struggling clubs Bicester and Grove can breathe a sigh of relief, as there will be no relegation from the Southern Counties North League this season.

Bicester - v - Witney

Both Southern Counties divisions are increasing their numbers from ten to 12 next season, to bring themselves in line with the divisions above.

It's all part of a radical revision of the English Clubs Championship structure, which will end the 'cascade' relegation effect and see the introduction of clubs' lower teams into the bottom two divisions.

The cascade effect, which can lead to four or more teams going down, will be eliminated in all leagues down to and including level seven (Southern Counties North).

All clubs at this level and above will, from now on, know at the start of the campaign exactly how many teams are to be relegated.

Three clubs will always be relegated from a league fed by two separate leagues (ie South West 1 and South West 2 East), and two from a league fed by one league.

In order to sustain this change, it may be necessary for a small number of clubs to move across into an equivalent league in another region.

The organising committee will first ask for volunteers to make a required move. Failing that, then clubs "causing the least disadvantage to all clubs involved (travel time and distance)", will be selected.

For example, Chinnor, the most easterly team in South West 1, could find themselves switched to London 1, provided, of course, they do not finish in the bottom three.

Leagues below level seven will continue to be relegated strictly on merit, but any cascade effect will be hugely diminished by its removal from levels four to seven.

However, for this season only, there will be no relegation from Southern Counties North.

To help fill up the two Berks, Bucks & Oxon divisions below, all clubs from those three counties are being asked if they want to bring their second and third teams into the league structure.

Didcot, who have reformed after disbanding, are also expected to apply to the new set-up.

"The league wants to increase the competitive opportunities for players in lower teams," explained Oxfordshire RFU secretary Colin Baldwin.

"Clubs such as Bicester, Witney and Oxford have shown an interest in this idea and could field their second teams in these divisions."