Chapeau (or hats off) to Ariarne Titmus on an incredible career.

It’s rare that an athlete can make millions of Australians scream at the television simultaneously as many times as Arnie did…and she’s only 25.

To read what she said, scroll down.

Side note: It was today I learned that chapeau is just the French word for hat (and I’m not ashamed to admit it).

3
The number of balls that NSW batter Sam Konstas faced before he was bowled by Victoria’s Scott Boland. The 20-year-old is vying for a spot as opening batter alongside Usman Khawaja in Australia’s Ashes lineup, but yesterday’s performance could mark a significant blow to his campaign. Konstas made his Test debut for Australia in last year’s Boxing Day Test match against India. Another frontrunner for the spot is veteran Marnus Labuschagne, who scored an impressive 160 runs for Queensland last week. The Sheffield Shield continues today. 

"I've made a decision to retire from competitive swimming. A tough one, but one that I'm really happy with."
Australian Olympic champion Ariarne Titmus announcing her retirement. The 25-year-old ends her swimming career as a four-time Olympic gold medallist. The two-time Olympian announced her retirement via a video posted to Instagram on Thursday morning. In Paris last year, Titmus won the women's 400m freestyle and became the first Australian athlete since Dawn Fraser in 1964 to successfully defend an Olympic title. Regarding her decision, she added: "I've taken this time away from the sport and realised some things in my life that have always been important to me are just a little bit more important to me now than swimming."

Egypt was one of 14 teams set to play in the first-ever FIFA World Cup in 1930, but never made it to Uruguay. The team were supposed to board a ship in Marseille, France, but missed the connection after a storm in the Mediterranean delayed their initial departure.

🏏 England narrowly avoided a major upset at the women’s cricket World Cup after rain denied Pakistan a breakthrough win in Colombo. Pakistan had been at 34 without loss in pursuit of a revised 113-run target when heavy rain ended play, forcing the match to be abandoned and both teams to share the points. England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt admitted her side “weren’t very good today,” while Pakistan’s Fatima Sana said: "I think today is the day that we showed we can beat them, but it was not in our favour." Tonight, Australia take on Bangladesh at 8:30pm. You can watch the Women’s World Cup on Prime Video.

🏀 The Tasmania JackJumpers and Brisbane Bullets both impressed in the NBL’s Ignite Cup, each claiming big wins on Wednesday night. The JackJumpers dominated their home return with an 86-70 victory over the Sydney Kings, led by Tyger Campbell’s 21 points. In Perth, the Bullets snapped a four-game losing streak as Casey Prather and Tyrell Harrison combined for 61 points in a 110-93 upset over the Perth Wildcats.

🏉 The Gold Coast Titans’ new coach, Josh Hannay, has a unique clause in his contract that could see him step aside if Craig Bellamy decides to join the club, according to AAP. Hannay, who signed a three-year deal to replace Des Hasler, reportedly agreed to become Bellamy’s assistant should the Melbourne Storm coach move north in 2027. The Titans have long sought Bellamy, and with family ties to the Gold Coast, they’re hopeful he could one day bring his premiership-winning pedigree to the club.

Need an easier way to celebrate wins – on or off the field?

GroupTogether has you sorted. Their new Bulk eGift Cards make it simple to send 1–1,000 digital gifts in minutes. Perfect for team thank-yous, player rewards or coach appreciation, with no stress or setup.

Each person gets an AnyCard to spend at 100+ Aussie favourites like Rebel, Woolies or endota spa. You can personalise messages, add your club logo and even schedule delivery. Quick, thoughtful and totally fuss-free – GroupTogether makes it easy to reward your team, however big your season or your squad.

R360 has responded to the NRL’s move to ban any players and agents who negotiate with the breakaway league for 10 years. 

The NRL’s announcement came yesterday in response to reports of its stars receiving lucrative offers to join the breakaway rugby union competition proposed to start next year. International rugby union organisations have also instituted similar rules. 

Here’s what to know. 

Yesterday, the Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) announced a 10-year ban from the NRL for players and agents who negotiate or enter into an agreement with a football league not recognised by the ARLC. 

The new rule is targeted at R360, which is reportedly trying to lure some of the NRL’s top stars, including Ryan Papenhuyzen, Cameron Munster, Payne Haas, and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck.

R360 co-chief executive Mark Spoors told media: "History shows that when athletes are offered free choice and given fresh opportunities for them and their families, then threats to those sportsmen and women follow. R360 is about empowering players, giving them, rugby lovers and the next generation of fans opportunities and new platforms to enjoy the sport we love.”

R360 is a proposed global rugby union competition backed by former England international Mike Tindall and a consortium of investors, reportedly including Saudi Arabia. 

It is meant to launch in October 2026, with eight men’s and four women’s teams competing in short, grand prix-style tournaments across major cities worldwide. 

According to the BBC, organisers already have agreements in place with close to 200 men’s players, and several offers have been made to women’s players in the wake of the Women’s Rugby World Cup. Reports suggest that some players could receive up to $2 million per season with R360.

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The 2025 AFL Trade Period wrapped up with high-profile moves, dramatic holdouts, and a few shock last-minute collapses. Here’s what to know.

The AFL Trade Period is a 10-day window after the Grand Final where clubs can officially exchange players and draft picks. It’s a chance for teams to strengthen their squads or move up the draft order before the AFL Draft in November.

This year’s window ran from 6 to 15 October, overlapping with the Free Agency period. Teams used it to strengthen their lists or climb the draft order ahead of the November draft. Free Agency allows players with eight or more years at one club to move. Unrestricted free agents can leave freely, while restricted free agents (usually top earners) can have their offers matched by their current club.

Clubs can trade players, draft picks, or both. Most deals involve two clubs, but trades involving three or four clubs are allowed. A key change this year lets clubs trade draft picks two years in advance, meaning they can now move 2025, 2026 and 2027 selections.

Even after the Trade Period closes, clubs can still sign delisted free agents and trade draft picks up until the Draft, which takes place on 19-20 November.

Melbourne dominated headlines, trading two of its star midfielders, Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver, in a major shake-up. Petracca joined the Gold Coast Suns in exchange for picks 7, 8, and 37 plus future selections, while Oliver moved to Greater Western Sydney for a future third-round pick. 

Gold Coast also added Jamarra Ugle-Hagan from the Western Bulldogs, who thanked his former club on Instagram, saying he had “nothing but gratitude and respect for the Doggies.” Ugle-Hagan was the league’s number one draft pick in 2020 but did not play in 2025 as he dealt with off-field issues.

Sydney pulled off one of the biggest moves in recent memory, landing Carlton’s dual Coleman medallist Charlie Curnow. The Swans gave up three first-round picks and Will Hayward to secure the star forward, continuing their long tradition of recruiting elite goal-kickers (think Buddy Franklin). 

Several major trades fell apart before the deadline, leaving some players to return to their clubs under awkward circumstances. Essendon refused to part with captain Zach Merrett despite Hawthorn’s offer of multiple top picks. 

St Kilda blocked a move for ruckman Rowan Marshall, Brisbane kept Callum Ah Chee despite Adelaide’s push, and North Melbourne rejected Collingwood’s advances for Jy Simpkin. Gold Coast also held firm on rising midfielder Bailey Humphrey.