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Petaia, Stona & Sexton named in NFL’s 2025 IPP class

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Olympic discus champion Roje Stona and Australia rugby union international Jordan Petaia will be among the latest group of athletes to take part in the NFL’s International Player Pathway.

The IPP programme identifies global talent and gives athletes the opportunity to develop their American football skills, and potentially earn a spot on an NFL roster.

In January, 14 athletes will go on a 10-week training camp in Florida – featuring field and classroom sessions – before showcasing their skills to NFL scouts before next year’s NFL draft.

Rugby union players Louis Rees-Zammit and Travis Clayton, plus Gaelic footballer Charlie Smyth were all selected by NFL teams after being part of the 2024 class.

The 2025 group includes Dante Barnett and Mapalo Mwansa from the UK, with Ulster rugby union wing Aaron Sexton being Ireland’s sole representative.

Stona, 25, trained with two NFL teams last spring, before winning Jamaica’s first Olympic gold medal in a throwing event at Paris 2024.

Petaia, 24, had already been linked with a switch from rugby union and will aim to emulate fellow Australian Jordan Mailata.

Since the IPP programme was established in 2017, 41 international players have joined NFL teams, with 23 currently with teams and six making it on to a team’s active roster.

Mailata is the most successful having switched from age-grade rugby league to become a key part of the Philadelphia Eagles’ offensive line, helping them reach the Super Bowl in 2023.

“Focusing on our global football development efforts and fostering international talent is crucial to growing our game globally,” said Peter O’Reilly, an NFL executive vice president.

“The IPP program offers life-changing opportunities for international talent, and we look forward to following their progress in the weeks and months ahead.”

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Havertz online abuse has terrible consequences – Arteta

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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says the online abuse of striker Kai Havertz and his wife has “terrible consequences” and needs to be “eradicated from the game”.

Havertz was criticised for his performance in Sunday’s FA Cup defeat by Manchester United, after he missed a glorious chance to win the game in normal time and then had his penalty saved in the shootout as United won 5-3 on penalties following the 1-1 draw.

The German’s wife Sophia shared screenshots of the “shocking” abuse she received on social media amid the game, including threats to the couple’s unborn child.

Arsenal have reported the abuse to the police and are working with a specialist data firm to identify the culprits, but Arteta says more must be done as he spoke before Wednesday’s north London derby against Tottenham.

“It’s incredible, honestly,” he said. “We really have to do something about it, because accepting that and hiding this has terrible consequences.

“It’s something we have to eradicate from the game because it’s so cynical and dependent to a result of an action.

“There is no other industry like this. When we played Ipswich on December 27, we won 1-0 and Kai Havertz scored. The whole stadium after that is singing the ‘Waka, Waka’ (his chant). That was 20 days ago. Where is the perspective?

“We are all responsible. That’s a really serious matter. It affects me. It affects him and everybody that is in the industry.

“We can accept it and say ‘that’s our job’, but there are certain limits and the line has to be drawn. We put a lot of attention on technology and what is next in football.

“What is next in football is that this should be prohibited. It cannot happen. That’s it.”

Meta, who own Instagram, removed the content for violating its policies.

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I will not be the coach of a Red Bull team – Klopp

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Jurgen Klopp says he has made a “clear commitment” that he will not become manager at one of the Red Bull clubs after starting his role as the organisation’s head of global soccer.

The former Liverpool manager was named in the role last year before officially starting at the beginning of 2025.

He has not had a managerial role since leaving Anfield last summer following a highly-successful nine year spell.

Klopp’s new role sees him take more of an oversight role across a number of clubs including RB Leipzig, Red Bull Salzburg and New York Red Bulls.

But when asked at a media conference on Tuesday whether he might be tempted back into day-to-day management if a role at one of the clubs becomes available, Klopp said emphatically said “no”.

“I will not be the coach of a Red Bull team,” he said. “That is a clear commitment. As much as you can give a guarantee, I will not be a coach at all.

“I am probably the only person in this room who will be asked where are you in five years, I don’t have a clue.

“But I will not be a replacement of one of the Red Bull coaches.

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Rising star Fonseca knocks out ninth seed Rublev

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Joao Fonseca had a Grand Slam debut to remember as he knocked out ninth seed Andrey Rublev in the first round of the Australian Open.

The 18-year-old Brazilian thrilled the crowd as he caused the biggest upset of the tournament so far with a 7-6 (7-1) 6-3 7-6 (7-5) victory against Rublev.

Fonseca was playing in his first main-draw match at a major, having come through three rounds of qualifying without dropping a set in Melbourne last week.

The victory extends his winning streak to 14 matches – but who is tennis’ latest rising star?

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