HOT TOPICS:
Wade in doubt after training mishap
Peter Lalor, Hyderabad AUSTRALIA is sweating on the health of wicketkeeper Matthew Wade who fractured his cheek at training late yesterday.
OPINION
'The Force had a couple of good years when Matt Giteau was in Perth but it has never looked like reaching the playoffs'
WESTERN Force, which came into the Super Rugby competition eight years ago amid much hope and expectation, does not seem to have made any progress.
'New chief executive Bill Pulver has signalled his intention to establish a third-tier competition'
THE greatest misnomer in Australian rugby is the so-called third-tier competition.
'I have to write a story suggesting my sports editor's man-crush Gareth Bale is the best player in the world'
IT'S probably best to kick this off with a couple of disclaimers. No, I am not stark, raving mad. And I don't support Tottenham Hotspur.
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Slow-starting Tahs wake to quell Rebels
12:23AM Bret Harris NSW Waratahs coach Michael Cheika has won his first game as head coach, but he refused to make any bold predictions about his team.
Exercise is not just to look and feel better. It can also boost IQ and improve sex drive, research says.
Women say their voice has been lacking in the halls of power.
Soccer players face an increased risk of brain damage due to heading the ball.
NRL chief executive Dave Smith was kicking himself upon discovering that he had referred to suspended Canterbury star Ben Barba as "Benji".
Patrick Smith leads our team of award-winning sport columnists providing analysis on the big issues on and off the playing fields.
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MORE SPORT NEWS
'Mind games' no worry for Popovic
Ray Gatt IF the pressure is showing on rookie Western Sydney Wanderers coach Tony Popovic before the Mariners clash, he is doing a great job hiding it.
Game on as SBW locks in contract
Stuart Honeysett and Brent Read THE cloud that hovered over Sonny Bill Williams shifted yesterday when the dual international was cleared to play in the NRL.
Big wet to deny a clash of the titans
Brendan Cormick ARCH-RIVALS All Too Hard and Pierro may not oppose each other this campaign if Sydney's predicted wet weather continues.
Holden stars shine despite major changes
aap DIFFERENT year, same qualifying result in the V8 Supercars for the season-opening Adelaide round.
More than just another dog race
A WEEK AT A TIME: Simon King WHERE'S my picture of Dennis Rodman and Orwellian socialist nightmare Kim Jong-un?
Mourning Tigers to don black armbands
Stuart Honeysett DEVASTATED Wests Tigers players used social media yesterday to pay their respects following the death of Mosese Fotuaika.
Broncos on notice to recapture glory days
Dan Koch WHEN Paul Morgan won the licence for a Brisbane team in the NSWRL in 1988, it was clear the Broncos were going to be different.
Foran fired up by painful exit
Brent Read FIVE months have passed but time has done little to erase the disappointment of last year's finals exit for Manly's Kieran Foran.
Pearson's hurdle in quest for double
AAP OLYMPIC hurdles champion Sally Pearson will be out of action for up to four weeks after injuring a hamstring in training yesterday.
Griffin has faith in discard Prince
Dan Koch FORMER Titans captain Scott Prince's second coming at the Broncos took another step in the right direction yesterday.
Hird defiant on doping crisis
ESSENDON coach James Hird says he will fight for the Bombers' reputation.
On a slow track to purgatory
Gideon Haigh PAUL Reiffel once drolly commented that the periods where he seemed to be rated highest during his career were those when he wasn't playing.
Webber singing in rain
AFP AUSTRALIA'S Mark Webber clocked the best time of the day at a rain-swept Barcelona yesterday.
Kirwan's new-look Blues the real deal
THE Blues served further notice they are a renewed Super Rugby force with a compelling defeat of the Crusaders last night.
United get set with one eye on Real
MAN U must weigh up the prospect of a 15-point league lead against the importance of next week's match with Real Madrid when it hosts Norwich tonight.
Under-20s hold the key to third-tier comp
Bret Harris THE greatest misnomer in Australian rugby is the so-called third-tier competition.
Bale as good as Messi? Ask a Spurs fan
Ray Gatt IT'S probably best to kick this off with a couple of disclaimers. No, I am not stark, raving mad. And I don't support Tottenham Hotspur.
New chief best chance for Force
Mark Ella WESTERN Force, which came into the Super Rugby competition eight years ago amid much hope and expectation, does not seem to have made any progress.
Serena back at the summit
Barry Flatman GREATNESS in sport is a subjective matter. Is it defined by repeated success, dominance over all rivals, or commitment to the spirit of competition?
NRL ratifies Williams' deal
Brent Read SONNY Bill Williams is clear to make his return to rugby league in the Sydney Roosters' season opener against South Sydney next week.
ASADA powers inadequate: Coates
Wayne Smith AUSTRALIAN Olympic Committee boss John Coates has told a Senate committee hearing that Australia has to intensify the fight against drug cheats.
Australia ponders unchanged line-up
Peter Lalor AUSTRALIA is prepared to take an unchanged line-up into the second cricket Test in Hyderabad.
Prince wins battle for pivot role
COACH Anthony Griffin has preferred new arrival Scott Prince over Corey Norman at five-eighth for Brisbane's NRL season-opener against Manly.
Rodman tells Kim he has 'a friend for life'
EX-NBA star Dennis Rodman has hung out with Kim Jong Un in Pyongyang, watching basketball with North Korea's leader and dining at his palace.
Wests Tigers mourn young player
WESTS Tigers players are being offered counselling as the NRL club comes to grips with the sudden death of promising front-rower Mosese Fotuaika.
Villegas in from the cold
AN eagle at the par-5 18th lifted Camilo Villegas to a one-stroke first-round lead at the Honda Classic, scene of the Colombian's last US PGA Tour win in 2010.
Renowned cricket author and commentator Gideon Haigh opens the batting in his exclusive cricket blog, Cuts & Glances.
On a slow track to purgatory
PAUL Reiffel once drolly commented that the periods where he seemed to be rated highest during his career were those when he wasn't playing.
Reds stage great escape to avoid a Caning
THE Reds scored one of the luckiest wins as they escaped from a mistake-riddled clash with the Hurricanes with an 18-12 victory at Suncorp last night.
Hird defiant on doping crisis
ESSENDON coach James Hird says he will fight for the Bombers' reputation.
Game on as SBW locks in contract
THE cloud that hovered over Sonny Bill Williams shifted yesterday when the dual international was cleared to play in the NRL.
Late run to finals tipped for Victory
VICTORY looks to end a run of three losses.
Premier League with The Times
Benitez can live only for the moment
11:18AM Matt Dickinson AT Chelsea, they are back to briefing by the hour. The long term is tomorrow.
ABOUT THIS SECTION
OUR TEAM
Wally Mason
Sports Editor
Sydney Bureau, Australia
Wally has been a journalist for 35 years. He grew up playing cricket and rugby league, but these days his sporting interests are much wider – reflecting the broad spectrum of sports covered by The Australian.
masonw@theaustralian.com.au
Twitter @walmason
Patrick Smith
Senior Sports commentator
Melbourne Bureau, Australia
Australia’s most respected sports columnist, Patrick writes with authority and wit on a wide range of sports. He has won many major awards for his news breaking, analysis and campaigning journalism.
Wayne Smith
Senior Cricket writer
Brisbane Bureau, Australia
After a long stint as rugby union editor, Wayne joined The Australian's outstanding team of cricket writers in 2007. He first covered cricket in 1971, and is also an experienced swimming writer.
Peter Lalor
Senior cricket writer
Sydney Bureau, Australia
A key member of The Australian’s team of cricket writers, Peter has been a journalist for more than two decades, writing about everything from sport to beer. He has also written several books, including Barassi: The Biography.
lalorp@theaustralian.com.au
Twitter @plalor
Bret Harris
Chief rugby writer
Sydney Bureau, Australia
Bret has had more than three decades of experience covering a wide range of sports. Renowned for his news breaking and in-depth analysis of the game of rugby, Bret has also written several books on the sport.
Brent Read
Senior sports writer
Sydney Bureau, Australia
One of the rising stars of sports journalism in Australia, Brent covers rugby league and golf, writing with authority, wit and enthusiasm. He began his career in sport as a soccer player, playing with the Brisbane Strikers in the NSL.
readb@theaustralian.com.au
Twitter @brentread_7
Nicole Jeffery
Olympics writer
Sydney Bureau, Australia
Nicole has been a journalist for almost three decades and has covered numerous Olympics, Commonwealth Games, world swimming championships, hockey world cups and international track and field events.
nicolejeffery@hotmail.com
Twitter @nicolejeffery
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Each day, our team of award-winning sport reporters and respected columnists provide news, analysis and opinion on the big issues on and off the playing fields across Australia and around the world.
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