Midweek fixtures could be played on a regular basis in the expanded A-League to lessen competition with rival football codes, Football Federation Australia said on Thursday.

One of world sport’s most respected administrators has urged the AFL not to be swayed off expansion by the global financial crisis.

Melbourne boss Brian Waldron has ruled out a bidding war to retain the NRL’s No.1 hooker Cameron Smith, the target of a massive Gold Coast Titans offer.

Gold Coast tourism will be the beneficiary of the new deal struck for its famous motor car race following the loss of the IndyCar series in October.

Tasmania’s bid for a state-based AFL team is ready. Sports Minister Michelle O’Byrne announced on Tuesday that cabinet had approved a submission prepared by sports consultancy Gemba and would send it to the AFL for consideration next month.

Exhilarating fullback Billy Slater is the Rugby League International Federation’s inaugural player of the year with his Melbourne Storm club dominating the Team of the Year named on Monday night.

New Zealand prop Adam Blair says the Kiwis must avoid another slow start if they’re to topple England for the second time in as many weeks in the World Cup semi-final on Saturday.

Due to a serious foot injury, the Gold Coast Blaze have released Juaquin Hawkins from his commitments to the club. They’ve immediately replaced him with American import Justin Bowen.

Wellington coach Ricki Herbert had to be dragged away from his Sydney counterpart John Kosmina tonight after he took exception to a comment following the New Zealanders’ 2-1 A-League upset win.

Nazih “Hammerhead” Kheir and Jamie “The Giant” Fallon may look small, but they were talking big ahead of their world-first little men boxing title fight.

Break out the kava, the Fijian boys need a quick pick me up. With just four days off until their crucial playoff with Ireland on Monday for a spot in the World Cup semi-finals, the Fijian team are bracing for the arduous task of playing their third game in just nine days.

Having secured a World Cup semi-final qualifier berth, Ireland coach Andy Kelly fears his side may have lost one its greatest weapons - underdog status.

Scotland pulled off an incredible 18-16 late victory over highly-fancied Fiji at Bluetongue Stadium tonight to claim their country’s first ever rugby league World Cup win in five attempts.

A new AFL team could inject $34 million a year into the Gold Coast economy if it takes up residency there, according to new research.

The stony faced stare is sobering enough. But a Wayne Bennett dressing down is a whole new level of grief - a fact the New Zealand World Cup team can now vouch for.

Cynics thought PNG’s Rugby League World Cup campaign would end in tears. However, there have been plenty at the start of the tournament - much to coach Adrian Lam’s satisfaction.

Hot favourites New Zealand will have to combat Papua New Guinea’s thirst for a headline-grabbing World Cup upset that could launch the NRL careers of a some of their young players on Saturday.

New Zealand have lit the fuse for a potentially explosive final trans-Tasman netball clash on Sunday by shining the spotlight on Australian roughhouse tactics.

Papua New Guinea coach Adrian Lam says his players have his permission to “go berserk” and party for a week if they spring a massive World Cup upset against New Zealand on Saturday.

Highly-rated New Zealand forward Sika Manu’s World Cup is over following concerns he could require surgery should he further damage his cracked right eye socket.