Well, after much debate and speculation, the NRL announced today that rules around the kick-off will not be changed ahead of the 2026 season.

Last November, the Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) proposed that when a team scores, the other team should be able to choose to receive the ball instead of kicking it back.

ARLC chair Peter V’landys said: “While there was initial support for the kick-off proposal, stakeholders raised legitimate concerns”.

27 
The number of runs by which Australia lost to England in the u19 Cricket World Cup semi-final. Despite a century from captain Oliver Peake, England proved too strong for the Aussies, and will go on to face either India or Afghanistan in the final this week.

"All of my experience in my life has given me a lot of confidence in what my body can and cannot do... even though I don't want to be in this position, I know how to be in this position and I can handle it." 
American Alpine ski racer Lindsey Vonn at a press conference announcing she still plans to compete in the Winter Olympics despite tearing her ACL. Vonn retired in 2019 but returned to the sport in 2024 after a knee replacement. The 41-year-old is a three-time Olympic medallist (one gold, two bronze) and one of the most decorated skiers of all time.

On this day in 1997, former NFL player O.J. Simpson was found liable for the deaths of Ron Goldman and Nicole Simpson in a civil court action. Simpson was acquitted of murder charges in 1995. 

⛳ Players in the Saudi-backed LIV Golf will receive world ranking points for the first time this season. The decision, made by the board of Official Golf World Ranking (OWGR), gives the breakaway LIV Golf limited recognition. Only the top 10 finishers at each LIV event will receive points, and winners are expected to earn far fewer points than they would on the PGA Tour. LIV welcomed the move but criticised the cutoff, saying: "No other competitive tour or league in OWGR history has been subjected to such a restriction. We expect this is merely a first step toward a structure that fully and fairly serves the players, the fans, and the future of the sport."

🏀 The Southside Melbourne Flyers have locked in a WNBL finals spot with an 82-75 win over the Canberra Capitals in a do-or-die match for both teams in Canberra. After a slow start and an ankle injury to Nya Lok, the Flyers steadied through Isabelle Bourne, who recorded 22 points, while Maddy Rocci added 17 points and 10 assists. Captain Cayla George also chipped in with a double-double as Southside pulled away late, ending Canberra’s finals hopes with one round left in the regular season.

⛷️ Australian freestyle skier Laura Peel’s bid for a first Olympic medal is in doubt after the two-time world champion injured her knee at a training camp in Switzerland. The 36-year-old was hurt on Monday and has since undergone scans, with Australian team officials saying the next steps will be determined once treatment begins. Peel, a three-time Olympian who finished fifth in Beijing in 2022, arrived in Europe in strong form after winning gold in the women’s aerials at a World Cup event in Canada last month.

Super Bowl Monday: the biggest show of the year

Expect huge plays, clutch moments, and a halftime show (hello, Bad Bunny) that everyone will be talking about. 

This year, there’s another first: the Super Bowl is streaming on ESPN on Disney+. Tune in Monday, 9 Feb from 10:30am AEDT. 

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Jack Doohan has found his next home in Formula 1, joining Haas as its reserve driver.

It follows his mid-season split from Alpine last year.

Haas has signed the 23-year-old Australian, son of MotoGP legend Mick Doohan, as a reserve driver for 2026. Doohan will work alongside Ryo Hirakawa and support full-time drivers Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman.

Doohan debuted in F1 with French racing outfit Alpine in late 2024, leaving the team last month. He started the 2025 season as one of Alpine’s top two drivers but was demoted after six races that year and spent the remainder of the season as a reserve driver. Alpine replaced him with Argentina’s Franco Colapinto, who is staying on as a driver this year. 

Doohan said in a media release: “It’s the ideal place to continue my Formula 1 career. I would like to thank the team for giving me the opportunity to grow and take on the great challenge of 2026 together. I’m eager to begin working with the team and collaborating on a successful season.”

Haas Team Principal Ayao Komatsu said: “The dedication required to remain sharp and prepared to race while getting to know how the team works [is] challenging for any driver… we’re looking forward to welcoming him into the team and benefitting from his contributions.”

The F1 season starts with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on 8 March.

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The issue of Russia’s participation in major sporting competitions is back in the headlines after comments made by senior figures at FIFA, international football’s governing body, and the International Olympic Committee this week.

FIFA and UEFA suspended Russia and Belarus in 2022 following the invasion of Ukraine. 

Earlier this week, FIFA president Gianni Infantino told Sky News that football’s ban on Russia “has not achieved anything” and instead “created more frustration and hatred.”

Infantino added: “We should actually never ban any country from playing football because of the acts of their political leaders… Somebody needs to keep the ties open.”

The 2022 ban means Russian clubs cannot compete in World Cups, the Euros, or qualifying tournaments. The ban also means Russia cannot field a team for the 2026 men’s World Cup and Euro 2028, and Belarus cannot host competitions.

Despite Infantino’s comments, there is no expectation of an immediate change. The Guardian reports opposition within Europe remains strong, and any formal vote by FIFA or UEFA would be unlikely to pass while the war continues.

Ukraine’s sports minister Matvii Bidnyi described Infantino’s comments as “irresponsible”. He said: “They detach football from the reality in which children are being killed.” Bidnyi added that Ukraine estimates Russia has killed more than 650 Ukrainian athletes and coaches, including 100 footballers, since the invasion.

The Ukrainian Association of Football also released a statement in response to Infantino’s comments. Part of it read: “We do not agree with the claim that the ban… is ineffective. We believe that exclusion from participation in competitions is an effective method of pressure on the aggressor. The potential reintegration of any Russian national teams poses a threat to the safety and integrity of competitions.”

In an address to the 145th IOC Congress this week, IOC president Kirsty Coventry said the organisation’s focus was on sport, not politics.

She said: “Our game is sport. That means keeping sport a neutral ground. A place where every athlete can compete freely, without being held back by the politics or divisions of their governments.”

That approach is already in effect. As at the Paris Summer Games, at the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics later this week, around 20 Russian and Belarusian athletes will be allowed to compete as Individual Neutral Athletes, without national flags, anthems or a place in the medal table.

By comparison, more than 200 Russian athletes competed at the Beijing 2022 Winter Games, which took place shortly before Russia invaded Ukraine.

The IOC has also encouraged international federations to allow Russian youth athletes back into competition under their national flag.