Wallabies begin five-week tour with tough Tokyo win
The Wallabies were expected to outclass Eddie Jones' Japan even with a second-string side encumbered by the restrictions of playing outside the international window as well as the gruelling nature of an imminent four-week Grand Slam tour of the British Isles.
But there was nothing cruisy about the 19-15 victory at a rain-soaked National Stadium in Tokyo even despite stand-in captain Nick Champion de Crespigny opening the scoring with his first international try.
Both teams recorded high error rates in slippery conditions and the Wallabies were forced to rejig their entire strategy after losing both locks, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto and Josh Canham, to injury within the first 20 minutes of the match.
Neither head coach would have been happy with that result: Japan now have a 0-7 record against Australia and Jones didn't get his revenge on his former employer, whilst Joe Schmidt was almost left red-faced following his risky team selection. He also has to consider putting some reinforcements on a plane to London.
But don't forget Australia got an awful fright against Fiji prior to their impressive Lions tour series in mid-year, so expect them to be better for the run, even if there'll be a significantly different XV running out onto Twickenham Stadium to face England this weekend.
Kangaroos take Ashes series lead with 20-point Wembley womp
The 22-year wait for the return of Ashes rugby league came to an end at Wembley Stadium on Saturday night, and after a closely contested f first half, it was our Kangaroos who figured out the England setup and outclassed their hosts after half-time on the way to a 26-0 late game lead.
Reece Walsh, off the back of winning the Clive Churchill Medal for his best on ground performance in the Brisbane Broncos' Grand Final win over Melbourne Storm, was the player of the match against England for not only scoring two of the team's four tries but also being credited with saving two in defence.
Whilst admitting it was his defensive efforts that brought him even more joy than his first two international tries, Walsh candidly revealed after the match of some unprecedented emotion from his father as a result of his Kangaroos debut.
"When I left, I've never seen my old man cry before," Walsh explained.
"He shed some tears there and said 'go make your family proud, go make your country proud'.
"I'm really honoured to be here, wearing these colours, it means a lot to myself and my family."
Australia will be overwhelming favourites to win when the series heads to Liverpool this weekend.
And whilst not technically 'abroad', it would be rude not to mention our beloved Jillaroos who dominated Samoa 60-0 in Brisbane and could well have recorded the best try of either Pacific Championships (men or women) this year:
Oscar Piastri slips to second in F1 Championship
Oscar Piastri has always maintained a calm demeanour throughout the year as he edged closer to his maiden F1 Drivers' Championship title win, explaining that the Championship would look after itself as long as he set out to win each race one at a time.
He and McLaren teammate Lando Norris have not shown any signs of tension or bad blood throughout 2025 as the two most successful drivers of the season and the relationship is again set to be tested after Norris overtook Piastri in the Championship standings with a Mexican GP win on Monday morning Australian time.
Piastri rallied to finish fifth after a difficult weekend in practice and qualifying - as well as a tough time in Austin during the previous round - admitting that his lack of pace was "a mystery".
He claimed to have gained some clarity throughout raceday, saying he had "potentially made some steps" towards regaining his best driving performances heading into the final four races of the season.
The competition will have a week off before resuming in Sao Paulo, Brazil on the week ending October 9.
Demon loses to Sinner for 12th consecutive time
Alex De Minaur lost his semi-finals at the ATP Vienna Open overnight on Saturday when facing eventual champion Jannik Sinner, who didn't drop a set on the way to lifting the title.
The Australian now has a humiliating 0-12 record against Sinner, who De Minaur has previously described as the best tennis player he has ever faced, and his wait for a third ATP title in 2025 will have to continue.
Sinner became the first man since Novak Djokovic to reach eight consecutive ATP finals and admitted to reporters that he was once again one step ahead of the Aussie.
"He changed a couple of things, which I was ready for today," Sinner said.
"I don't want to say (what). He knows."
Alana King takes a World Cup record 7-18 in Proteas rout
It was not at all cruisy, but Australia's women's cricket team went through the league stage of the ICC Women's World Cup in India and Sri Lanka unbeaten following a demolition of fellow semi-finalists South Africa at the weekend.
Leg-spinner Alana King shredded the Proteas batting order, at one stage taking her first four wickets for the cost of no runs, as the Aussies bowled South Africa out for 97 all out.
King's 7-18 was the best figures by any bowler at a Women's World Cup and she became the sixth player - man or woman - to take seven wickets in a World Cup game alongside male compatriots Andy Bichel and Glenn McGrath.
They overcame some scares of varying degrees against Pakistan, New Zealand and India along the way, but were far too good not only for Bangladesh but also England and South Africa - who will face off in one of the two semi-finals to meet the winner of Australia and India.
It's certainly not a stretch to imagine the winner of Australia and India next weekend lifts the trophy.
Our golfers win maiden LPGA International Crown title
A bit of a feel-good story here coming out of South Korea where Team Australia won their first LPGA International Crown event after finishing runners-up in the previous edition (2023).
The International Crown, if you've never heard of it, is a biennial eight-team match play event featuring seven nations and a composite World team.
Spain, the USA, South Korea and Thailand were the four previous winners of the competition.
Australia's Minjee Lee, a three-time major winner and current world number three, was named the MVP of the event for being unbeaten through the tournament in her singles and pairs events.
“I’m so happy that I could do it with these girls, it was just a lot of fun this whole week,” Lee said.
“Playing match play is something different and we don’t get to do it too often.”
