Furness have dropped out of the Cumbria League ahead of the new season which starts next weekend.
It will reduce the League to 12 competing clubs, but the original fixture list will be retained.
Their first game should have been Whitehaven away, who will now be without a game, although Cockermouth are the spare team in the original fixture list.
John Rogers, the Cumbria League secretary said: “We are going to continue with the original format. The 12 teams will play each other either home or away then split into two conferences.
“The top six and bottom six split will play each other home and away which means clubs will have a meaningful season of 21 games before the National Cup competitions begin. The top team in the top six conference will be promoted, with no relegation.”
Brian Mitchelhill, the new Cumbria RFU president, said: “The County are providing support to them to help them return to League rugby as quickly as possible.”
The opening matches in the Cumbria League are: Silloth v Penrith 2nds; St. Benedict’s v Millom; Upper Eden v Hawcoat Park; Wigton v Egremont; Workington v Creighton
