League expansion plan discussed by clubs

RUGBY:

THIRD-TIER clubs such as Oldham are debating the format of an enlarged Kingstone Press Championship One in 2015.

Super League and the Championship will each be trimmed from 14 clubs to 12, which will increase the number in Championship One from nine to 13.

That number will rise again if, as expected, Coventry Bears follow Oxford, Hemel and Gloucester into the part-time professional ranks where all three enjoyed a relatively smooth baptism in their first season.

Coventry are currently in division three of the National Conference, beneath Saddleworth Rangers, St Anne’s and Waterhead, but they are known to have the facilities, backing and ambition to take a quantum leap into Championship One.

The RFL has made no official announcement yet, but Championship One clubs are understood to have been given three options based on 14 clubs.

Option one is for a 26-game, home and away programme with automatic promotion for the team finishing top and a second promotion place decided by a play-off for the second to fifth teams.

Option two has 22 league games (same arrangements for seeing two clubs promoted) plus a 16-team knock-out cup involving all Championship One clubs and league and cup winners from the National Conference.

Option three requires clubs to settle for 20 league games plus a cup competition, but with a different format for determining promotion. In this case the winner of one v two would go up. The loser would joins teams three to five in a play-off to provide the other promoted club.

Clubs seem to be favouring option two, but are concerned there is no additional funding in 2015 and the extra games could cost the teams money, rather than bringing extra revenue