Penrice returns to Workington

Paul Penrice has had a change of heart about walking out on his job with Workington Town, the club where he has spent 16 years as player and coach.

Penrice resigned last week after only five players turned up for pre-season training, but he has now agreed to return after assurances from players that they will get serious about their preparations for the National League Two campaign. "When you've been at a club for so long it's hard to leave," he said. "I just hope now there are changes in the attitude and commitment of some players."

The New Zealand Test coach, Gary Freeman, will not learn until the new year whether he is to keep his job. The NZRL had indicated that Freeman would be asked to stay on, but they are still studying feedback from the recent tour, after which the Kiwis were criticised at home for only drawing the series with Great Britain.

Both Leeds and Castleford plan to field three of their new signings in their Boxing Day friendly at Headingley. Leeds have named two new Australians signed from British clubs, Andrew Dunemann and David Furner, as well as Chris Feather, the prop recruited from Wakefield. Castleford intend to give debuts to Damian Gibson and Francis Maloney, both signed from Salford, and the ex-Wakefield forward, Paul Jackson. In contrast, Warrington have named five teenagers without first team experience for their Boxing Day game at Widnes.

The Rugby League has appointed a firm of media consultants to help with the renegotiation of its television contracts next year. TWI are part of Mark McCormack's IMG group. Both the contracts with Sky for the coverage of Super League and with the BBC for the Challenge Cup run out after next season and getting the right deal for the future – both financially and in terms of the game's profile – is seen by the RFL as being of the highest importance.

The BBC is known to want to increase its involvement to include rights to show Tests live and, for the first time, to screen some Super League games.