NEWS EXTRABy NICK POWELL

BRISTOL full-back Rich Lane is keen to see relegation and promotion return to the top flight of English rugby, but only if a fairer funding system is brought in to help Championship clubs compete as top-level professional sides. Lane, the former Bedford captain, is acutely aware of the issues around promotion and relegation; which has been effectively suspended since 2020. And he feels that the below average attendances in the Premiership and Championship had a lot to do with the fact there is not enough incentive at the bottom and the top of each league ...