THE idea of expanding the Aviva Premiership from 12 to 14 teams needs to be looked at carefully.

Effectively making the top table of English professional rugby a closed shop is a bold step with many ramifications.

I am loath to accept the concept of a league without promotion or relegation. To me, that stifles competition, which is the very essence of a league in the first place.

But if your place is forever protected, is there not the danger of complacency?

More importantly, if your team can’t earn promotion, what is the point of even trying?

Which is why a balance needs to be struck.

Such is the gulf in class between the Premiership and the vast majority of the Championship, promoting teams that would crumble in the top-flight serves nobody’s purpose. London Welsh have proved that.

However, in the case of Worcester Warriors and Bristol, there are two teams who are far too good for the Championship and would be bettered suited to the Premiership.

By making them part of the 14, in time for the start of the 2016-17 campaign, it would free the Championship to be more evenly matched.

Over time, the aim has to be for more clubs in the second tier to become more sustainable as professional outfits and one day aspire to join the Premiership.

That is why ring-fencing the Premiership cannot be permanent. There has to be a way in for new clubs in the future.

Not surprisingly, the majority of Premiership clubs are apparently in favour of the proposal. Being against it would be like turkeys voting for Christmas.

For those already there, this is a chance to safeguard their futures. For Warriors and Bristol, who along with Yorkshire Carnegie own Premiership shares, it is obviously good news, even if both could have earned promotion by the end of next season anyway.

Not having the fear of relegation hanging over them, as Worcester did last term, would be a welcome relief and would also make player recruitment in the short and long term much easier.

No doubt, this can’t come soon enough for some, but it needs to be approached in the right way.