I got this reply from the BBC today

Thanks for contacting the BBC regarding ‘Richard Bacon’ broadcast on the 22nd April.

I understand you were very disappointed with the ineptitude of the team during the live draw for the Tetley's Challenge Cup 2013 fifth round. I note you feel it was clear that the team did not seem to know what they were talking about, got the draw and the names of the teams wrong and the whole section was disrespectful and unprofessional.

Recognising your concerns and unhappiness about the draw, we reviewed the programme and discussed points raised by listeners with the station’s senior editorial team.

The team have asked us to personally thank you for getting in touch and to assure you that BBC Radio 5 Live and sister station BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra are absolutely committed to coverage of Rugby League.

They explain that thus far in 2013, the stations have broadcast some 36 hours of live coverage of the sport and that they’ve secured the rights to broadcast this year’s World Cup with an aim to offer live coverage of all 28 matches. BBC Radio 5 Live’s commitment to the sport was further demonstrated by their desire to undertake the Challenge Cup fifth round draw live on air from our Salford studios on Monday.

However, the team responsible do acknowledge in light of your points that they didn’t get the tone of the draw right on air. The team have discussed this with Richard Bacon himself along with his production team and Richard acknowledges that he got the tone wrong thus he apologises to listeners as he genuinely didn’t mean to upset any Rugby League fans.

We'd like to assure you that your feedback has been registered on our audience log. This is a daily report of audience feedback that's made available to many BBC staff, including members of the BBC Executive Board, programme makers, channel controllers and other senior managers.

The audience logs are seen as important documents that can help shape decisions about future programming and content.

We very much hope that you will feel reassured as to the BBC’s on-going commitment to Rugby League across BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra, and that you will agree that we have taken your points on board.

Thank you again for taking the time to write to us and bringing your feelings on this matter to our attention.

Kind Regards

Audrie Wilson

BBC Complaints

I got something more or less the same, but no mention of a suggestion that a televised draw on the 3 relevant 'Look North' programmes would be appreciated with a simultanious audio broadcast of 'Radio 5 Live'.

Bacon is a halfwhit (and that is being kind), the BBC really don't give a to55 about RL, we just need to accept it.

Bacon is to journalism what lettcue is to cannibalism.

I tend to agree. I listen to five a lot in the car when travelling with work, and his program often makes me switch to the ipod

Apparently the Controller of Radio Five Live contacted the RFL directly after the show as he realised how bad it was and no doubt expected a backlash.

As far as I'm aware the Quarter Final draw is being held in the same slot the week after next so it will be very interesting to hear how it goes.

lets be honest, we all just hope we're in it!

To be fair to the BBC, that sounds like a little more than the usual auto-generated corporate apology. Fair play to them for that.

Proof in the pudding I suppose.