REUTERS SPORTS SCHEDULE AT 6:30 p.m.GMT/2:30 p.m. ET

Here are the top sports stories and upcoming coverage plans for Reuters text service as of 6:30 p.m.GMT/2:30 p.m. ET. For a full schedule of news and events, go to our editorial calendar on Reuters Connect https://www.reutersconnect.com/planning. TOP STORIES

RUGBY-UNION-WORLDCUP-RUS-WSM/ Samoa overcome Russia but must improve to contend in Pool A

KUMAGAYA, Japan - Samoa did little to suggest they could upset either Scotland or Japan for second place in Pool A at the Rugby World Cup after a 34-9 victory over a limited and exhausted Russia team at Kumagaya Rugby Stadium on Tuesday. MOTOR-F1-ALFAROMEO/

Hamilton, Kubica keep points after Alfa appeal rejected LONDON - Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton retained his 65-point lead and Williams kept their sole point of the season when a court rejected on Tuesday an Alfa Romeo appeal against their drivers' German Grand Prix penalties.

TENNIS-WUHAN/ Barty survives scare to advance to Wuhan last-16, Pliskova through

Australia's Ash Barty kept alive her chances of preserving her world number one status at the end of the week after she fought back to beat France's Caroline Garcia 4-6 6-4 6-1 in the second round of the Wuhan Open on Tuesday. UPCOMING

SOCCER SOCCER-ENGLAND-PNE-MCI/REPORT (PIX)

Soccer - England - Carabao Cup - Preston North End v Manchester City We will also wrap the other games .

24 Sep 14:45 ET / 18:45 GMT SOCCER-SPAIN-FCB-VIL/REPORT (PIX)

Soccer - Spain - La Liga - Barcelona v VIllarreal Barcelona host Villarreal in La Liga.

24 Sep 15:00 ET / 19:00 GMT SOCCER-ITALY-BCA-JUV/REPORT (PIX)

Soccer - Italy - Serie A - Brescia v Juventus Titleholders Juventus visit Brescia in a Serie A match

24 Sep 15:00 ET / 19:00 GMT SOCCER-FRANCE-DIJ-OLM/REPORT

Soccer-Ligue 1 wrap Marseille travel to Dijon in Ligue 1. We will wrap the day's action

24 Sep 15:00 ET / 19:00 GMT SOCCER-SPAIN-RCD-ATM/REPORT (PIX)

Soccer - Spain - La Liga - RCD Mallorca v Atletico Madrid Real Mallorca host Atletico Madrid in La Liga.

25 Sep 13:00 ET / 17:00 GMT ATHLETICS

ATHLETICS-WORLD/PREVIEW (PIX) Athletics - World championships preview

Preview of the world athletics championships to be held in Doha from Sept 27 until Oct 6. 25 Sep 23:00 ET / 03:00 GMT

ATHLETICS-IAAF/ (TV) Athletics - 52nd IAAF Congress and news conference Athletics' world governing body - the IAAF - holds various elections at its 52nd congress in Doha. President Sebastian Coe is standing uncontested to be reelected the IAAF president. A news conference will be held at 1030 GMT.

25 Sep 02:00 ET / 06:00 GMT TENNIS

TENNIS-WUHAN/ Tennis - WTA Premier 5 - Wuhan Open Day four of the Wuhan Open - a WTA Premier 5 event.

25 Sep 23:00 ET / 03:00 GMT RUGBY

RUGBY-UNION-WORLDCUP-AUS/ Rugby Union - Rugby World Cup - Australia press conference

Australia hold a press conference ahead of their second World Cup match against Wales. 25 Sep 23:30 ET / 03:30 GMT

RUGBY-UNION-WORLDCUP-ENG-USA/PREVIEW (TV) Rugby Union - Rugby World Cup - England v United States - News conferences & training

England prepare to play the United States in their Rugby World Cup Pool C game in Kobe. 25 Sep

RUGBY-UNION-WORLDCUP-ITA-CAN/PREVIEW Rugby Union - Rugby World Cup - Italy v Canada - News conferences & training

Italy prepare to play Canada in their Rugby World Cup Pool B game in Fukuoka. 25 Sep

RUGBY-UNION-WORLDCUP-FJI-URY/ (PIX) (TV) Rugby Union - Rugby World Cup - Fiji v Uruguay

Fiji play Uruguay in their Rugby World Cup Pool D game in Kamaishi. 25 Sep 01:15 ET / 05:15 GMT

CYCLING CYCLING-WORLD/

Cycling - UCI Road World Championships Harrogate hosts the 2019 UCI Road World Championships. The day's action is the men's individual time trial in which Slovenia's Vuelta winner Primoz Roglic is favourite

25 Sep CRICKET

CRICKET-ENGLAND/ Cricket - English County Championship - Somerset v Essex

Somerset host Essex in a winner-takes-all clash to decide the English Country Championship. Day three from Taunton 25 Sep

NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE FOOTBALL-NFL-GB-PHI

Undefeated Packers ready for wounded Eagles - Field Level Media With injuries piling up, the Philadelphia Eagles have a short week to ready their best shot for the Green Bay Packers on Thursday.

21:00 ET / 01:00 GMT FOOTBALL-NFL-NOTEBOOK

NFL notebook - Field Level Media Wrapping up the day in NFL news and notes.

20:45 p.m. ET / 00:45 GMT

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