Clarke bats for helmet changes and other top stories.

• Clarke bats for helmet changes

  

  CA's new safety guidelines1:21Cricket: Cricket Australia has begun a push for a concussion substitute to be used in cricket following the release of the review into the death of Phil Hughes 18 months ago. TEST great Michael Clarke has encouraged players to embrace neck-guard technology in helmets.But Clarke warned that from personal experience, the transition in the final series of his Test career to wearing extra protection at the back of his head was a mentally challenging experience — becaus..

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• Maguire concerned for Grevsmuhl's wellbeing

  

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• Knee surgery sidelines North AFL star

  

  Shaun Higgins' three-month absence has given North Melbourne their first significant blow after a perfect start to the AFL season.The star forward hurt his right knee in Sunday's tight win over St Kilda and the Kangaroos were initially hopeful it was not a serious injury.But Higgins needed surgery on Wednesday for a meniscus tear, putting him out of action until close to the finals.North, who are the only unbeaten team, forecast he would be back around round 20.The forward also needed minor knee..

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• Rebels in a sweet spot heading towards finals Today at 3:55 PM

  

  The Rebels have their finals hopes exactly where they want them heading into a pivotal clash with the Brumbies, backrower Colby Fainga’a says. Friday’s match will help decide the Australian conference winner, who will potentially be the country’s only Super Rugby finalist, and Fainga’a said they were pleased to have control over their own fate. “It’s extremely important,” he said. “We’re in a good position where we’ve got our own destiny in our own hands so it’s a good spot to be in and to have..

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• Poland's Zawadka gets four-year doping ban

  

  Zawadka, whose sample tested positive for anabolic steroid clenbuterol and stimulant methylhexaneamine during the New South Wales Short Course Championships, was banned by Swimming Australia which oversaw the tests. "Zawadka waived his right to a hearing and as a result, accepted the mandatory four year sanction," the ASADA said, adding that the suspension will be backdated to Nov. 11, 2015. "This means he is ineligible to participate, as an athlete or support person, in any sports that have ad..

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• Robbie Farah says Nathan Peats entitled to dig his heels in at Parramatta Eels

  

  Video will begin in 5 seconds. Peats unclear on Parramatta future Parramatta Eels hooker speaks to the media about the club's ongoing salary cap issues. PT0M53S 620 349 A superstar hooker, on a lucrative contract, being forced out of a club he loves to fix a mess not of his making.Robbie Farah knows better than anyone else what Nathan Peats is going through. Which is why the Wests Tigers rake believes Peats has every right to dig his heels in and see out his time in blue and g..

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• Dumping NZ best for Aust netball: Plummer

  

  Dumping New Zealand teams in a trans-Tasman netball competition shake-up would be the best thing for Australian netball, according to former Test coach Norma Plummer.Australia is set to revert to an eight-team national competition next year, with the NRL's Melbourne Storm and AFL club Collingwood behind two of the three proposed new franchises.Plummer, who coached West Coast Fever between 2012 and 2014 in the Trans-Tasman league after nine years as Diamonds coach, said New Zealand teams were hol..

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• Postecoglou believes beating England is overrated - SBS

  

  Australia will take on England for the first time in 13 years when they meet in a high-profile and long-awaited international at Sunderland's Stadium of Light on 27 May. The last time they met, Tony Popovic, Harry Kewell and Brett Emerton all scored as the Socceroos, described by the English press as "football pygmies", claimed an upset 3-1 victory at Upton Park in February 2003 - a result Australian football hung their hat on for many years. Back then, Perth Glory were National Soccer League ..

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• Munster: I won't let Queensland down again

  

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• Eels star used fake name to play union

  

  PARRAMATTA forward Junior Paulo has reportedly breached his NRL contract by playing a game of park rugby union.Paulo wore headgear to conceal his identity and signed in under another player’s name as he came on for the final 20 minutes of a third-grade rugby union match between Oatley and Beecroft just 24 hours after an Eels match, according to The Daily Telegraph.Paulo’s brother-in-law Hendry Lees coaches Oatley’s third-grade side.“He certainly took the field,” a Beecroft official said.“They ar..

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Low vaccination rates in older people causing major concern .	Bill Shorten visits Cairns on first day of Federal Election campaign .
WA Government moves to scale back debt in budget .	Expanding gene panel beyond known breast/ovarian cancer genes does not add any clinical benefit - News .