The RFU’s latest plans for a restructured League format should be in place for the 2022/23 season.
The new rugby pyramid below the Premiership and Championship is expected to be declared in advance of the September kick-off.
Their latest review impacts on all clubs in the amateur ranks from Level 3 downwards.
That national review asked players at those levels just what they want from the game and the aim was to flatten the existing pyramid of leagues to relieve pressure on amateur players.
It appears that the players who responded to the survey overwhelmingly wanted a reduction in the number of competitive games and less time to be spent on travelling.
Reducing the number of games meant cutting the number of teams in each League. The top two divisions will reduce from 16 teams to 14 and below them only leagues of 12 teams will be permitted, which is down from the current 14.
The second problem of travelling distance has been achieved through the creation of more leagues at each level which in turn allows geographical grouping of teams and hence less travel.
The impact on individual clubs will vary. Cumbrian clubs currently operating at Level 5 and 6 are Kirkby Lonsdale, Kendal, Penrith and Carlisle.
The most likely scenario, based on current league positions is that these teams will remain at their current levels. Promotion to a higher level is still possible at these levels for a team at the pinnacle of the league but the increased number of leagues being created means that more teams are required to populate Levels 4, 5 and 6. The current feeling is that there will be no relegation to worry about.
That is likely to be good news for Carlisle, who potentially have a ten point penalty awaiting them for non-fulfilment of fixtures which would put them rock bottom of North One West.
Local teams at Level 7 are Aspatria, Keswick, Cockermouth and St Benedict’s but the increased number of leagues being created at Level 6 will required a limited amount of upward mobility from Level 7.
Current thinking is that if a team is in a Level 7 league and can finish in the top 4 then they will be promoted a level. Both Aspatria (Durham and Northumberland One) and Keswick (North Two West), in their respective leagues, remain in the fight for one of these coveted top four spots.
In the new season Level 7 rugby will be played at a restricted local level. The current thinking is that Cumbria will host a Level 7 league made up entirely of Cumbria based clubs, not too dissimilar to the existing Level 8 league.
This scenario may well be favoured by a significant number of Cumbrian clubs; a local derby every other week has its attractions.
However, the alternative view is that a place at the table at Level 6 will continue to provide a wider variety of opponents and venues plus allow playing standards to flourish.
At the time of writing there is no confirmation from the RFU of how the new structure will look when populated with named clubs.
