And a happy St. Patrick’s Day to you.

To mark the occasion, here’s a great piece of Irish sporting trivia.

Ireland’s first-ever Olympic medal wasn’t won on a track or field.

It was a silver at the 1924 Paris Olympics, awarded for painting.

The artist was Jack Butler Yeats (brother of Nobel Prize-winning poet William Butler Yeats), and his work, The Liffey Swim, captured one of Ireland’s most iconic sporting events.

€10.75 million ($AU20.2 million).
The total value of the financial sanctions Chelsea Football Club agreed to in a settlement with the Premier League over historical breaches of league rules. The club self-reported incomplete financial information relating to transactions under its previous ownership, leading to fines issued by an independent commission.

"There was no directive or instruction from the AFL to remove or change the reference to the Jewish Community in the script. That script change was made within our Club in a genuine effort to use inclusive language by referring to the ‘whole community’... We acknowledge that was an error of judgement and again we apologise.”
The Sydney Swans in a public statement after the club altered a script for a pre-game acknowledgement of the Bondi terrorist attack to remove a reference to the Jewish community. The club said the decision was made internally and not by the AFL.

Australian basketball star Josh Giddey recorded his 30th career triple-double in the NBA today as he helped the Chicago Bulls to a 132-107 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies. Giddey sits 19th on the all-time list for most triple-doubles in the NBA. A triple-double is when a player records at least double digits of three different statistical categories (e.g. points, rebounds, assists).

🏀 The Opals, Australia’s women’s basketball team, beat Türkiye 77-74 in Istanbul in a pre-World Cup match. Alanna Smith led the team with 18 points and 10 rebounds, while Cayla George added 16 points and Alex Wilson scored 14. Australia held firm in front of a loud Türkiye crowd to close out the win. The Women’s Basketball World Cup will be held in Germany in September. Australia qualified in July 2025 and is competing at a qualifying tournament to secure their seeding at the Cup.

🏉 Australia’s women’s rugby sevens team has fallen to New Zealand by a point in New York, losing 22-21 after leading 21-5 late in the SVNS event final. The Black Ferns scored three tries in the closing minutes to take the tournament title. New Zealand had already secured the regular season crown on day one after topping Pool A and reaching the semi-finals. The next SVNS event is in Hong Kong next month.

🏉 France won the Six Nations championship after beating England 48-46 in Paris over the weekend. The match swung throughout, with both sides trading tries before Thomas Ramos kicked a penalty after the siren to seal the result. England had taken a late lead through Tommy Freeman, but France responded in the final moments to secure the title for the second straight year. The official Six Nations website called it a “match that seemed to defy logic,” and a “chaotic, heart-stopping masterpiece.”

Reporting by Pavitra Ravi.

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Australia faces China tonight in the semi-final clash of the Asian Cup after both teams advanced through tight quarter-finals. Australia defeated North Korea 2-1, while China required extra time to overcome Chinese Taipei (aka Taiwan) 2-0.

Now, the tournament's powerhouses meet, as China chases a 10th title while the Matildas look to win their first Asian Cup title since 2010.

In Australia’s final group stage match, the Matildas drew with South Korea, landing them second in Group A. The result set them up for a quarter finals clash with Group B 2nd-finisher North Korea in Perth, with goals from Alanna Kennedy and Sam Kerr securing the win.

Meanwhile, China’s final group stage match saw the team defeat North Korea to land on top of Group A. In the quarters, China edged Chinese Taipei in extra time with a 94th minute goal from Shao Ziqin.

Former Matildas coach Ante Milicic coaches China.

China has reached the podium in all but one of 15 Asian Cup appearances and has lifted the trophy nine times, but will be without key playmaker Wang Shuang after two yellow cards earned her a suspension.

Australia last faced China in 2024, earning a draw and a win. China has only beaten the Matildas once on Australian soil. The Matildas aim for their first title since 2010 and will be buoyed by a home crowd.

They meet tonight in Perth at 9pm AEDT. You can watch it on Channel 10 and Paramount+.

Reporting by Pavitra Ravi.

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Australian tennis coach and former player Marinko Matosevic has been banned from the sport for four years, for breaching anti-doping rules.

Here’s what to know.

An independent tribunal found Matosevic brokeanti-doping rules five times from 2018 to 2020. Those breaches included blood doping while he was still competing.

Last month, Matosevic told The First Serve he underwent a blood transfusion in Mexico in 2018.. The method increases the number of red blood cells in the body, allowing more oxygen to reach muscles and improving endurance. The practice artificially enhances performance and is strictly prohibited in tennis.

The admission came shortly before a tribunal hearing.

The tribunal also found Matosevic facilitated another player’s blood doping, advised players on how to avoid positive tests, and used and possessed the banned substance clenbuterol.

Independent tribunal chair Michael Heron KC said Matosevic’s actions “went far beyond passive association and constitute intentional participation,” adding that the conduct “strikes at the integrity of the anti-doping framework”.

Matosevic reached a career-high singles ranking of world No.39 in 2013. Known for his aggressive baseline style, he competed regularly on the ATP Tour and represented Australia in the Davis Cup.

He retired from professional tennis in 2018 before becoming a coach.

Anti-doping rules in tennis apply not only to athletes but also to anyone who supports an athlete, such as coaches, trainers, doctors, and agents. Doping investigations often involve people who help athletes obtain banned substances or attempt to avoid detection.

Under the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme, support personnel can be sanctioned if they assist, encourage, facilitate or attempt to cover up doping violations.

In recent years, Matosevic has worked with Australian players Chris O’Connell and Jordan Thompson on the ATP Tour. There is no suggestion either player has breached any anti-doping rules.

Matosevic’s four-year suspension means he cannot play in, coach at, or attend any tennis event authorised by governing bodies such as the ATP, WTA, ITF, or Tennis Australia.

He is also prohibited from working with players in any capacity.

Results and prize money from two ATP Challenger tournaments around the time of the blood doping have been disqualified. His suspension will run until 15 March 2030.

Reporting by George Finlayson.