Bristol Bears’ success key to future of promotion, says Nigel Melville

• Well-funded Bristol have spent heavily on three players• Melville: ‘To be a yo-yo club is not a good thing’Bristol’s first season back in the Premiership is likely to have a significant bearing on whether the top flight is ring-fenced, according to the Rugby Football Union.The big-spending Bears begin their campaign against Bath on Friday and the RFU’s director of professional rugby, Nigel Melville, believes an immediate return to the Championship would push the Premiership closer towards a closed shop. Related: Premiership rugby clubs vow to join forces to tackle losses Continue reading...…