Big news from across the Tasman today.

All Blacks coach Scott Robertson has stepped down, with New Zealand Rugby confirming his departure after an internal performance review.

Robertson won 10 of 13 Tests in 2025 but came under mounting pressure after heavy losses to South Africa and England, as well as the All Blacks’ first-ever away defeat to Argentina.

With the 2027 World Cup less than two years away, NZR says both parties agreed it was in the team’s best interests to make a change now.

$1 million
The amount of money won by amateur tennis player Jordan Smith in last night’s One Point Slam at the Australian Open. The ‘One Point Slam’ was first held at last year’s AO and sees amateurs, professionals, and celebrities go head-to-head in a tournament where each match consists of just one point. Smith, a tennis coach at Castle Hill Tennis Academy and former junior national champion, beat Taiwanese women’s professional Joanna Garland in the final. En route to the final, he defeated the likes of two-time defending Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner and dual grand slam women's finalist Amanda Anisimova. 

“We don’t quit. Mum and dad didn’t raise no quitter, so I’m not pulling out now until someone else tells me to pull out, or they drag me out of the race. I’m not stopping.”
Australian motorcycle champion Daniel Sanders, speaking after breaking his collarbone and sternum during the Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia. Sanders, who is the defending champion of the Dakar Rally’s motorcycle race, dropped from first to fourth overall but will continue racing. The Dakar is a multi-day off-road endurance event across desert terrain, widely regarded as one of the toughest races in world sport.

Women were barred from Olympic ski jumping for nearly 90 years. Men’s ski jumping has been part of the Winter Olympics since 1924, but women were not allowed to compete until the event debuted at the 2014 Games in Sochi. It was the last Winter Olympic sport to add a women’s discipline.

🏏 The Brisbane Heat have pulled off a dramatic three-run win over the Hobart Hurricanes to keep their Big Bash finals hopes alive. Hobart were well placed to chase the target of 160 runs set by Brisbane before a late collapse saw them lose four wickets for seven runs. Needing six runs off the final over, the Hurricanes were held to just two runs as bowler Zaman Khan helped the Heat close it out. The result lifts Brisbane into the top four with one game to play against the Sydney Sixers (5th), who are also jostling for one of the four finals spots. 

⚽ Morocco has reached the final of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), edging past Nigeria on penalties in Rabat. After a scoreless 120 minutes, goalkeeper Yassine Bounou starred in the shootout as Morocco won 4–2 to book their first AFCON final since 2004. AFCON is Africa’s major men’s international football tournament, held every two years between national teams across the continent. Morocco, the hosts of this year’s tournament, will now face Senegal in Sunday’s final.

🏃‍♂️ A British runner has been forced to withdraw from one of Britain’s toughest ultramarathons after receiving death threats linked to her fundraising work. Sarah Porter was competing in the 108-mile (173km) Montane Winter Spine Challenger South when organisers removed her on safety grounds and disabled her public tracking. Porter was raising money for Afghan women and girls through her foundation InspiredMinds!. Speaking to The Guardian after her withdrawal, she said: “My immediate feeling was just one of shame really. I was very emotional, just born from the perspective that I really felt like I’d let down the girls that I was running for”.

If you’re the kind of person who checks team lists, debates tactics, or plans weekends around sport…this one’s for you

Deakin University has once again been ranked #1 in the world for Sport Science in the Shanghai Ranking's Global Rankings for 2025. That’s seven times on top, and five years in a row ahead of 300+ universities worldwide.

As a graduate of the Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science you can look forward to a career in in athlete performance, strength and conditioning, rehabilitation, coaching, community health and more.

If turning a passion for sport into a real career sounds good, this is your sign.

Football Australia has appointed former Stan chief executive Martin Kugeler as its new CEO. 

FA’s decision highlights the growing importance of media strategy and commercial growth for the sport.

Here is what to know.

Kugeler will begin the role on 16 February, replacing former boss James Johnson. He has never worked in football administration but brings experience in broadcasting and digital media after more than a decade at Stan, where he helped drive the platform’s expansion into live sport and European football rights. 

He said: “There isn’t a sport in the country that can match the existing domestic and international footprint of football, or the potential for further growth inherent in our game.”

Kugeler’s appointment comes as major Australian broadcast deals approach expiry and FA works to recover from an $8.5 million loss last financial year.

Kugeler steps in ahead of a busy period that includes a home Women’s Asian Cup in March and the Socceroos’ World Cup campaign in June. 

Interim CEO Heather Garriock will shift into a new dual role as deputy CEO and executive director of football, overseeing the technical side of the organisation. 

Enjoying the newsletter?

If you are, why not share the love with your friends? We’d love your help in getting the word out there.

Send them this link to sign up.

With under three days remaining until the main draw of the Australian Open kicks off, there are plenty of Aussie tennis stars around the country either hoping to book their spot or build momentum in the lead-up. 

Here’s what’s been happening in the tennis world this week. 

On the women’s side, Storm Hunter has secured a spot in the Australian Open main draw after beating American Taylor Townsend in the third and final round of qualifying. This week marks the first time the 31-year-old has played at Melbourne Park since rupturing her Achilles in April 2024. 

Maddison Inglis is also playing the final round of qualifying this afternoon after coming from behind to beat American Claire Liu in three sets on her 28th birthday. She is taking on Germany’s Tamara Korpatsch. 

On the men’s side, Dane Sweeny has reached the AO main draw for the second time after winning his third and final qualifying round. Sweeny won two tiebreaks to defeat Italy’s Stefano Travaglia in straight sets (7-6, 7-6).

Aussie Jason Kubler is currently playing Belgium’s Alexander Blockx, hoping to join Sweeny in the main draw. 

Kimberly Birrell is through to the semi-final at the Adelaide International after defeating Romanian Jaqueline Cristian in three sets (5-7, 6-1, 7-5). Later tonight, Australia’s top-ranked women’s player, Maya Joint, will take on the tournament’s third seed, Mirra Andreeva. 

The tournament’s defending champion, Madison Keys, is looking to go back-to-back as she takes on Canadian eighth seed Victoria Mboko in a quarter-final today. Keys is also the reigning Australian Open champion. 

In the men’s draw, Australian Aleksandar Vukic is the last remaining Australian and is playing American second seed Tommy Paul in the quarter-finals this afternoon. 

Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina is the top seed in the men’s draw and will face Polish fifth seed Valentin Vacherot tonight. 

Meanwhile, at the Hobart International, Australia’s Taylah Preston advanced to the quarter-finals of a top-level event for the first time in her career. 

The 20-year-old upset Slovakia’s Rebecca Šramková in straight sets (6-4, 6-1) yesterday. She is facing the 2021 U.S Open champion and top seed Emma Raducanu in the quarter-final today.

You can watch the tennis on 9Now and Stan Sport.