The team that finishes top of Co-operative Championship One this year will not be automatically crowned champions, the clubs have decided.
All 10 club representatives have ratified a proposal to promote four clubs into the Championship and agreed that the champions would be determined by a top-six play-off.
There will be no relegation from the Championship, which will become a 14-team competition next year, while four new clubs, including Northampton, will enter Championship One in 2013.
"Championship One is expected to be very competitive with every team in the division in with a chance of promotion," said RFL chief operating officer Ralph Rimmer.
