Chinnor and Oxford Harlequins have been handed boosts in their respective relegation battles after the RFU confirmed a revised league structure for next season.

At the beginning of the campaign it appeared that the bottom three sides would go down from both National 3 South and South West 1.

But now just two teams will be relegated from National 3 South and from the whole of level 5, which is South West 1, London 1, Midlands 1 and North 1.

This means that if Chinnor can retain their current position of 12th, they will be safe, while Quins may still survive even if they finish bottom.

All this stems from the introduction of a 12-team Championship division, which is designed to be a second fully professional league below the Premiership.

A third tier, now called National 1, will have 16 teams, while below that, there will be 16 sides in National 2 North and South.

National 2 will effectively be the league Chinnor are in now, but with two more teams.

If they stay up, instead of playing in South West 1, Quins will line up in a 14-team National 3 South West.

The other major local benefactors will be Wallingford and Henley Wanderers as no teams will be relegated from South West 2 level.

The EDF Energy National Trophy and Intermediate Cups are being scrapped to be replaced by national championship finals.

Chinnor coach Jason Bowers said: “I believe we are playing well enough to get outside the bottom three anyway.

“If we keep going as we are, we’ll be out of it by Christmas and stay out.

“We are not hoping to rely on this, but if we do finish third from bottom, it would useful.

“I am looking for us to finish somewhere between tenth and sixth.”

Quins coach John Brodley welcomed the news as his side bid to climb off the bottom in South West 1.

“The changes will provide much needed continuity to the season, but will also test the strength of all the squads because with games every week strength in depth is essential,” he said.

“Oxford Rugby feel well placed with the successful development of their academy system to produce a string of local talent.”