Brumbies boss Michael Jones is redefining what it means to be a "hands-on" chief executive. Jones is in South Africa to watch the team play the Cape Town Stormers and Johannesburg Lions, but also on a fact-finding mission for innovations in the high-performance program. But Jones also threw himself into the team's training session in Johannesburg, filling in to help the Brumbies back line rehearse set moves and defence. Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham still puts the boots on at times to act as an opposition playmaker in drills. Larkham is searching for a new half to replace Nic White next season, but we're not sure Jones is the man for the job, even with his slick passing game.

Brumbies doctor Kate Gazzard has also been training in South Africa to get herself ready for one of the world's most extreme sporting events - the Hawaii Ironman triathlon on October. Gazzard qualified after finishing in the top three in Mexico last year and is bracing for a 3.8-kilometre swim, 180km bike ride and 42.2km marathon run. Gazzard's goal is to reach the podium and she's driven by the phrase: "Find a way", which is written on her wrist and bike. "My coach is a medical doctor as well," she said. "You know the signs to look out for with fatigue, you focus on quality rather than quantity." Gazzard has been training about 21 hours a week, but hasn't managed to convert any of the Brumbies players to her sport of choice. Gazzard races for Maloolaba-based team Allez Sport and has managed to snare a couple of sponsors to ensure she gets to Hawaii and has signed up with Hoka One One as well.

It's good to see a professional athlete remember their roots - Brisbane Roar midfielder Steven Lustica donating a $1000 man of the match award to his junior club Canberra FC. Lustica was at last weekend's match between Canberra FC and Tuggeranong United at Deakin Stadium. Lustica played his junior football with Canberra FC and credits the club for his development. "I think I was six years old, my first game here for Canberra Deakin, so any chance I get, I like to come back and see the team play. It's a fantastic club and a lot of great players have come through this club." One of his jerseys from his time with Croatian club Hadjuk Split hangs in the Canberra FC clubhouse. Lustica has returned to Brisbane in preparation for the Roar's friendly with Spanish club Villarreal at Suncorp Stadium on June 3.

One of the most improved players in the AFL after his switch to the forward line, Canberra product Josh Bruce is also gaining a cult following at St Kilda for his man-bun hairstyle. "I cop a little bit here and there from the teammates, and I cop a little bit from over the fence as well," Bruce said. "It's all tongue-in-cheek I hope. Against Collingwood I copped a little bit - you know what they're like." Bruce has been a revelation in his second season with the Saints, kicking another five goals on Saturday for a total haul of 23.8 in seven matches this season.

She's announced she won't be returning to the Canberra Capitals next season, but former skipper Abby Bishop has signed on for a second stint in Hungary. Bishop played with PEAC Pecs last year, and confirmed on Saturday she has joined rival Sopron for the upcoming season. The 26-year-old agreed to join the club after they organised to cater for her adopted daughter, Zala. After Hungary, Bishop will revive her WNBA career with Seattle Storm, who announced this week Bishop's Capitals teammate Lauren Jackson would miss their campaign through injury.

These little tackers from the Tuggeranong Buffaloes Under 6s are following in the footsteps of some great Canberra footy products such as former Australian Wallabies captain George Gregan and NRL premiership winners Michael Monaghan and Michael Robertson. Australian Kangaroos representatives Joel Monaghan and Richard Villasanti are also among the juniors who began with the Buffaloes. This year is the 40th anniversary of the the oldest junior rugby league club in the Tuggeranong Valley. The club will be holding a reunion dinner iat the Canberra Southern Cross Club on June 6, with guest-speakers including Australian greats Max Krilich, Brett Kenny and Paul Sironen. More information is available at www.thebuffaloes.org

It's still a guessing game how long Canberra Raiders halfback Sam Williams will be sidelined by a collapsed lung, but it could be up to five weeks. Williams will need to have weekly scans to see how quickly his torn lung heals. Williams played 60 minutes with the injury last week after Gold Coast Titans forward Ryan James literally knocked the wind out of him. But Williams has had his feet up this week and must simply play the waiting game until he's cleared to return to training. "I'm hoping to be back within the next five weeks, but that's being really cautious and it could be earlier ... it depends how quickly the lung re-inflates itself."

New Cricket ACT chief executive Cameron French began his role during the week and says Canberra must continue its work to be next "cab off the rank" when Cricket Australia looks at expansion of the domestic one-day competition or the Big Bash League. Cricket ACT was disappointed to be overlooked for a new team in the one-day competition, Cricket Australia instead promoting a CA XI team which will be based in Brisbane at the Centre of Excellence. French admitted disappointment, but said Cricket ACT could not drop its bundle. "It does push the horizon [for ACT expansion] back further. What we need to do is continue to put our case forward by producing talented players," he said. "The part we're more pleased about is the ACT Comets program will expand from four games to six games which will allow us to put a strong case together to get aspiring first class players back into the ACT."