Premiership clubs warned over relegation plans as England coach Stuart Lancaster demands say

Stuart Lancaster says he expects to be consulted over the radical proposals to ring-fence the Premiership from 2016, with the England head coach warning that any changes to the league structure could have implications for the national squad beyond the next two World Cups.

The Daily Telegraph exclusively revealed on Thursday that England’s leading clubs have proposed a plan to expand the top flight for the start of the 2016-17 season and then scrap promotion and relegation in what would be the biggest overhaul of club rugby since the game went professional 20 years ago.

The fine details …