An American man has filed a class action lawsuit against the governing body of U.S. university sports, protesting the influx of Australian punters in college football. 

Michael Loeffler has enlisted the help of at least 200 participants in the class action to stop Australian punters, who are usually ex-Aussie rules players, from joining U.S. colleges in their mid-20s and winning scholarships which he believes should be reserved for high school leavers.

Loeffler told ABC Sport: "It's got to the point where in 2023, 12 out of the 14 [punters] …[in] the number one conference here in college football, were Australian.”

It raises an interesting question. Should you be able to take advantage of the U.S. college system in your mid-20s? Or should those opportunities be left for high-school leavers?

$13 million
The amount NRL five-eighth Dylan Brown will reportedly be paid over ten years at the Newcastle Knights. Brown will see out the rest of this season with the Parramatta Eels before joining the Knights next year. Brown said on his Instagram Stories: “Hello everyone, I have decided to take an opportunity that is best for my family. To the Blue and Gold family… nothing changes. I’m locked in for this year and we have a job to do. Love.”

“The way I consider this, we have cheated. We have tried to cheat the system. That is unacceptable.”
Norwegian Ski Federation general manager Jan-Erik Aalbu addressing reporters, after it was revealed that two Norwegian ski jumpers were using manipulated suits in competition. Marius Lindvik and Johann André Forfang were disqualified from a men’s large hill ski jumping event after their suits were found to have a reinforced thread. Both athletes have denied knowing their suits were changed. 

The record for the longest underwater breath held by an actor on set belongs to Kate Winslet. The British Oscar winner held her breath for seven minutes and 15 seconds in ‘Avatar: The Way of Water’. The previous record was set by Tom Cruise in ‘Mission: Impossible — Rogue Nation’.

Diego Maradona’s former medical team are on trial this week in Argentina for homicide by negligence. Widely regarded as one of the greatest soccer players of all time, Maradona died in November 2020 from heart failure at the age of 60. His medical team has rejected the charges. Maradona is revered by Argentinians for his role in the country’s 1986 World Cup victory.

⚽ Manchester City’s women’s team, which includes Matildas star Mary Fowler, has sacked its coach with less than a week until the side plays a Women’s League Cup final against Chelsea. Gareth Taylor has been sacked and replaced by interim coach Nick Cushing, with the club citing performance-related issues. The club currently sits fourth in the league. Fowler has played for Manchester City since 2022 and has scored 10 goals in 28 matches this season.

🏀 The NBA’s New Orleans Pelicans are set to visit Australia later this year with fixtures against two NBL teams. The NBA and NBL jointly announced that the Pelicans will play Melbourne United and the S.E. Melbourne Phoenix on 3 and 5 October respectively. It will be the first time an NBA team has played a match in Australia. NBL owner and director Larry Kestelman said: "The significance of this announcement for basketball in Australia and the NBL can't be overstated."

Former NRL star Taylan May’s domestic violence charges have been dropped. The development means that the 23-year-old, who played 30 games for the Penrith Panthers in 2021, is now eligible to be signed by a rugby league team again.

May was accused of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and two counts of stalking and intimidation over alleged incidents in April and May of 2024.

The NRL has a no-fault stand-down policy. This means that any player who has been charged with criminal offences that carry a maximum sentence of 11 years or more is banned from playing.

May pleaded not guilty to the charges last year.

On Monday, the charges were withdrawn by prosecutors after both the complainant and a key witness in the case did not appear in court.

Rugby league chairman Peter V’landys said: “Now that there is no pending charge, he’s free to play. The no-fault stand-down policy is always on police charge. The police charges have been dropped. He was stood down until the matter is concluded. It is now concluded. He’s free to play.”

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The most prestigious tennis tournament outside of the four slams is currently underway in the U.S. state of California. Here’s what you need to know about what’s happening at Indian Wells.

Alex de Minaur has sailed into the fourth round of Indian Wells with a straight-sets win over Poland’s world no.22 Hubert Hurkacz. De Minaur is the sole Australian remaining in either the men’s or women’s singles draw. In the Round of 16, he will face Argentinian 25th seed Francisco Cerundolo.

De Minaur and Cerundolo have met once before, in the Round of 32 at this year’s Australian Open. The Aussie won the match in four sets.

The absence of world number one Jannik Sinner, serving a three-month doping ban, has given the other players on tour an opportunity to claim victory at tennis’ “fifth major”.

Novak Djokovic made an early exit from the tournament with a loss in three sets to giant-killer Botic van de Zandschulp. The five-time Indian Wells champion has not made it past the quarterfinals since 2016. Djokovic described Saturday’s loss as “a bad day in the office”.

The tournament’s top seed in Sinner’s absence, Germany’s Alexander Zverev, was also sent home early by a Dutch underdog. Zverev lost in a third-set tiebreak to Tallon Griekspoor in the round of 64.

Carlos Alcaraz is the tournament’s second seed and two-time defending champion. He remains the favourite to win Indian Wells for a third consecutive time after defeating Canada’s Denis Shapovalov today in the third round.

The women’s singles tournament has seen the usual suspects breeze through the early rounds, with most of the top ten seeds all progressing through to the Round of 16.

Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Świątek are the top two seeds and favourites to win the tournament, having not dropped a set so far. Poland’s Świątek is a two-time winner at Indian Wells and the defending champion. Sabalenka’s best result at Indian Wells came in 2023 when she lost to Elena Rybakina in the final. Rybakina is the seventh seed at this year’s tournament and has made a strong start despite some coaching drama earlier this year.

Australia’s top-ranked women’s player, Kimberley Birrell, was knocked out in the second round by Belgium’s 28th seed Elise Mertens.

Play hard, and protect your skin

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Cleanse with the Swisse Skincare Salicylic Acid Daily Balance Cleansing Gel, to wash away sweat and bacteria built up during physical activity. 

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Experience the difference and try the Swisse Balance Skincare range for yourself.