England's top clubs yesterday rubber-stamped the reduction of Allied Dunbar Premiership One from 14 to 12 teams, following the triple merger of London Irish, London Scottish and Richmond.
The merger had been welcomed by English First Division Rugby at the end of last season and approved by the Rugby Football Union.
But the legal process demanded that the 28 clubs who participated in last season's First and Second Divisions all had a say in the reduction - and they were not unanimous.
It is also understood that English Rugby Partnership, which controls rugby at the top, has taken provisional powers to decrease Premiership One to 10 clubs at some time in the next century - if this is thought necessary.
However, from autumn 2000 rugby will be free for three years of the restrictions imposed by next season's World Cup.
There are issues to be cleared up before Irish, Scottish and Richmond progress as a unit.
The three clubs have each been granted £500,000 by EFDR and the question remains about how much of that sum the creditors will see.
Howard Thomas, chief executive of EFDR, said: "Subject to the satisfactory completion of the new London Irish super club, EFDR has agreed a fixture list with the RFU and is pleased that the issue has been resolved."
