Representatives of the First and Second Division Association (FASDA) voted to scrap the Second Division, which would have contained just five teams, and incorporate all 18 non-Super League outfits in one competition from next season.

The about-turn follows the promotion to Super League of First Division Grand Final champions Wakefield Trinity which left both divisions with an odd number of teams and created an unwieldy fixture format.

Rather than the 18 teams playing each other home and away, however, they will play six of their opponents just once, creating 28 fixtures.

FASDA will again operate a Grand Final Series of play-offs involving the top five teams, with the winners earning the right to apply for promotion to Super League.