So, we're just half a season away from the new, fantastic National League. Designed by committee, it's intended to provide the blueprint for Rugby League's bright new future. In the Current NFP, the structure's pretty much understood - finish in the top nine for the bus to League One, competitive games, reasonable crowds and a hopeless pitch at Stupid League. Finish tenth or below for the trapdoor to the League of Death where the sound of six people clapping and rolling tumbleweed accompanies your club's spiral into obscurity. But what about the much vaunted League Three?

Rumours were that just six clubs had showed an inkling of interest - and that three of those weren't suitable. Rochdalehornets.com takes a look at how League Three is expected to work.

As the NFP season gets back into gear the Rugby Football League and the British Amateur Rugby League Association have confirmed that the plan to introduce a National League Three in 2003 is still firmly on track.

Changes to the division's entry criteria will enable BARLA clubs to participate and, at the
same time, play in the traditional - some might say proper - winter league. This would enable clubs to play in both summer and winter seasons.

The National League Three Division will be an amateur competition administered by BARLA and with set minimum standards . There will be no automatic promotion to and relegation from National League Two at this stage. It is however hoped to develop regional summer leagues (probably based around the Summer Conference) to sit below National League Three eventually leading to promotion and relegation.

Clubs in National League three can, however, apply for membership of National League Two as and when the competition is looking to expand. The 'closed shop' entry-by-application system is also designed to avoid having to relegate semi-professional clubs into an amateur league.

The preferred structure of Nat. League Three is 12 teams with a season no shorter than May to August; eleven League fixtures with clubs playng each other once, followed by a top six play-off. Obviously, playing each other home and away is far too sim-ple for the RFL to contemplate.

It is also anticipated there will be no more than one team per town, with clubs encouraged to adopt the town/area name as part of their title. Although this proposal will not be mandatory, it should be made so in the true ethos of Rugby League representing the communities in which it is played.

Nigel Wood, the RFL Financial Director - and the man who quite seriously once proposed awarding league points for whichever team won each half of a game - said, "The whole ethos behind the National League structure was to create a long overdue, integrated pyramid system for the game of Rugby League.

"The measures agreed will, we believe, allow choice for players and clubs alike to participate in what we hope will be a vibrant and powerful expression of our sport." Just an expression of our sport, then - as opposed to a full blown, hard nosed competition that matters. Hmm, sounds a little bit like 'Rugby League Lite' - a bit of a summer diversion for clubs whose real business takes place between September and May.

Ian Cooper, the Chief Executive of BARLA - having swallowed a dictionary - said "The clubs will also have the opportunity to enhance their profile and sponsorship portfolio by accessing the intense media coverage a summer-based pyramidical structure will undoubtedly precipitate."

Convinced yet? Me neither.