mental health point of view as well whether it's feasible for the travels to the next players to travels to the next players to travel at the year. for those who perhaps don't follow rugby league closely — just how muich has covid impacted the sport? here in the uk it's been very difficult. 0ver here in the uk it's been very difficult. over the past 12 months orso difficult. over the past 12 months or so we've only seen crowds come

back to the sport. what happened with the table is because games haven't been able to be played we haven't been able to be played we have twice now had the whole derby which is been postponed because of covert outbreak. with the system thatis covert outbreak. with the system that is in place it means that the are not necessary the team at the top of play as many games as the team who are in third orfourth place. it's very difficult for the situation at the moment to resolve itself because of these covert outbreak. we've got 40,000 cases a day in the uk which is happening for they don't have as many in australia but they've been covid free for a long period of time, pretty much. everyone is trying to work in the best possible situation, get the most positive outcome out of it as we can. ., , most positive outcome out of it as we can. . , , ., most positive outcome out of it as wecan. . , , ., we can. certainly been a sport hard-hit _ well let's bring injon dutton now who's the chief executive of the 2021 rugby league world cup — john, thanks forjoining us. we'll come on to australia in a moment but first how much in of a relief has it been today to announce that you are going ahead as planned?

high put up absolutely. today marks the da to high put up absolutely. today marks the day to go _ high put up absolutely. today marks the day to go into _ high put up absolutely. today marks the day to go into the _ high put up absolutely. today marks the day to go into the men's - high put up absolutely. today marks the day to go into the men's and - the day to go into the men's and women's — the day to go into the men's and women's meet together for the first time _ women's meet together for the first time we _ women's meet together for the first time. we back in 2015 and we have had to— time. we back in 2015 and we have had to contend with the pandemic which _ had to contend with the pandemic which wasn't part of anybody's plan at the _ which wasn't part of anybody's plan at the start. it's a big day for us today — at the start. it's a big day for us today. you're absolutely right about the challenges that we continue to face _ the challenges that we continue to face as_ the challenges that we continue to face. as have all stores over the past _ face. as have all stores over the past many— face. as have all stores over the past many months. you face. as have all stores over the past many months.— face. as have all stores over the past many months. you talk about challenaes past many months. you talk about challenges and _ past many months. you talk about challenges and what _ past many months. you talk about challenges and what people - past many months. you talk about challenges and what people are i challenges and what people are faced, how confident are you that the australians will come? taste faced, how confident are you that the australians will come? we are confident. you're _ the australians will come? we are confident. you're absolutely - the australians will come? we are confident. you're absolutely right| confident. you're absolutely right about _ confident. you're absolutely right about the — confident. you're absolutely right about the competition moving to queens — about the competition moving to queens land. two or three games were relocated _ queens land. two or three games were relocated and the difference arriving _ relocated and the difference arriving in australia compared to here _ arriving in australia compared to here in— arriving in australia compared to here in the — arriving in australia compared to here in the uk. with the ushering commissions, the players association to each— commissions, the players association to each and _ commissions, the players association to each and everyone about competing nations _ to each and everyone about competing nations. that's why we made the

decision, — nations. that's why we made the decision, made the announcement today— decision, made the announcement today with — decision, made the announcement today with great confidence. very cautiously — today with great confidence. very cautiously we still have work to do. and we _ cautiously we still have work to do. and we are — cautiously we still have work to do. and we are repaired to take the most extreme _ and we are repaired to take the most extreme measures to make sure this tournament— extreme measures to make sure this tournament can happen in october and novemben _ tournament can happen in october and november. , ., , ., , _, november. john, is a very confident that the australians _ november. john, is a very confident that the australians will _ november. john, is a very confident that the australians will come - november. john, is a very confident that the australians will come overl that the australians will come over but if they don't, from a credibility point of view can the tournament so go ahead? yes. credibility point of view can the tournament so go ahead? yes, the tournament — tournament so go ahead? yes, the tournament can _ tournament so go ahead? yes, the tournament can go _ tournament so go ahead? yes, the tournament can go ahead. - tournament so go ahead? yes, the i tournament can go ahead. obviously not having _ tournament can go ahead. obviously not having as many men's and women's world _ not having as many men's and women's world champion will be a blow to the sport _ world champion will be a blow to the sport but _ world champion will be a blow to the sport. but we are confident that we can work— sport. but we are confident that we can work through the issues. this is about— can work through the issues. this is about giving — can work through the issues. this is about giving the players a voice. we know _ about giving the players a voice. we know how _ about giving the players a voice. we know how important it is for players to play— know how important it is for players to play for— know how important it is for players to play for the national team. it doesn't — to play for the national team. it doesn't happen often enough in rugby league _ doesn't happen often enough in rugby league. we start 2017 two players play for _ league. we start 2017 two players play for tonga who made the semifinals and did an incredible journev — semifinals and did an incredible journey. ultimately this will be a ballplayer choice. we need to create

the safest _ ballplayer choice. we need to create the safest possible environment and work very— the safest possible environment and work very hard to do that.- work very hard to do that. assuming it does no work very hard to do that. assuming it does go ahead _ work very hard to do that. assuming it does go ahead and _ work very hard to do that. assuming it does go ahead and everything - work very hard to do that. assuming it does go ahead and everything find what contingencies do you have it in place if there is a covert outbreak was mike we know the super league table that things are done are percentage basis. surely they can help to admit happen?— percentage basis. surely they can help to admit happen? note: we will have a different _ help to admit happen? note: we will have a different environment - help to admit happen? note: we will have a different environment we - help to admit happen? note: we will have a different environment we willj have a different environment we will have a different environment we will have a _ have a different environment we will have a hyper secure environment. at the moment— have a hyper secure environment. at the moment to leap players are in the moment to leap players are in the locai— the moment to leap players are in the local communities go shopping and taking the children to school. they— and taking the children to school. they are — and taking the children to school. they are not contracting the virus by playing — they are not contracting the virus by playing rugby league. a safety net around it, we learned a lot from sports _ net around it, we learned a lot from sports what's happening in cricket, what _ sports what's happening in cricket, what happened at wilmington and also noticing _ what happened at wilmington and also noticing other teams are coming over here in— noticing other teams are coming over here in autumn. a big learning exercise — here in autumn. a big learning exercise. talking to the very best health _ exercise. talking to the very best health experts in making sure we not only get— health experts in making sure we not only get to _ health experts in making sure we not only get to the starting line but we can get— only get to the starting line but we can get to — only get to the starting line but we can get to the finish in every nation — can get to the finish in every nation has the option to play in that workout.

defending champion tadej pogacar has taken another big step towards the defence of his tour de france title. the slovenian won stage 18 — the last mountainous stage in the pyrenees — to extend his overall race lead 5 minutes and 45 seconds. to remain in yellow with just three stages to go, as drew savage reports. the competition has done everything they could to try and beat them but nothing was going to take the yellow jersey off his back. even the combined might of the succeeding leaving behind those lower down the overall standings. as the riders tackled the final mounting in this years tour. including cavendish but he did what he needed to. finished within the current time so we can challenge tomorrow for a 30 for stage when on the flat. those were hoping for more twists and turns in the battle for the yellow jersey were going to end up disappointed. but they got another mounting master class champion at the edge ofjust 22 the slovenian has made this

racism. then they are in second overall and carol pass and ilio sent third a case of deja vu as the catcher rode away. no more mountains for him to conquer with a lead of five minutes and 45 seconds the podium in paris is within touching distance. still to come on sportsday... team gb haved named three captain's to lead their women's football team at the olympics in tokyo with their first match just six days away. and with a capacity crowd back at silverstone lando norris's is determined to impress at his home track. there one weekend that you look forward to more than ever in the whole year. and that is the grand prix because of how much cooler it feels and how special it is. alun wynjones has been named amongst the replacements for the british & irish lions' final warm up game in south africa, against stormers on saturday.

ireland centre robbie henshaw returns from injury while fly—half marcus smith also starts after only being called up at the weekend. it's the return of tour captainjones though that's quite remarkable. he's only flying out to south africa today, after recovering from a dislocated shoulder 18 days ago, in their warm—up game againstjapan. and head coach warren gatland's confirmed he's in contentinent for the first test a week on saturday. we feel if he is going to put himself in potentially needs 20 minutes so we had that conversation with him about, he travelled in a ride today. but you know, if he's in contention for next week you need to have around. we need to head out for him. that is why we wanted him to have everything open for other players that have been doubling up a bit so they get an opportunity to freshen up. hat

bit so they get an opportunity to freshen oo—