Premiership confirm plan to scrap relegation and say it will benefit England

Scrapping Premiership relegation could help England at future World Cups, the head of the English top flight has claimed after admitting the radical plan was being explored.

Premiership Rugby chief executive Mark McCafferty confirmed Telegraph Sport’s revelation that the country’s elite clubs had discussed expanding the competition from 12 to 14 teams and ending promotion and relegation.

But he said what would be the biggest overhaul of club rugby since the game went professional 20 years ago may only be used as a temporary measure “over two or three years” ahead of talks with the Rugby…