Melbourne Victoria

Wallabies lock Nathan Sharpe has dismissed suggestions from South Africa coach Peter de Villiers that Australia tries to con referees into awarding it penalties at scrum time.

Geoff Ogilvy and Adam Scott have confirmed they will join Greg Norman in the field for the Australian Open in Sydney.

Vice-captain Michael Clarke will miss training today after suffering an abdominal strain while making the century that saved the third Ashes Test for Australia.

French Top 14 rugby union side Bayonne has confirmed it has been in contact with sacked Wallabies winger Lote Tuqiri.

Brisbane Broncos great Steve Renouf says there is still time for the club to turn its flailing NRL season around.

Johnathan Thurston is one of the premier rugby league players in the world, but according to Melbourne Storm captain Cameron Smith, the North Queensland superstar still plays the game like a seven-year-old.

Essendon footballer Nathan Lovett-Murray has been charged with drug possession as part of an eight-month police investigation into a large drug syndicate.

A hobbling Andrew Flintoff is battling to be fit for the fourth Test, and Australian skipper Ricky Ponting believes the knee injury to England's star all-rounder became far more debilitating during the Edgbaston draw than his rivals let on.

Socceroo coach Pim Verbeek is casting his net wide in pursuit of talent ahead of the World Cup, and has called up some unheralded youngsters for the Australian squad to face Ireland in Limerick.

Senior racing officials believe that an uncertain world economy and the lack of local stayers have conspired against this year's Caulfield and Melbourne cups.

Last year's Melbourne Cup winner Viewed spearheads an 11-strong team for trainer Bart Cummings who is aiming to win Australia's most famous race for the 13th time in November.

Frank Farina has blasted rival A-League coach Miron Bleiberg, calling his failure to promote Saturday's season opening derby between Brisbane Roar and Gold Coast United "disgraceful".

Former world number one Lleyton Hewitt launched his American hardcourt season by defeating Donald Young 7-5, 6-2 in the first round of the Washington Classic.

Australia captain Ricky Ponting saluted the resilience shown by batsmen Michael Clarke and Marcus North to guide his side to a draw in the third Ashes Test at Edgbaston.

Injured Ferrari driver Felipe Massa has arrived home in Brazil after nine days of treatment in a Budapest hospital and said he hoped to make a swift return to Formula One.

Established Bulldogs youngster Callan Ward has been picked as the AFL Rising Star nominee for round 18.

Brisbane Lions coach Michael Voss says the AFL should ban any coach that sets out to lose games late in the season.

New side Gold Coast United has been dealt a blow on the eve of the A-League season with goalkeeper Jess Vanstrattan injured at training.

Australian fast bowler Brett Lee has a good chance of being fit for the fourth Ashes Test, captain Ricky Ponting said.

Andy Roddick declared himself mentally and physically ready for his return to competition after a month off following his heartbreaking loss to Roger Federer in the Wimbledon final.