Sport Shorts: Furphy leans on Boomers lessons for World Cup

Tassie gun Jacob Furphy will use lessons learned from his Boomers experiences in next month’s under-19 World Cup, while Jackson Bird headlines a largely unchanged Tigers squad for next season. Keep up to date here.

The ‘group of death’ may be a tired cliche, but gun Tasmanian Jacob Furphy will use his experiences with the Boomers to tackle the challenge at next month’s under-19 world cup in Switzerland.

The guard, who has signed with powerhouse college UConn, is joined by fellow Smithton product Nash Walker in the squad.

Furphy was part of the Boomers teams for FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers, as well as the recent three-game series against New Zealand.

“Just getting to learn from the best and just seeing the way that they play (was the biggest benefit playing for Boomers),” Furphy told Basketball Australia.

“Obviously one of my biggest memories was Chris Goulding was on fire in that window. Just seeing the little things that he does well that help him get open to help him to make those shots, that’s what I really learned.

Furphy is one of four players in the under-19 squad to play for the Boomers.

“We have seen the pros of our game and how they handle it and how they come together in a big group and put their egos aside. That’s been a huge thing for us,” Furphy said.

“We’re going to have to do that. Not all of us are going to be the main guy. We’re going to have to put our egos aside and play as one. And if we do that, anything is possible. We’re going to have to play super hard for the whole time.”

Australia has been drawn eight time winner USA, first-timers Cameroon and France, who have podiumed the past two under-19 world cups.

“I love that we were drawn into the group. To be the best you have to beat the best,” Furphy said.

“We’re going to have to do that with some tough competition straight away.

“You will want to finish as high as you can to get the best crossover possible. But it’s going to be a great challenge for us.”

Bird returns as Tigers unveil settled 2025-26 squad

The Tasmanian Tigers have finalised their men’s squad for the 2025-26 domestic cricket season, headlined by the return of veteran paceman Jackson Bird.

Bird, Tasmania’s all-time leading wicket-taker, rejoins the side after two seasons with New South Wales and will add valuable experience as the Tigers chase their first Sheffield Shield title since 2012-13.

Jackson Bird will return to the Tasmania Tigers men’s squad after two years with New South Wales. (AAP Image/Darren England)

Joining him is left-arm quick Marcus Bean, another interstate recruit who continues the recent trend of Queenslanders relocating south.

The core of the squad remains intact, with Riley Meredith, Jake Weatherald, Kieran Elliott and rising all-rounder Nick Davis all re-signing.

Nathan Ellis, Matt Kuhnemann and Beau Webster have earned national contracts, marking the highest Tasmanian presence on the list since 2013-14.

Jarrod Freeman is the only omission from last season’s contracted group.

Head coach Jeff Vaughan welcomed the stability of the squad.

“Continuity is a key factor in any successful domestic squad … We have several players ready to take the next step.” Vaughan said.

With minimal changes and a strong mix of experience and emerging talent, the Tigers will look to build on last season’s foundation and challenge across all formats in 2025-26.

Young Gun Sara Kennedy Signs with Tasmanian Tigers

Tasmanian cricket fans can expect to hear a lot more about one of the country’s most promising young talents, with 17-year-old pace bowler Sara Kennedy joining the Tasmanian Tigers on a two-year deal.

The left-arm quick from Skipton, in southwest Victoria, made her WNCL debut for Victoria last summer — ironically against Tasmania at Ninja Stadium — and is now set to call the Apple Isle home as she continues her rise through the national ranks.

“I’m really looking forward to joining the Tigers family down south,” Kennedy said.

“I can’t wait to get around the group and begin to work towards improving as a bowler and a teammate in a super-experienced environment!”

Sara Kennedy will join the Tasmanian Tigers for the 25/26 season. (Photo by Martin Keep/Getty Images)

A fast and aggressive bowler, Kennedy burst onto the national scene during WBBL|09 when she made her debut for the Melbourne Renegades at just 16. In 11 matches, she’s claimed best figures of 2/20 and impressed with her pace and composure under pressure.

Her performances have also earned recognition at the national level. Kennedy has been part of the Australian Women’s U19 program since she was 15, named as a reserve for the 2023 U19 World Cup and selected in the main squad for the 2025 edition in Malaysia — where Tasmanian Pathways Coach Natalie Schilov served as an assistant coach.

Her breakout season was further capped when she received the prestigious Australian Cricket Society’s Young Player of the Year award, joining an elite list of past winners including Mel Jones, current Tigers captain Elyse Villani, and Meg Lanning.

Salliann Beams, Cricket Tasmania’s High Performance General Manager, said Kennedy was a major addition to the squad and someone they had tracked closely.

“We have kept a close eye on Sara over the last 12 months and are confident we have an environment where we can harness her talent and unique skillet to be an asset for Tasmanian cricket,” Beams said.

“She is someone who can bowl with real venom and offers a point of difference to our squad, bowling with her left arm.

“I know that Jude is excited to be working with Sara, and I believe she can have an immediate impact and can play at the highest level.”

Kennedy becomes the second major signing for Tasmania ahead of the 2025-26 season, joining fellow fast bowler Courtney Sippel, with a number of key re-signings expected to be announced in the coming week.

Originally published as Sport Shorts: Furphy leans on Boomers lessons for World Cup