NICK CAIN

THE new terrestrial broadcast deal struck between the Premiership and ITV is good news, but also long overdue.
Disappearing off terrestrial television for half a season at a time when adult male playing numbers in England have plummeted was a recipe for terminal decline. At least this deal provides the first layer of bricks to shore-up a wall which is in danger of collapsing.
Four live games, plus the 2022 Premiership Final, and also a weekly highlights programme starting on ITV on January 30, is not the worst result. However, irrespective of the Premiership deal, the RFU nee...