katie prescott, bbc news. let s talk to our political correspondent, nick eardley. we will talk more about contingency planning in a moment, but first of all, masks in the schools, what is the government saying? the calculation the government saying? the calculation is the government saying? the calculation is that the government saying? tue: calculation is that by the government saying? tte: calculation is that by introducing face coverings in secondary schools for a few weeks in england there is more chance of keeping them open when the school holidays end. there has been some criticism on this. the labour party has said it is to last minute and the government has not given enough notice. there are a number of tory mps who are concerned about the measure. we heard from the chair of the education select committee, robert elstone this morning, saying he thinks it will impact on the mental health of young people at secondary school. but the hope the government has is that this
Super League signs a new broadcast deal with Sky BETFRED Super League has announced a new two-year broadcast deal with Sky Sports. The agreement ends a long, drawn-out period of negotiation started in 2020 by executive chairman Robert Elstone and concluded by his temporary replacement Ken Davy. The new deal will kick in when the current five-year agreement with Sky runs out at the end of the year and extends the partnership between the broadcaster and Super League to the end of 2023, a period of 28 years. The original deal, struck in 1995 with Rupert Murdoch to pave the way for a switch to summer, was worth £87million spread over five years and the latest agreement will signify another drop in the value of rugby league s premier league.
Wigan owner Ian Lenagan. Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com WIGAN Warriors owner Ian Lenagan wants to see changes made to the structure of Super League in the wake of the departure of executive chairman Robert Elstone but railed against calls to reunify with the Rugby Football League. The resignation of Elstone - less than three years after being head-hunted to lead the breakaway from the governing body - came on the eve of the 2021 season and at a delicate time in negotiations with Sky over a new television deal. Lenagan, who addressed a number of key issues at a press conference at Wigan s pre-season media day, admitted Elstone faced a thankless task under the existing structure and was never likely to get a proposed £65million private equity deal through as it needed the unanimous approval of the 12 clubs.