Bristol Bears relegation could force Gallagher Premiership to ring-fence league
Daily MailIf Bristol Bears drop straight back down to the Championship it may force the Gallagher Premiership to ring-fence the league, according to a senior RFU figure. Rugby chiefs would consider ring-fencing the Gallagher's Premiership if Bristol Bears go down Backed by billionaire owner Steve Lansdown, and with southern hemisphere superstars Charles Piutau - on £1million a year salary - Steven Luatua and George Smith in their ranks the Bears are not going to die wondering. But the RFU's director of professional rugby, Nigel Melville, admits if the newly promoted team is relegated for the fifth time in seven seasons it may be time to bring up the Premiership draw-bridge and stop movement between the leagues. There is a big disparity in revenue between English rugby union's top two leagues London Welsh have come up and gone down twice - and then were liquidated - and London Irish and Bristol have swapped places in the last two years.
History of this topic
Promoted Saracens handed testing trip to Bristol Bears in Gallagher Premiership opener
The Independent
Premiership rugby to provide update next month on scrapping relegation
Daily Mail
The Gallagher Premiership is already a two-horse race - it now faces a challenge to stay relevant
The Independent
‘It‘s not about killing and attacking everything’: Why Bristol have become the bears according to Pat Lam
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