National Sports

TORONTO — Mark Anscombe's tenure as Canadian men's rugby coach ended abruptly Thursday when the New Zealander was fired after just 16 months on the job.

Nashville Predators forward Mike Fisher has retired in what he calls the hardest decision he's had to make, leaving the defending Stanley Cup finalists in need of a new captain.

MONTREAL — The signing of Canadian national team midfielder Samuel Piette adds to the growing local flavour on the Montreal Impact. The native of Repentigny, Que.

OTTAWA — With a 1-4-1 record the Redblacks hardly look like a team in position to contend for the East Division, but just three points separate Ottawa from the first place Toronto Argonauts.

EDMONTON — The Edmonton Eskimos' bid to stay perfect in 2017 will be put to the test Friday against the desperate, winless Hamilton Tiger-Cats, given Edmonton must do it while dealing with a tsunami of injuries that has sidelined 15 starters.

WARSAW, Poland — Masked soccer hooligans attacked staff members travelling with an Israeli soccer team following a friendly match in Poland, in what the Israeli Embassy said Thursday was an "anti-Semitic incident.

TORONTO — First in the standings, Toronto FC will also be one of the first MLS teams to experience video review this weekend. Toronto's game at D.C. United and FC Dallas' match in Philadelphia, both 7 p.m.

MONTREAL — World No. 1 Andy Murray is withdrawing from the Rogers Cup, becoming the third player in the top six of the ATP rankings to do so over last two days. Tennis Canada announced Murray's withdrawal Thursday, hours after No.

In the world's current political climate, Mohammed Ahmed has become accustomed to hassles at airport customs counters.

TORONTO — Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova will miss next week's Rogers Cup in Toronto due to an injury. Organizers say she is suffering from "pain in her left forearm." Toronto's Bianca Andreescu will take Sharapova's wild-card spot in the draw.