THE Rugby Football League have announced that promotion and relegation will take place for next season.

The decision was confirmed at a meeting of the Rugby League Council earlier this week amid numerous media reports suggesting that a restructuring to rugby league's three professional divisions is being proposed by the sport's administrators.

However from the start of the 2023 season, the structures will remain unchanged.

This means that there will be a continuation of one up, one down between the Betfred Super League and the Betfred Championship, and two up, two down between the Betfred Championship and Betfred League One.

In addition, the RFL have confirmed that talks are continuing with Betfred Super League over a realignment between the two organisations.

The RFL have said that they are making "progress towards a new governance model for the sport, following a game-wide recognition of the need for change – with the possibility of an announcement before the end of the year."

Simon Johnson, the RFL Chair said: “The discussions are progressing constructively.

"It is reflective of a mood of genuine co-operation within the game that such progress has been made over the last two months.

"We continue to talk to try and reach the finishing line.

"The regular December Council meeting presented the opportunity to update clubs on that progress, and also to provide clarity for all about what will be at stake in the 2022 season, in terms of promotion and relegation.

"After the unprecedented challenges of the last two seasons, there is every reason to be upbeat about what lies ahead from 2022."