GKIPA Championship

Nottingham 17 - 60 Bristol 

John Harding at Lady Bay

BRISTOL will play Premiership rugby next season after they ran in eight tries n their comprehensive demolition of hosts Nottingham.

The Greene King IPA Championship trophy will be presented to Bristol on Friday night after their final televised home game against Doncaster Knights, kick-off 7.45 pm.

“We’re back in the Premiership and that was our goal, but the hard work steps up and the preparations continue for the top flight,” said Bristol’s head coach Pat Lam.

“I’m very proud of everybody in the organisation – the players, staff, supporters and the board. They’ve done a tremendous job. We were favourites to do it, but there’s been a lot of hard work put in.

“We’ve been clear that our vision is Champions Cup, a pathway for England and Bristolians coming through. The first step was to get out of the Championship and now we have to prepare for the next phase. We all understand the work we have to do."

During the season Bristol have won 19 of their 20 Championship games with Doncaster Knights the Ashton Gate visitors on Friday night before travelling the short distance on Saturday, April 28 to face Hartpury.

Lam added: “If I reflect on the season, the two games against Ealing were incredibly tough. The thing I’m really proud of is that every team was gunning for us and raised their game, which makes the job we have done even more remarkable.”

“Next season, we will have a squad with over 70 per cent English qualified players and I’m really excited about the talent that is coming through. We’ve got to keep mentoring these guys, bringing them through and giving them opportunities.  “The fans have followed us across the country, bringing a huge support. We are so pleased to be able to bring them Premiership rugby. It’s not about survival, we don’t ever want to leave this level again.

“We have a job to do now on Friday night at Ashton Gate. We want to give our supporters a performance and its business as usual for us. We won’t let up in intensity because it’s an important game for us."

Two tries each from wing Luke Morahan and replacement Nick Fenton-Wells plus another kicking masterclass from Ireland fly-half Ian Madigan, the Championship’s leading points scorer, with 14 points led the way in Friday night’s win at Lady Bay.

Bristol's other points came through tries from skipper Jordan Crane, Tusi Pisi, Alapati Leiua and hooker Jason Harris-Wright with replacement Billy Searle adding three conversions.