Australian Associated Press – Page 22

May 9, 2024

Darts sensation Luke Littler to make Australian debut at Wollongong event

Star-studded line-up confirmed for Australian Darts Masters
World No 1 Luke Humphries also named in 16-player field

Teenage darts sensation Luke Littler is to make his debut in Australia when he headlines the country’s biggest event in Wollongong in August.

The 17-year-old English phenomenon, who has flourished as the sport’s biggest attraction since becoming the youngest ever world championship finalist at 16 in January, will feature in a star-studded line-up at the Australian Darts Masters in August.

March 11, 2024

Alex Carey leads mighty run chase as Australia beat New Zealand in second Test

New Zealand 162 and 372; Australia 256 and 281-7
Carey unbeaten on 98 in three-wicket victory in Christchurch

Australia’s middle order squeaked out a mighty Test win in Christchurch, where Alex Carey’s fighting 98 not out defied New Zealand to wrap up a 2-0 series victory. Carey and Mitch Marsh, who made 80, did the business for Australia, which stumbled to 4-34 before reaching 281-7 to win.

Combining after the early loss of Travis Head (18) at 80-5, Marsh and Carey put on 140 runs together – the biggest partnership of the series, when the pressure was at its heaviest. New Zealand debutant Ben Sears gave Australia a mighty shake, removing Marsh and then Mitchell Starc in two balls to reduce the tourists to 220-7.

March 10, 2024

New Zealand close in on drought-breaking Test victory against Australia

New Zealand 162 and 372; Australia 256 and 77-4 at Hagley Oval
Black Caps eye first Test win over rivals on home soil since 1993

New Zealand are in the box seat to claim a drought-busting Test win over their arch-rivals after Australia wilted on day three of the second Test.

Chasing 279 for victory, Matt Henry and debutant Ben Sears ripped through the Australian top order at Hagley Oval on Sunday, leaving Australia dazed at 34-4.

December 19, 2023

Rugby Australia won’t rule out hiring Michael Cheika for second stint as Wallabies coach

Cheika quits as Argentina coach after reaching World Cup semis
Phil Waugh says RA ‘interested in anyone’ to replace Eddie Jones

Rugby Australia chief executive, Phil Waugh, isn’t ruling out going back to the well once more and hiring Michael Cheika as Wallabies coach for a second stint.

Cheika on Tuesday announced he had parted company with Argentina, two months after guiding the Pumas to the Rugby World Cup semi-finals in France.

November 14, 2023

Rugby Australia takes over NSW high performance as strategic reset begins

Top state becomes first to commit to centralisation plan
RA say aligned system is essential for future of game

Rugby Australia and the NSW Rugby Union have agreed to the first step in the strategic reset of Australian rugby. NSW becomes the first state member union to formally commit to Rugby Australia’s plan to align the sport across the country.

The agreement to centralise means responsibility for the operations of the Waratahs’ professional entities will be passed on to RA from 1 January. RA will take responsibility for the Waratahs’ high-performance operations, assets, liabilities, and commercial arrangements. All Waratahs employees will continue in their current roles.

May 12, 2023

‘Not dead yet’: Reds beat Chiefs to snap 10-year Super Rugby hoodoo

Queensland 25-22 victory halts Chiefs’ 10-game victory streak
Western Force climb to eighth after 34-14 win over Fijian Drua

Queensland Reds coach Brad Thorn has declared they are “not dead yet” after a historic upset in New Zealand rescued their season.

A 25-22 win in New Plymouth on Friday night was the Reds’ first in New Zealand since 2013. It ended a 21-game Super Rugby losing streak in the country and the Chiefs’ 10-game unbeaten run to begin this season.