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Somerset have cancelled the contract of former South Africa seamer Vernon Philander by mutual agreement because of the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

The 34-year-old retired from international duty last winter and signed a Kolpak deal with Somerset, but with no cricket in England before at least 1 July, the decision has been made not to enlist his services this year.

"I would like to thank Vernon and his management team for their understanding of the current situation and we hope one day to see Vernon back wearing Somerset colours," Somerset director of cricket Andy Hurry said.

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Premiership Rugby will seek more detailed guidance from the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport [DCMS] on a return to training procedures and protocols.

They expect more news in the next couple of days but the league's aim is still for a resumption in early July.

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Denmark's top-flight, the Superliga, will resume on 28 May following a suspension of more than two months due to the coronavirus pandemic.

In a statement on Monday, the Danish League Association said the season would re-start without fans in the stadiums, and the campaign is expected to conclude with play-off games on 29 July.

On Monday, Denmark entered its second phase of reopening society after a two-month lockdown.

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Royal Ascot is due to take place behind closed doors from 16-20 June and after today's news from the government that no elite sport will take place in England until at least 1 June, a racecourse spokesperson said: "The BHA and the industry as a whole, through the resumption of racing group, will be discussing the latest governmental advice over the coming days.

"Any update on the prospects of racing’s return will come through that vehicle. Until that time, we can’t comment on specifics such as Royal Ascot."

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Wales Rugby League has proposed matches against England for the "NHS Cup" in a men's and women's rugby league double-header to mark the National Health Service and key workers if the autumn Test schedule is disrupted.

England are due to host Australia in the autumn, with Wales listed to face Ireland and Spain in the European Championships, but the coronavirus pandemic could cast doubts on those games.

More here.

A statement from the England and Wales Cricket Board following today's government announcement that no elite sport will be played - even behind closed doors - before 1 June.

The ECB said last month there would be no cricket before 1 July and in response to today's government decision, said: "The ECB will monitor government guidance and continue its planning accordingly."If and when appropriate, we will announce our return to training protocols in due course, which will incorporate the implementation of core training principles for our elite players."

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The Lawn Tennis Association has issued a statement following the government announcement that no professional sport will be permitted before at least 1 June.

"Following further clarifications we have received from government, tennis activity in England will be able to take place outdoors from Wednesday with singles play only, other than where players are all from the same household in which case they can play doubles," the update on the LTA website, external said.

"We're finalising full guidance for players, coaches and venues and aim to share this as soon as possible via our website."

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Britain's Geraint Thomas is also in France, having travelled on Monday where he and Team Ineos will be allowed to train on the roads as they continue preparations for the Tour de France, which has been rescheduled to begin on 29 August.

The 33-year-old, who won the Tour de France in 2018, posted a picture of himself on his Instagram page, external in Monday, wearing a mask and waiting to depart.

Sport was able to return in France behind closed doors on Monday, however, in the form of horseracing and French Derby winner Sottsass was only fourth as Shaman won the Group Two Prix d’Harcourt at ParisLongchamp.

The Jean-Claude Rouget-trained Sottsass never looked like troubling Shaman, who benefited from a fine front-running ride by Maxime Guyon.

Lyon have criticised the decision to end the Ligue 1 season and believe "French football is currently moving in the wrong direction".

The decision to cut short the 2019-20 campaign was made last month, with Paris St Germain declared champions, after French authorities decided no major team sporting events could be held until at least September because of coronavirus.

Lyon insisted it was "quite possible to envisage another scenario allowing the championship to end in August, for example with a play-off system, subject of course to the development of the health situation and while respecting the instructions given by the government.

"Olympique Lyonnais continues to think that French football is currently moving in the wrong direction but that it may not be too late to try to imagine, in the light of what is happening everywhere in Europe, something that is coherent in political, health and sport terms."

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Rotherham chairman Tony Stewart expects a decision to be made on the fate of the League One and League Two seasons by Thursday and would be "amazed" if they are not cancelled.

Football League chiefs are due to meet later this week and Stewart, whose team were second in League One when football was suspended in March, said: "We need a decision, we need to get some direction.

"I have got doubts, it will be very difficult to re-start. I don’t see League One and League Two starting.

"I would be amazed. They are talking about mid-June, we are talking about just weeks that we have got to prepare for it.

"I don’t think there is the time to get it organised and together. But if instruction comes we have to do what we have to do."

More on the breaking news that the UK government has announced there will be no professional sport, even behind closed doors, in England until 1 June at the earliest.

The government has published a 50-page guidance document detailing how England will begin to ease lockdown measures.

Step two of that plan - which will not be allowed to start before 1 June - includes "permitting cultural and sporting events to take place behind closed doors for broadcast, while avoiding the risk of large-scale social contact".

The document states that reopening venues that attract large crowds such as sports stadia "may only be fully possible significantly later depending on the reduction in numbers of infections".

Developing story.

Chairman of Tranmere Rovers, Mark Palios, tells BBC Breakfast the economic reality is starting to dawn on all parties within football.

The British government says there will be no professional sport, even behind closed doors, in England until at least 1 June.

Batwan made a late charge to win the Prix de Saint-Georges at ParisLongchamp as French racing resumed on Monday following the coronavirus shutdown.

The sport had been hold since March and despite a last-minute threat to the action on Friday, the authorities gave the go-ahead for France Galop to restart racing behind closed doors.

Sestilio Jet was bidding to defend his title in the Group Three heat, but he was under pressure some way out as Batwan, who finished second last year, was settled in third through the early stages.

Maxime Guyon's mount hit the front inside the final furlong, edging in front at the line to win on his first outing in an exactly a year.

BBC Radio 5 Live

More from Leyton Orient captain Jobi McAnuff's interview with BBC Radio 5 Live this morning on his concerns for players.

"Of course the players are going to be at risk but if they are in households where they have got grandparents or aunties and uncles, their parents, brothers and sisters who may be more susceptible to critical illness or even high risk of death, then clearly that is going to be a factor in decisions for these guys.

"You might be walking around symptom-free as a young fit healthy footballer and potentially you could pass it onto someone who’s a lot more vulnerable than you and it's a horrible situation to put the players in, that's for sure."

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England Golf have released an updated statement following Sunday's night's advice from the Government.

"England Golf is lobbying government today [Monday] in order to publish the best operational guidance for our clubs and golfers ahead of Wednesday’s return to play," it said in a statement.

"We will communicate guidance after our discussions with government and other industry partners as soon as it is practicable. We appreciate your patience and understanding at this time."

Shadow Sports Minister Alison McGovern has sent the Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston 20 questions about the Premier League's plans for Project Restart.

She asks for greater transparency around medical protocols, safety, measures if there are positive tests for COVID-19 and potential ticket refunds for fans.

In the letter McGovern says: "The public will rightly wish the Government to be open about its plans. Especially given ongoing questions around the advice given to Premier League clubs by the Government in the days before the current restrictions were put in place.

"Football supporters want this year’s Premier League completed. But doing so without proper regard for the health imperative is unlikely to be successful. I trust that you will provide information that will reassure fans that Project Restart will succeed. These questions are designed to build trust and confidence."

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Hot favourite Victor Ludorum suffered a shock defeat as outsider The Summit secured a front-running victory in the Prix de Fontainebleau at ParisLongchamp on the first day of French racing's return from coronavirus.

Victor Ludorum was last seen when winning the Group One Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere last October and was expected to cement his Classic claims in this trial for the French 2000 Guineas over a mile.

But the favourite was only third and was immediately pushed out to 7-2 from 7-4 for the French Guineas.

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Manchester City defender Kyle Walker has written to some of the club’s supporters to apologise for twice flouting COVID-19 lockdown rules.

Walker received at least one message personally and others via City from fans expressing their displeasure at his actions.

The 29-year-old, who put a detailed message on social media on Friday evening outlining what he felt was harassment by the media, felt compelled to get in touch with a number of supporters after accepting his actions were wrong.

He is understood to have said sorry, told them it won’t happen again and, in one instance, sent a match-worn shirt.

Walker is the subject of an internal investigation after it was revealed he entertained two sex workers at his flat in Cheshire.

He attracted more negative publicity after it was revealed he travelled from to South Yorkshire last week to visit relatives at different addresses, although City are understood not to be contemplating further action against Walker due to the extenuating circumstances surrounding that trip.