Amanda Lulham

The NSW Waratahs have produced 15 of the 25 players in the Australian under 16s rugby team in a major show of power for the Super Rugby club’s academy but they could have a battle on their hands retaining all their talent in the future.

Matt Hauser remembers seeing the name of a gutsy triathlete who ran chook raffles to fund his way to races and defied the odds to become one of our greatest in the sport on an honour board as a teenager and knew then he wanted to one day have his name alongside.

It’s an unorthodox way to prepare for your first world triathlon tilt - staying tucked away in a room with only study material for company - but that’s where Matt Engesser will be most of the time this week.

He might hail from the small village near the NSW/Queensland border but this teenager has achieved a world class feat in surfing on the other side of the world.

Otto Serfontein is proof you don’t have to be a schoolboy star as a teenager to make an impact in rugby as a man - you just have to love playing the game alongside good mates.

Scouts, coaches and talent identification managers from Super Rugby franchises will be watching on with interest and intent from the sidelines when 49 teams of rugby’s rising stars from across Australia contest the biggest junior elite national tournament from Monday.

They are the young talent expected to be involved in a tug of war between rugby union and rugby league in the future.

Skipper Tom Slingsby is adamant his team has the speed up retake the season lead in the SailGP series but need to stop making dumb mistakes.

There were some big moments and big hits from the big men of the Waratahs U20s while their speedsters flew in an entertaining battle with Western Force on Saturday ahead of Aussie U20 squad selection,

He’s fierce and uncompromising on the field but it wasn’t that long ago that Mahe Vailanu was bought close to tears by the most ordinary of tasks – taking a few steps forward.

Australian soaps Neighbours and Home and Away - and a British Olympic medallists who watched them avidly - are strangely playing a part in the resurgence of the Australian crew in the SailGP world series which hits Sydney Harbour at high speed this weekend.

She is one of the pioneers of NRLW but now this footy talent is playing a hand in the development of her future teammates - and potential rivals - and loving it.

‘It hindered us’: Aussies sound SailGP warning after comeback from gear drama

NSW country has a strong history when it comes to producing stars of the track and field and this looks set to continue at the 2025 NSW Country titles at Maitland later this week.

Sydney skipper Sam Haynes has upsized for a tilt at winning a second Sydney to Hobart yacht race overall but had his news upstaged by a cute but unusual crew of special guests.

She was once dubbed the fittest woman in Australia but there’s no going back to the race that made her famous for iron star Hayley Bateup - not even for a special anniversary.

When Olympic diving medal prospect Maddison Keeney reached for a dinner plate or put her arms above her head, searing pain shot through her body.

While flooding forced the cancellation of the under 12 competition at Camden in Sydney’s south west, officials managed to hold competition for every other age group at there 2024 NSW Junior Rugby state championships across the June holiday weekend.

There’s an “electric’’ rising star, speedsters and sisters ready to suit up for Australia at the world life saving titles as the sport continues it push for Brisbane 2032.

Matt Wearn didn’t get Covid badly, but long Covid saw him struggle to eat, walk or do even the most basic tasks. It also stopped the Olympic champion doing what he loves best and does best - sailing.