but back to reality, mild story. but back to reality, there has been some rain around as well, some of it heavy in the last few hours coming up from the south—west and that will drift its way steadily eastwards over night tonight. could be some heavy bursts along the east midlands and the ground is very saturated. so that is worth bearing in mind. it will ease away, clearer skies following on behind. a northerly wind kicking and across scotland. here, not quite as mild to start tomorrow. around four degrees and generally not as mild as we saw this morning. as we go through the day, not a bad day in prospect. some lovely sunshine coming through for most of us. some isolated showers in north wales, of the irish sea and northern england but on the whole, dry with some sunny spells coming through. breezy, vertically down to the channel and temperature still above where they should be for this time of year, 6-14 the should be for this time of year, 6—11; the hive. as we move into the weekend, we will see further

outbreaks of rain. it will be a tale of two halves for many of us as we go through the weekend. there will be frontal systems moving their way through. for many, it starts off a cloudy and murky, rain out to the north—west on saturday, slowly improving on sunday with the exception perhaps for the south—east. thanks, louise. and that's bbc news at six. you can keep up with all the latest developments on bbc website. now its time to join our colleagues for the news where you are — goodbye. i'm asad ahmad. hello and welcome to sportsday. we will have the latest crystal palace. with speculation he was going to lose hisjob, roy hodgson has taken ellen training with india are still on top in the third

test. get ready for liftoff. another super league season starts tonight. can anyone challenge the warriors? also coming up on sports day, managing colitis and a professional football career we're going to meet the player looking to raise awareness of what be a debilitating condition. jeopardising women's welfare, we have a special report on the gender gap in sports science. i want to see money going into supporting female athletes in the same way that we support the male teams. it's been a fairly tumultuous day at

crystal palace. it's been a fairly tumultuous day at crystal palace-— crystal palace. with increasing speculation — crystal palace. with increasing speculation that _ crystal palace. with increasing speculation that roy _ crystal palace. with increasing speculation that roy hodgsonl crystal palace. with increasing . speculation that roy hodgson was crystal palace. with increasing - speculation that roy hodgson was set to lose his job at the club. he was seen arriving at training with a news conference to be cancelled. he was taken ill and taken to hospital. he is in a stable condition and undergoing tests. here is the crystal palace reporter. good evening. thank you forjoining us. the most important thing and that is the health of roy hodgson. it must be hugely worrying and distressing time for all of his friends and family and those at the club. i am sure everyone _ family and those at the club. i am sure everyone will _ family and those at the club. i am sure everyone will first _ family and those at the club. i am sure everyone will first of- family and those at the club. i —n sure everyone will first of all wish roy hodgson all the best and wish that he is ok, obviously. the club have said that he is in isina is in a stable condition in hospital which is good news. he was taken ill towards the end of a training session this morning. the press conference that he was due to take at 1:30pm was cancelled half an hour before that that was due to start. when he was taken ill the players were all very shocked. and

obviously, everyone there was very shocked and concerned for his health. but it is very good news that he is now stable. i health. but it is very good news that he is now stable.— health. but it is very good news that he is now stable. i handed all the speculation _ that he is now stable. i handed all the speculation because _ that he is now stable. i handed all the speculation because as - that he is now stable. i handed all the speculation because as soon l that he is now stable. i handed all| the speculation because as soon as the speculation because as soon as the press conferences cancelled, we presumed it was for one reason, really, that the sacking was on the cards. due to unrest amongst the fans who have really directed their angen fans who have really directed their anger, not so much towards roy hodgsonin anger, not so much towards roy hodgson in the team but after this dreadful run of form, towards the board level. dreadful run of form, towards the board level-— dreadful run of form, towards the board level. , ., , , ., , board level. yes, absolutely. it has been a really _ board level. yes, absolutely. it has been a really difficult _ board level. yes, absolutely. it has been a really difficult period. - been a really difficult period. competitions including for defeats at brighton in which the fans again turned against the club and the way that it was being run and the board and also at roy hodgson in the team as well, calling on the chairman

steve parish to leave and also on roy hodgson to leave. there were demonstrations on monday night as well in the 3—1 defeat by chelsea. they held up some banners criticising the club and the direction. that has become more prominent, really, those concerns have become more prominent in recent weeks and since the turn of the year, really, ithink weeks and since the turn of the year, really, i think it is for defeats out of the last five in all competitions. they were knocked out of the fa cup by ever turn in an fa cup third round replay. it has been a difficult time. it has been difficult with injuries, they have lost key players due to injury. it has been a really tough time for crystal palace. just has been a really tough time for crystal palace.— crystal palace. just briefly, - lease, crystal palace. just briefly, please. at _ crystal palace. just briefly, please, at the _ crystal palace. just briefly, please, at the back- crystal palace. just briefly, please, at the back of - crystal palace. just briefly, please, at the back of that | crystal palace. just briefly, - please, at the back of that terrible run, everything seemed to be pointing towards the former manager

oliver being lined up to replace roy hodgson. oliver being lined up to replace roy hoduson. . v oliver being lined up to replace roy hoduson. . 3 ~ oliver being lined up to replace roy hoduson. . 2 . hodgson. that's right. we reported this morning _ hodgson. that's right. we reported this morning and _ hodgson. that's right. we reported this morning and others _ hodgson. that's right. we reported this morning and others have - this morning and others have reported that roy hodgson was set to be dismissed as palace manager after that run of form. and oliver gardner was due to take over. obviously today's situation has perhaps changed things a little bit in terms of timings but we do still expect roy hodgson to leave and glasner to take over. glasner is a good manager, he has managed already to unite the board around him and he won the europa league with frankfurt in 2022. certainly a high cut of manager that they are bringing in and a slightly departure from what

they have gone for previously. many thanks for the _ they have gone for previously. many thanks for the update. _ there were highlights of england. but india's celebrated two centurions reaching 326 for five by the close. traffic outside the stadium. taking two innings rapidly.

the captain on 27 should have been caught there. instead he started hitting here. the bowler... but the day was row hit making his way for 100. their partnership over 200 runs together. just when it seems he could hit the ball anywhere, he found ben stokes. making his debut, he looked at ease for india. got to 15 and looked up to see his dad. batting on 99, seeking another run, at the other end they responded and run him out. spot the reaction from india's captain. england misused their reviews, they couldn't remove him. his flourish and he is still there. india 326 for five setting the pace. look to be a pretty tough day for england but the assistant coach said that they won't really know how good or bad it was until the end of the

day's play tomorrow. we or bad it was until the end of the day's play tomorrow.— day's play tomorrow. we fought hard all the way through _ day's play tomorrow. we fought hard all the way through the _ day's play tomorrow. we fought hard all the way through the day - day's play tomorrow. we fought hard all the way through the day right - all the way through the day right until the end. obviously great to see when he got that run and put a big smile on his face. but, yes, i thought it was a hard—fought day and i guess we will see tomorrow and hopefully we can see some wickets. we will see tomorrow after how good of the day's play that has been. we can still test this with the five match series. with his assessment of the first test. match series. with his assessment of the first test-— the first test. because we had been told that the _ the first test. because we had been told that the weather _ the first test. because we had been told that the weather is _ the first test. because we had been told that the weather is going - the first test. because we had been told that the weather is going to . told that the weather is going to be incredibly hot and it still will be but it was a cool morning, a little bit of moisture. mark wood, back in the team after missing the second test. remember, this is the first time in the series that england have got to pace bowlers and they bowled excellently in tandem with wood

taking the wickets. india were 33 for three and england had a stunning first hour. what followed was an exceptional fightback from first hour. what followed was an exceptionalfightback from rohit exceptional fightback from rohit sharma. exceptionalfightback from rohit sharma. i think india do marginally hold the advantage. if you are fielding first and you've taken five wickets in the first day, you can be happy with your efforts but england will know that they could have taken more wickets and they will also know that this pitch is set to deteriorate in england will have to bat last. ., ., a bat last. time for a quick look the other stories. _ bat last. time for a quick look the other stories. tnt _ bat last. time for a quick look the other stories. tnt sports - bat last. time for a quick look the other stories. tnt sports has - bat last. time for a quick look the i other stories. tnt sports has agreed a ford year deal to show fa cup matches. bbc and itv currently have the rights and another broadcaster will also show matches from 2025 but their identity is yet to be announced. arsenal could break the

record again for a wsl crowd when they host manchester united in the women's super league on saturday. it is a sell—out at the emirates. 69,000 watched them beat chelsea in december. manchester united have approached the sporting director dan ashworth aboutjoining the club, he has been there since 2022. he previously held similar roles at brighton on the football association. kelly mbappe has told paris saint—germain that he will leave the league champions at the end of the season. the french forward was close to joining last summer and that is again his most likely destination. although the 25 year old will be out of contract, he has a one—year extension clause, so it is expected psg will still be able to recoup some of the £165 million that they paid for him in 2017, when hejoined as a teenager from monaco.

the super league season starts this evening we will head there in just a moment. the super league season starts this evening with the hull derby, we'll head live there in a moment. the champions wigan warriors start their campaign at castleford and warrington are also playing on saturday at catalans dragons. there'll be a lot of attention on wolves over the next few months with the return of sam burgess to the english game. taking on his first head coach role. adam wild reports. he was once the most talked about player on the planet. sam burgess is the man to deliver. but now the conversation has turned to coaching. sam burgess — warrington wolves boss. i've actually found it quite natural. i've enjoyed the challenges it's thrown at me, watching players grow individually and then the team knit together. so yeah, i really, really enjoyed it. the sam burgess story is already the stuff of legend. and young, burgess 17 years of age,.

a precociously talented teenager, incredibly one of four professional rugby league playing brothers, all of whom took their talent down under. the south sydney rabbitohs, owned by russell crowe, was where sam excelled. he captained his country, playing alongside his brothers. his, theirs, is a rugby league dynasty that may never be matched. but warrington, they've always had high hopes and now with a new superstar coach, could he be the inspiration to match that aspiration? well, they've already had the perspiration. sam's victory on tv show sas australia, leading to the preseason military boot camp. yeah, three days we did. cold, wet, miserable. as you can imagine. sam said it'll not make you a better rugby player, but it will make you a better team mate. and i think we got better at that. i think when the look back on it, you might see the reasoning for it, but whilst they're in the middle of it, they didn't quite enjoy it. but if it helps us a small bit then it was worth it.

but a few sore heads at the end of it. still amidst the highs, it's a career that's overcome plenty. the burgess brothers lost their father, also a rugby league player, at a young age to motor neurone disease. much more recently, issues in sam burgess's private life have made both front and back pages. i think i've been through some really tough times growing up, as a player, as a retired player and as a coach, i'll probably go through some things. but personally, i've grown as a human being since all that. overall, i think it'll make me a better coach. in a twist of sporting fate, the coach that gave him his chance as a player almost 20 years ago will also be the coach he comes up against in his first game in charge. when he was 17 and was a young adolescent trying to turn into a man, he was going through sort of things with his with his family, with his father's illness. and to see a young man cope with that situation, to look after his father, not only that, to integrate

into a dressing room and play super league, play internationals, at such a young age, all the achievements he's done in the sport, i think dealing with that as a young man in a family situation is as good an accolade, and that's the most thing i'm most proud of him for. the return of sam burgess was a hot topic amongst those at the season's launch. still, there is plenty more to discuss, like who can stop reigning champions wigan or current world club champions st helens? completing the super league line up this year is london. the broncos back once again as the sports tries to crack the capital conundrum. the season, though, begins in more traditional surroundings, a hull derby — kicking off a super league commanding more attention than ever before. adam wild, bbc news. so the new season is almost upon us, first up hull fc against hull kr, adam wild is at the mkm stadium.

good evening. so, this season a clean slate, such optimism amongst the teams. how open is it realistic going to be? i’m the teams. how open is it realistic going to be?— going to be? i'm struggling to remember — going to be? i'm struggling to remember a _ going to be? i'm struggling to remember a time _ going to be? i'm struggling to remember a time when - going to be? i'm struggling to remember a time when there | going to be? i'm struggling to - remember a time when there was this much buzz on this level of anticipation around the start of a super league season. so many fascinating stories that we had there from sam burgess, perhaps the biggest name anywhere in the world in rugby league. it will be really interesting to see how he gets on in his first role as a manager. the wigan warriors start their season on saturday. we start properly in a couple of weeks' time with the world cup challenge against the champions. what of st helens? they won it four times before last season for the first time in a very long time, they are not red—hot champions. they were

very interesting to see that shift in mindset for them. of course, this season as a backdrop of the new rugby league system which comes into play at the end of the system. it's pretty complicated but in short, the opposition leader is fading as a backdrop of the new rugby league system which comes into play at the end of the system. it's pretty complicated but in short, the opposition leader the london broncos will almost certainly be relegated whatever happens. it will be interesting to see the effect that has a other teams around the bottom. what about the fans? in truth, they have never had it so good. for a sport that has always struggled to get eyes upon it for the first time, super league is going to be shown live on the bbc which is a really fascinating and exciting development for the sport. and quickly the two teams that you will be seeing this evening. teams that you will be seeing this evenina. ,, ., , teams that you will be seeing this evenina. ,, . , .,, , teams that you will be seeing this evenina. ,, ., , ,, evening. semifinalist lasts season, are they looking — evening. semifinalist lasts season, are they looking to _ evening. semifinalist lasts season, are they looking to put _ evening. semifinalist lasts season, are they looking to put on? -

evening. semifinalist lasts season, are they looking to put on? what l evening. semifinalist lasts season, are they looking to put on? what a j are they looking to put on? what a fascinatin: are they looking to put on? what a fascinating and _ are they looking to put on? what a fascinating and explosive - are they looking to put on? what a fascinating and explosive start - are they looking to put on? what a fascinating and explosive start to l fascinating and explosive start to the new season. you would be hard pushed to find any derby in the world of rugby league that is as fiercely contested as the —— whole league. red and white, to the west and where we are tonight and black—and—white. whenever those two sides come together, it is always a really memorable occasion. hull fc had a very difficult couple of years, a lot of pessimism around the start of the season. but hull kr, doubly difficult for them. they will be there or thereabouts. biggest match of the season, first game of the season and there really is nowhere to hide. we are expecting a massive crowd here, perhaps the biggest opening night crowd of super league ever. biggest opening night crowd of super leaaue ever. �* . ., , biggest opening night crowd of super league ever-— league ever. adam has some skin in the name league ever. adam has some skin in the game as — league ever. adam has some skin in the game as you _ league ever. adam has some skin in the game as you can _ league ever. adam has some skin in the game as you can probably - league ever. adam has some skin in the game as you can probably tell. the game as you can probably tell but we are not allowed to tell which

way. many thanks indeed, adam wilde. despite the huge boom in women's sport, in terms of coverage and investment, there's one really important aspect that seems to be lacking, sports science. as recently as 2021, only 6% of research focussed solely on women. campaigners argue the gender gap is jeopardising player welfare, particularly brain health. the available research suggests female athletes are more likely to get concussed, and more likely to suffer dementia in retirement — but we don't know why. our correspondent katie gornall has been given exclusive access to a ground—breaking study looking to understand more about these issues. it's a chilly tuesday evening and the west brom women football team it is time to hit the training pitch. this is not your average drill. they are taking part in a ground—breaking study using smart mouth guards looking at how heading the ball influences brain function and looking at how the player's

menstrual cycle affects the results. this mouthguard communicates with our machine here and it feeds back data about the impacts that the athlete is exposed to during the training or during the matches. after the drill it is back to the classroom further tests. bully there is a lot of concern about safeguarding about health later in life, after retirement and this is notjust life, after retirement and this is not just concussion life, after retirement and this is notjust concussion injuries but also impact by heading the ball. females are fantastically complicated creatures and we have these _ complicated creatures and we have these hormones that change throughout the cycle every month. these _ throughout the cycle every month. these hormones may have an impact on brain function— these hormones may have an impact on brain function and how we recover from _ brain function and how we recover from head — brain function and how we recover from head impacts.— from head impacts. historically women have — from head impacts. historically women have been _ from head impacts. historically women have been overlooked i from head impacts. historically - women have been overlooked when it comes to research. up until 2021, only 6% of sport science research focused solely on female athletes. the west brom, this study is about seeing the picture. it the west brom, this study is about seeing the picture.— seeing the picture. it has been really eye-opening. _

seeing the picture. it has been really eye-opening. there - seeing the picture. it has been really eye-opening. there is l seeing the picture. it has been i really eye-opening. there is not really eye—opening. there is not much research around it so it is really good to be an important part of that journey to improve women's sport. of that “ourney to improve women's sort. ., ,., ., of that “ourney to improve women's sort. ., ., ., of that “ourney to improve women's sort. ., . ., ~' sport. how important do you think it is that we learn _ sport. how important do you think it is that we learn more _ sport. how important do you think it is that we learn more about - sport. how important do you think it is that we learn more about it? - sport. how important do you think it is that we learn more about it? as i is that we learn more about it? as the game is growing and there is more _ the game is growing and there is more focus around player care, the research _ more focus around player care, the research is — more focus around player care, the research is getting better. in ten or 15_ research is getting better. in ten or 15 years. _ research is getting better. in ten or 15 years, we will do our best to support— or 15 years, we will do our best to support them. or 15 years, we will do our best to support them-— or 15 years, we will do our best to support them. or 15 years, we will do our best to su ort them. . , ., ., support them. campaigners argue that the render support them. campaigners argue that the gender gap — support them. campaigners argue that the gender gap has _ support them. campaigners argue that the gender gap has held _ support them. campaigners argue that the gender gap has held women's - the gender gap has held women's sport back. here is how to address it. . ., ., ~ sport back. here is how to address it. ~ ., ., ~ ., , sport back. here is how to address it. what i would like to see is fundinu. it. what i would like to see is funding- l— it. what i would like to see is funding. i want _ it. what i would like to see is funding. i want to _ it. what i would like to see is funding. i want to see - it. what i would like to see is funding. i want to see money it. what i would like to see is - funding. i want to see money going into supporting female athletes in the same way that we support the male teams. that their locker rooms, their medical facilities, male teams. that their locker rooms, their medicalfacilities, their access to experts, they care all around the women is equal to that of men. figs around the women is equal to that of men. ~ , ., �* , around the women is equal to that of

men. a ., �*, around the women is equal to that of men. ., men. as women's sport developing develo s, men. as women's sport developing develops. the _ men. as women's sport developing develops, the science _ men. as women's sport developing develops, the science supporting i men. as women's sport developing develops, the science supporting itj develops, the science supporting it is developing as well and not a moment too soon. we'll have more from katie on this tomorrow, when we hear from a world cup winner forced to retire from rugby on medical grounds because of repeated concussions. jack fitzwater made his professional debut almost ten years ago. but last season, the exeter city defender was diagnosed with colitis, a debilitating condition affecting the bowel. he has now found the right medication to help manage his symptoms. elizabeth conway reports. 26—year—old jack fitzwater appears to be at the peak of health and fitness. he currently playing for exeter city. last season he started experiencing a serious health issue. it

last season he started experiencing a serious health issue.— a serious health issue. it started with having _ a serious health issue. it started with having urgent _ a serious health issue. it started with having urgent need - a serious health issue. it started with having urgent need to - a serious health issue. it started with having urgent need to go i a serious health issue. it started with having urgent need to go to a serious health issue. it started - with having urgent need to go to the toilet, everyone knows when they have diarrhoea and need to go to the toilet and i thought, what have i eaten? i made loads of excuses and hid it. i put a brave face on and it didn't really affect my performances but that meant that my recovery was taking longer. fist but that meant that my recovery was taking longer-—

taking longer. at the end of last season, taking longer. at the end of last season. he _ taking longer. at the end of last season, he moved _ taking longer. at the end of last season, he moved back- taking longer. at the end of last season, he moved back to - taking longer. at the end of last - season, he moved back to england. it was during a family holiday that it hit breaking point.— hit breaking point. i was thinking to m self, hit breaking point. i was thinking to myself. how _ hit breaking point. i was thinking to myself, how my _ hit breaking point. i was thinking to myself, how my going - hit breaking point. i was thinking to myself, how my going to - hit breaking point. i was thinking to myself, how my going to play| to myself, how my going to play football? finally got some stool samples take and that's when they said that i have got quite a severe case of colitis. it's the end of the world at the time but when you get the right medication then you are good to go. jackjoined axa —— mexico city and the team have given him had theirfull support. there him had their full support. there are conversations _ him had their full support. there are conversations that _ him had their full support. there are conversations that you - him had their full support. there are conversations that you can i him had their full support. there i are conversations that you can have people understand. why is now the time that you want to come out and say that i am a footballer and i have colitis?— say that i am a footballer and i have colitis? four or five people sa that have colitis? four or five people say that they — have colitis? four or five people say that they have _ have colitis? four or five people say that they have been - have colitis? four or five people i say that they have been struggling with this for years similar symptoms and they need to go and see a gp. when i say, look, i am a footballer, we are normal humans we have day—to—day problems. people might go and then, you know what, if he can do it then so can i. i have become a member of the colitis community and they send over a pack. if you are

out in public and need to find a toilet, if disabled toilets a lot, you have got a key here that you can open those doors with. because it's a illness that you can't see, little things like that can make a massive difference. . . difference. that the centre back, “ust difference. that the centre back, just another _ difference. that the centre back, just another challenge _ difference. that the centre back, just another challenge dealt - difference. that the centre back, | just another challenge dealt with. exeter city, jack fitzwater and how he is raising awareness of colitis a condition that he suffers with. a reminder of our top story, the crystal palace manager roy hodgson taken ill at training today and he has been undergoing tests at hospital. the club say that if he is in a stable condition. the day that started at palace with huge speculation that he is set to be sacked by the club with the former frankfurt manager oliver glasner apparently already offered a

two—year deal. more on that on the bbc sport website. keep on top of all of tonight's european football, no british clubs involved in the europa league matches. from the team at sports day, goodbye. hello there. normally at this time of the year, maximum temperatures would be eight or nine degrees. now, today wasn't a record breaker by any means, but it was unusually mild, particularly for england and wales, 17 degrees in worcestershire and also suffolk and in the north east of england, it was 16 degrees in durham. those high temperatures came because we had a southerly breeze and we also broke the cloud up to give some sunshine here and there as well. but that was ahead of the rain. and whilst it was 15 degrees in manchester for a while, we have seen the cloud thickening across wales and western parts of england with some rain developing. the rain's cleared away from scotland and northern ireland, but this band of rain will push south eastwards across england and wales. should be gone by the end

of the night and it's going to leave some clear spells, but a few showers towards the north and the west and not quite as warm as it was last night, but still a mild start to friday. and friday should be a quiet day, really. we're going to find some spells of sunshine. they'll shower coming over the irish sea into england and wales and a few showers for a while in the far north of scotland may well turn out to be quite sunny across southern counties of england and the winds should be fairly gentle as well. those temperatures not quite as high as today, but 12 degrees in the central belt of scotland is above average, still around 1a in the south east of england and across east anglia. now, over the weekend, we're looking to the atlantic to see some rain. that first weather front is just going to fade away. this is the main feature of the weather through the weekend. that rain pushing its way eastwards, starting drive for many places i think on saturday. but there will be a lot of cloud, a few spots of rain ahead of the main rain band that's bringing some wet weather over northern ireland, moving a little more quickly over the irish sea into western parts of england and wales and into western scotland later on in the day as well.

but still ahead of that, we've got temperatures reaching 13 or 1a degrees. if it does brighten up a little bit, that band of rain moves eastwards overnight. we're all going to get some spells of rain for a while. it does clear away more readily from the northern half of the uk, but a different story further south where we could well hang on to some rain across parts of england and wales even into the afternoon. this rain pushing slowly south eastwards, eventually clearing wales more sunshine and dry weather for northern england, for scotland and also for northern ireland. barring the odd shower in the far north west of scotland, we're still in this quite mild air mass. so again, temperatures will be around 12 to 1a.

live from london. this is bbc news. dwindling ammunition and a growing casualty list. the bbc visits the ukraine front line, where soldiers are urging the us to provide further military assistance. last year, these men were firing 80 shells a day at russian positions around avdiivka. not any more. so these are the last two shells that you have? "yes," says the officer in charge. a setback for two of the world's biggest economies — the uk and japan

fall into recession. we'll get a sense of the mood among the uk's smallerfirms. the israeli army raids southern gaza's main hospital — it says it has credible evidence hostages have been held there. hello, i'm rich preston. welcome to the daily global, where we'll bring you the top stories from around the world. the secretary—general of nato says america's failure to approve continued military assistance to ukraine is already having an impact on the battlefield. jens stoltenberg was speaking after ukraine described the situation on the front line as increasingly difficult. the nato chief said he expected congress would eventually approve an aid package. it's being held up by republicans in the lower house. his warning comes as russian forces appear close to surrounding the ruins of the front line town of avdiivka in the donetsk region, following months of heavy fighting in eastern ukraine.