SYDNEY – Over the decade since the New South Wales Waratahs became the last Australian team to win the competition, Super Rugby has contracted dramatically both in geographical spread and size, from a high of 18 teams across four continents in 2017. The 30th season of Super Rugby gets underway this weekend with just 11 teams playing in another new format but hopes that the green shoots of a revival in Australian rugby might bring a bit more of an edge to the competition.

Football Australia acknowledges today’s Not Guilty verdict regarding Sam Kerr and welcomes Sam’s statement. Football Australia will remind Sam Kerr of the “behavioural standards” expected of national team players after the Matildas star was found not guilty of racially aggravated harassment of a police officer. However, while supporting Kerr, FA has not declared whether Kerr, who is currently sidelined with a knee injury, will be stripped of the Matildas captaincy. Kerr’s not guilty verdict on Wednesday morning (AEDT) in a London court stemmed from an incident in which she called a British police officer “f***ing stupid and white” in January 2023. Kerr admitted she was drunk at the time following a night out that led to her vomiting in a taxi and a window in the taxi being smashed.

FIFA suspended the Pakistan Football Federation “with immediate effect” after the recently elected PFF Congress rejected the constitutional amendments proposed by the global football body. The Suspension means Pakistan’s teams barred from participating in international competitions until issue resolved. According to an announcement by the FIFA, the PFF has been suspended with immediate effect due to its failure to adopt a revision of the PFF Constitution that would ensure truly fair and democratic elections and thereby fulfill its obligations as mandated by FIFA as part of the ongoing normalisation process of PFF. “The suspension will only be lifted subject to the PFF Congress approving the version of the PFF Constitution presented by FIFA and the AFC,” said the statement.

The Western Force is thrilled to confirm Jeremy Williams has re-signed for a further two years. The 198cm lock, had a breakout year in 2024, making his international debut in the Wallabies first match of the season against Wales, going on to feature in 10 out of the 13 Tests – remarkably starting on seven occasions. A Wahroonga Tigers junior, Williams made his Super Rugby Pacific debut for the NSW Waratahs in 2021 before joining the Western Force at the end of the 2022 season. It was in Perth where the now 24-year-old enjoyed significant growth both on and off the field, named captain of the squad ahead of the 2024 season. A hard-working, no-nonsense second rower, Williams has a strong set-piece and showed his athleticism when he tip-toed down the sideline to score during the Wallabies’ memorable win over England in London last November. Jeremy Willams Position: Lock Height: 198cm Weight: 113kg Born: 2 December, 2000 Place of birth: Sydney, Australia Test debut: 2024 v Wales in Sydney Wallaby number: 973 Test caps: 10

The Golden Ball Trophy is to be auctioned in Paris at the world-famous Aguttes Auction House on the 6th of June. The unique item encapsulates all of the memories of that dramatic match and Diego’s finest moment – winning the World Cup for Argentina. Speaking on the auction of the trophy Terry Butcher commented:“I would pay 7 million to buy Maradona’s Golden Ball just to destroy it. But joking apart, I would like to say that Maradona is THE best player I’ve ever played against and certainly a contender for the greatest player ever; he really didn’t need to cheat.”“Steve Hodge my England midfield colleague swapped shirts with Maradona after the infamous World Cup Quarter-Final. It sold for over 7 million pounds at auction, that gives an idea of what the Golden Ball will raise.”“As you know, I’m strongly opposed to how VAR has been implemented in football, but it would have changed the headlines from ‘Hand of God’ to ‘Caught Red Handed’!” Butcher and Maradona featured together in the most memorable World Cup match in history, England v Argentina at Mexico ‘86. Maradona scoring his ‘hand of god’ goal and the ‘Goal of the Century’ when he dribbled past the England team including a last-ditch tackle by England captain Butcher. Maradona was presented with the Adidas Golden Ball trophy to recognize him as best player of the 1986 World Cup. Ossie Ardiles commented:“Seeing Diego’s Golden Ball Award again, brings back so many memories of my dear friend Diego.“This Golden Ball is the symbol of something spectacular and unique. It marks the pinnacle of the World’s greatest player, the greatest World Cup goal. And the greatest individual performance of any World Cup.”“It is very emotional for me to be here at Hampden Park at the scene of Diego’s first-ever goal for Argentina as an 18-year-old boy. We could see then he was going to be something special.”“Diego of course, in time, would become for me the greatest player of all time.”“In 1986 with the goal against England starting at the halfway line defined him. The pace, the power, the belief and the incredible, unmatched in history, control of the ball.”“Not only did he have the ‘hand of god’ but he is the god of football. ““For me he is the greatest ever player in the world’s favourite sport.”