It’s been a busy few days in sport on and off the field, from the emergence of a young star, Australian rugby players banned from competing in a new format, and the Aussies having a hard time in Europe’s top soccer leagues.
Newcomers save Victoria against SA
Victoria has beaten the reigning Sheffield Shield champions South Australia on their opener, with 19-year-old Oliver Peak scoring an unbeaten 70 runs.
Chasing 231 runs for victory, Peake, in only his second Sheffield Shield game for Victoria, formed a strong 84-run partnership with Fergus O’Neill.
With the ball, Doug Warren had a career best figures taking 5-69. Both Warren and Peake have played fewer than three Sheffield Shield games for Victoria.
Established names Marcus Harris and Peter Handscomb were bowled out in successive deliveries, Handscomb with a duck and Harris scoring only 13 runs.
Australia bans players from R360
Off the pitch, Australia have joined New Zealand, South Africa and England in banning its players from competing in the new R360 global franchise league.
Players who participate will be ineligible for international selection as outlined in a statement from eight national rugby unions today.
In a joint statement by the unions, they urged players not to join the new competition as it could hurt the sport.
“International rugby and our major competitions remain the financial and cultural engine that sustains every level of the game … from grassroots participation to elite performance,” they wrote.
Founded by Mike Tindall, a former England Rugby World Cup winner, R360 is scheduled to start in 2026 following a Formula 1 format, with weekend events all over the globe.
There is little information available on how the competition will run or how players will be able to fit the competition into their busy schedules.
Aussies off to a rough start in soccer
Arsenal have lost their Women’s Champions League opener to eight-time winners Lyon 2-1.
Matildas Steph Catley, Caitlin Foord and Kyra Cooney-Cross all played for Arsenal, with the latter two coming off the bench as second-half substitutes.
Both of Lyon’s goals came from mistakes. The first was caused by the Gunners goalkeeper passing the ball to a Lyon midfielder outside the penalty box.
The second was an Arsenal midfielder who caught the ball, allowing a Lyon player to score from outside the box with a great finish.
Arsenal’s next game in the Women’s Champions League is next week against S.L. Benfica Women’s in Portugal.
In the men’s game, Nottingham Forrest manager Ange Postecoglou is under mounting pressure as he struggles to get his side out of a poor slump in form. Ange is winless in his first seven games as Forest manager since taking over last month.
Speaking in a press conference after his loss to Newcastle, Ange said, “If people want to make an assessment of me after three-and-a-half weeks in which I’ve had six or seven games, there’s nothing I can do about that.”
Rumours are circulating that Ange could be sacked as soon as the next international break on 11 October, cruel timing considering he took over from Forrest’s previous manager in the last international break in September.
AFL Trade period updates
The AFL trade period is on its third day and was headlined by a blockbuster trade involving three teams.
Brisbane Lions Premiership-winning defender Brandon Starcevich has agreed to join West Coast. Elsewhere, Melbourne player Judd McVee is off to Fremantle in exchange for pick 23 and Sam Flanders to St Kilda, pick seven to Gold Coast.
Rumours are rife about stars Clayton Oliver and Zach Merrett, but with the trade period ending on 15 October, there is still plenty of time for moves to be made.
Photo:
- Aerial View of Soccer Field by Mike found HERE
- Basketball Hoop on Court by Daniel Absi found HERE
- Person Swimming on Body of Water found HERE
All photos used under a Creative Commons license. The images have not been modified.
