The 2008-09 season was an all-time low for Bristol, as the club were relegated from the Premiership, their demotion being confirmed well before the end of the campaign, and in February parted company with head coach Richard Hill.

Indeed, ever since the formation of the league system, the club have toyed with relegation and promotion to and from English rugby's top flight.

Bristol's most successful period was undoubtedly the 1971-72 season, when they won 39 games and were crowned unofficial English and Anglo-Welsh champions.

However, the last decade has been more of a struggle. In 1998 Bristol were relegated to the second tier and only a last-minute rescue package by Malcolm Pearce guaranteed the club's financial security.

New director of rugby Bob Dwyer had just 22 days to prepare his squad for the opening game of the season, but went on to secure promotion on the last day.

The likes of South Africa's Henry Honiball and Argentines Agustin Pichot and Eduardo Simone then arrived at the Memorial Stadium.

With former captain Dean Ryan as head coach, Bristol experienced a scintillating 2001-02 season, reaching the final of the Zurich Championship and securing a Heineken Cup spot for the first time in their history.

Ryan departed for Gloucester and in the Christmas of 2002 owner Pearce announced he would be quitting the club at the end of that season.

In the summer of 2003 former England scrum-half Hill took over as head coach of the newly-relegated club and gained promotion two years later, only for it all to go wrong in 2008-9.