Finn Russell says promotion and relegation is a major factor in French rugby boasting three of the four Champions Cup semi-finalists.
The English Premiership has not had relegation for the past two seasons - nor a single representative in the last four of Europe’s blue riband competition.
It is hard to measure accurately the effect of a closed shop on competition other than that Bath, in particular, and also Worcester have taken some frightful hidings which do nothing for the standing of the league.
