There are two issues being discussed which will impact on the shape of the leagues as we know them.
Firstly, most clubs from North One downwards seem keen on increasing the size of the leagues from 12 teams to 14. The West Board has told the RFU that's what we would like to see, and there is particularly strong movement in the North West from club's like of Vale of Lune to see this happen.
At the same time the RFU is looking at the graveyard that is National Two. There's nothing wrong with the standard of rugby but the costs of travelling are prohibitive, specially at a level which is only semi-professional. Tynedale, for instance, are on course for promotion to National Two and that would mean they would have to travel to places like Cornwall next season!
The intelligent proposal under discussion is to bring together the 14 clubs in National Two with the 14 clubs in each of the National Three leagues [North and South]. From these 42 clubs they would create three new National Two leagues - North, Midlands and South.
Presumably that would mean that National Three [present Level 4] would be no more with North One feeding into National Two North.
Of course, it isn;t as simple as all that with promotion and relegation balancing acts to be done all the way down the league, specially if the regional leagues [including North One] are to be increased to 14 clubs.
Watch this space.