Sporting digest: Rugby League

Sporting digest: Rugby League

Peter Jackson, the Australian Test centre who played with several members of the current party at club and representative level, has died in a Sydney hospital of a suspected drug overdose at the age of 33. Jackson, who played nine times for his country, went on to become a media commentator. The Australian team at Wembley this afternoon will wear black armbands as a mark of respect.

Danny Peacock yesterday signed a new two-year deal with the Super League champions Bradford Bulls.

The structure of the game's domestic competition will be changed for the third time in five years following a decision made yesterday by non- Super League clubs. Members of the First and Second Division Association voted to recommend to the Rugby Football League board of directors and the RFL Council that the League revert to two divisions in 1998. At present that would mean a division of 20 clubs, but doubts surround the future of a number of financially-stricken clubs and the number could be as low as 16 by the time clubs vote on the proposal at their meeting on 31 December.