English Rugby chief Cliff Brittle yesterday rejected claims that a decision has been made to scrap automatic relegation from the Allied Dunbar Premiership One this season.

Brittle, the RFU's management board chairman, hit out at an English Rugby Partnership press statement which said that Premiership One and Two would both be increased from 12 to 14 clubs next term.

League organisers ERP are proposing that the bottom two clubs in Premiership One - presently Bristol and London Irish - play off with third and fourth-placed Premiership Two teams for prized top-flight places. The Premiership Two champions and runners-up would be promoted by right.

It is understood that next season's plans could be for one up, one down, therefore increasing the prospect of effectively a closed shop containing the 14 leading English teams.

But Brittle blasted: "No proposal has yet been received by the RFU to change the league sizes from 24 to 28 clubs. "Any valid decision to increase the number of clubs must be considered and agreed by the RFU."

In yesterday's statement, ERP chairman Donald Kerr said: "After constructive discussion of the plan, members of the ERP Board ratified the proposals for next season." Peter Wheeler, ERP representative on the RFU management board, said yesterday: "The clubs are very happy with the proposals and look forward to welcoming two new clubs to the first division in the autumn."