Premier Rugby and First Division Rugby have maintained their opposition to the RFU's plans for a fully-professional second tier.
Second tier plans labelled "financial suicide"
Guinness Premiership clubs have reaffirmed their opposition to a proposal by the Rugby Football Union to replace National League One by a professional Championship next season.
Under the proposal, the number of clubs in the second tier of English rugby would be reduced from 16 to 12 - participation only being granted to those willing to turn fully professional.
Although the reduction in numbers would lead to a shortfall in fixtures, the RFU have suggested end-of-season play-offs to decide promotion and relegation places.
Furthermore, four Championship clubs would compete alongside Guinness Premiership teams and the four Welsh regions in the Anglo-Welsh Cup - the rest taking part in the Anglo-Welsh Trophy.
The proposal will be put to a vote in Friday's RFU council meeting, with management board chairman Martyn Thomas urging its adoption.
"The Championship will be a vital part of the structure of English rugby," he said.
"For too long first division rugby has hovered between the community game and the Premiership, uncertain of both its standing in the structure and its future. Now is the time to establish its rightful place.
"The RFU is fully committed to funding and supporting a professional and robust league with minimum entry criteria and a salary cap that will support the Guinness Premiership."
Funding increase
The RFU said that, under the proposal, funding of the second tier would increase from £1.65million to £2.3million a year.
Revenues would also come from a new five-year television deal with Sky, scheduled to start in 2010.
However, the RFU's plans have met with opposition from both Premier Rugby (PRL) and First Division Rugby (FDR) - the organisations representing clubs in the Guinness Premiership and National League One.
Although increased RFU funding would benefit each club to the tune of £250,000, FDR has estimated that turning fully professional would cost an extra £400,000 per year in players' salaries alone.
FDR clubs, who have voted 12-4 against the proposals, are also concerned that no new format for the competition has yet been officially ratified.
Chairman Geoff Irvine sits on the RFU council and has said he will use Friday's meeting to propose amendments to the plan.
He said: "We've laid out to the RFU council our objections to these proposals and why we believe it would be asking our clubs to commit financial suicide.
"We don't understand why the RFU is in such a mad rush to try to force through a restructuring, particularly in such challenging economic times.
"Instead, Council should ask for common sense to prevail, for proper and measured consultation to take place."
FDR chief executive Geoff Cooke urged the RFU to start providing details to the clubs.
"There is talk of salary caps, talk of minimum entry standards, the clubs haven't got any details about those," he said. "You would not sign business details without reading the small print would you?"
Changing criteria
Cooke also believes the RFU are breaking their own regulations by changing the criteria regarding promotion and relegation mid-season.
The new 2009/10 Championship would comprise of the club relegated from the Premiership, clubs finishing second to 11th in National League One and the team promoted from National League Two.
Cooke questioned quite where that leaves those teams finishing between 12th and 15th in National League One this season.
"The RFU are going against their own policy," he said.
"They have always said any changes to promotion and relegation require a full season's notice. A team must be aware at the start of the season what they are playing for.
"Now, halfway through the season the union are attempting to move the goalposts. You could have the situation where the 24th best team in the country misses out to the 29th best team."
