🏉 Lock In C: 2023, Eddie

Hello There, it's Wednesday, 20 July. Nothing quite hits home like nostalgia these days. We're seeing returns of our favourite characters in movies like Spider-Man: No Way Home and Jurassic World: Dominion, and TV series like And Just Like That... (no judging, pls). Rugby Australia appears to be on the nostalgia train too as they apparently look to bring back a familiar name.

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👀 Old mate turned down how much?!

THE MAIN GAME

🏉 RA phones Jones about a recall

Rugby Australia (RA) has reportedly reached out to England coach Eddie Jones to be its north star as they circle back to the glory years and form a scrum for the future. Rugby talk 🤝 business talk.

Golden points: So a report in the Syndey Morning Herald says RA has been in touch with Jones about possibly coming on board after the 2023 World Cup in France.

• That's when Jones' contract with England Rugby ends and it's also when current Wallabies coach Dave Rennie's contract is up as well.

• Jones could take up a role as director of rugby but could also step back into the head coaching role he last filled in 2005 after 4 years in the top job.

• The report says there's a feeling among senior RA officials that there is a heavy New Zealand influence in Australian rugby and the wheels are in motion to get Aussie coaches back into the system.

• Jones has indicated he'd like to return home to Australia at some stage, but that was before he was called a 'traitor' by Aussie fans on the weekend. Those fans are facing big punishments.

They said it: "Eddie Jones is a great Australian coach and has made a massive contribution to the game," - RA chairman Hamish McLennan has a high opinion of Jones.

The state: Call us crazy, but maybe RA wants to sign Jones so he doesn't coach against the Wallabies? Under Jones, England has beaten Australia 10/11 times. If you can't beat 'em, hire 'em!

QUICK SINGLES

⛳️ Golf: Cameron Smith is reportedly sticking with the PGA... for now. On Monday, reports said Smith was going to be revealed as the latest big fish to join the Saudi-backed LIV Golf Tour. But another report has since come out saying Smith has told Aussie journos he's sticking with the PGA for the rest of the season, but after that, who knows.

🏉 AFL: The AFL isn't lactose intolerant but it does want players to stop milking free kicks for high tackles. Free kicks for high tackles are up 25 per cent on last year and Collingwood young gun Jack Ginnovan has kinda been the poster boy for players falling into tackles to get frees for high contact. But the AFL has made it known that the ball carrier won't be given a free kick if they are deemed to be milking high contact.

⚽️ Football: The finish line is in sight for 3 major women's football tournaments. Actually, one has already finished - the USA won the CONCACAF Women's Championship for the 9th time yesterday with a 1-0 win over Canada in the final. In the Women's Africa Cup of Nations, hosts Morocco will play South Africa in the final on Sunday. And we're up to the quarter-finals of the Women's Euros in the UK. So. Much. Soccer!

🏀 NBL: The Sydney Kings are suiting up on Christmas Day this season. The Kings will host Melbourne United in the first primetime Australian sports event on Christmas Day. It's not a new thing in the States, where the NBA plays bulk games on Christmas and the TV ratings are huge.

⚽️ Football: Sam Kerr is going global. Kerr has made a bit of history by being the first female player on a global cover of the insanely popular football video game FIFA. Kerr is alongside French star Kylian Mbappé on the cover of FIFA 23 Ultimate Edition, and she's got her own solo cover too. The game is expected to come out in September. We'll take 10, thank you.

LEFT OF FIELD

🏃‍♂️ Athletics: The saying goes 'keep your eye on the ball'. But we're reworking that to 'keep your eye on the 15 elite athletes rapidly approaching you from behind' for this story about a cameraman who never learned to mind his surroundings. A cameraman filming the women's triple jump at the World Athletics Championships was so focused on the action he didn't realise he'd backed onto the running track and almost caused a collision with the runners competing in the final of the men's 3000m steeplechase. We're a bit disappointed nobody tried to jump over the camo, but no harm was done and Soufiane El Bakkali of Morocco won the gold.

📽 Highlight reel: Nationals slugger Juan Soto won the MLB Home Run Derby yesterday in LA. Soto is one of the best young outfielders in the Major Leagues. How good? Consider this: he recently turned down a 15-year $640 million dollar contract extension from the Nationals. Imagine the contract he does decide to sign 🤯

📸 Photo finish: A fellow passenger snapped British Open winner Cameron Smith trying to shove the Claret Jug into the overhead compartment on his flight home to Florida. You gotta put it in sideways then rotate, Smithy. Everyone knows that.

THE POLLING BOOTH

Tuesday's result: 66.67% agree that a lifetime ban was warranted for the fan who made it onto the SCG roof at the Wallabies game on Saturday night.

WHAT WE'RE WATCHING

• ⚾️ 9:00am - Baseball - MLB All Star Game - Los Angeles - Foxtel, Kayo

• 🥇 9:40am - Athletics - World Championships, Day 5 - University of Oregon, Oregon - Foxtel, Kayo

• 🥊 7:00pm - Boxing - Nikita Tszyu v Ben Horn - Hordern Pavilion, Sydney - Foxtel, Kayo

All times AEST

THE MANAGER'S OFFICE

It's halftime. You're down by a goal. The team needs a lift. What would you say to fire up them up? Maybe something like: "Hey, have you heard about the Sport Today newsletter? It's heaps good. Here's a link to subscribe. Let's do this!" Love it. Please do that.