KENDAL could get a 'Christmas present' in the shape of an agreement to increase the size of National League 3 North to 16 clubs and the likelihood that relegation this season would be suspended to achieve it, writes Richard Daniels.

The First Division clubs have already agreed in principle to the addition of two extra clubs to bring their ranks up to 16 through their representative body, First Division Rugby Ltd, and say that suspending relegation from Division 2 would achieve the objective.

Their belief is that the extra fixtures would provide the commercial opportunity to generate more cash and even offset any decrease in funding as the RFU annual grant to the clubs has to be spread more thinly.

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