British rugby league’s third tier will increase to 15 teams and adopt a Super League-style mid-season split, with club chairmen and chief executives approving the decision at a meeting last week.
French club Toulouse have been offered and accepted a place in the division, with teams playing each other once before the top eight break off and play each for a second time.
Meanwhile, sides that finish in the bottom seven after 14 regular season matches will play off for their own prize – much like the current Championship Shield.
The split is designed to produce more competitive matches in a division currently defined by its north-south divide.