Championship teams would play 22 league games per season, with eight top clubs playing off for one promotion place.

Under the plan 2008 champions Northampton would still have had to win a play-off to reach the Premiership

The plan also retains promotion and relegation to and from the Championship from the division below, allaying fears the top two divisions are to be ring-fenced.

The RFU Council will discuss the plan at a meeting on Friday, where it may give the proposals the go-ahead.

[The plan] will give clubs more financial security than ever before and create a vibrant and viable structure to take the game forward RFU chief Martyn Thomas

The RFU and First Division Rugby, the organisation that represents Division One teams, have been locked in negotiations over the division's future since January.

Under the new plans, the Championship would receive £2.3m per year from the RFU for two years, plus £1m from Premier Rugby - representing Guinness Premiership clubs - for eight years, as well as sponsorship and a share of the RFU's new five-year TV rights deal with Sky.

After two years, the RFU's injection would be replaced by cash given to those clubs who field England-qualified players and improve their facilities.

The first Championship line-up would include those clubs finishing in second to 11th places in National League One this season, plus the relegated Premiership team and the promoted National Two outfit.

CHAMPIONSHIP CHANGES 12 teams, down from 16 22 regular season games Promotion and relegation play-offs RFU funding, salary cap and minimum ground requirements

Promotion from the Championship would be determined via end-of-season play-offs involving two groups of four teams, drawn from the top eight in the league, culminating in a single winner, who would go up to the Premiership.

The bottom four would play each other home and away in a relegation play-off pool, with the last-placed team after six rounds of matches switching divisions with the top team from the third tier, which will now be named National Division One.

Below the third tier, National Division Two would comprise two 16-team leagues split into North and South, with four regional Division Threes.

"The Championship will be a vital part of the structure of English rugby," said RFU chairman Martyn Thomas.

NEW STRUCTURE CHAMPIONSHIP - 12 teams, one up, one down NATIONAL ONE - 16 teams (five not included in Ch'ship, nine from National Two, one up from National Three North, one up from National Three South) NATIONAL TWO - 32 teams in two leagues, divided into North and South (clubs from existing National Three) NATIONAL THREE - Four leagues (London, Midlands, North, South West), clubs from existing National Three and below)

"Now is the time to establish its rightful place. The RFU is fully committed to funding and supporting a professional and robust league, with minimum entry criteria and a salary cap, that will support the Guinness Premiership.

"That significant investment, coupled with more matches and television coverage under the Sky Sports contract, will give the clubs more financial security than ever before and create a vibrant and viable structure to take the game forward."

Last month, London Welsh chief executive Peter Thomas told the BBC changes had to be made.

"We need to move forward, the league needs to move forward, and the sooner we get clarity the better," he said.

606: DEBATE All the clubs should be helped to turn professional. It's unfair with half semi-pro, half pro teams joe_s

"As we've seen this year, the league can't continue as it is. There's too big a gap between those clubs at the top and the bottom - it's uncompetitive."

If any of the 12 clubs invited into the Championship were to decide not to turn pro, their place would be offered to the next highest-ranked side in the league.

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