The Rugby Football Union (RFU) has brought in new regulations to ensure tighter controls over clubs' financial management.

RFU Championship Clubs will have to provide the organisation with a financial statement before 1 November to be scrutinised and, additionally, the sanctions imposed on clubs for going into insolvency have been toughened up.

If a club enters administration or liquidation during the regular season, they will be deducted 20 league points, entered into the relegation pool and have a 10-point deduction applied to them when they're in the pool.

If a club in the promotion pool goes into administration in the play-offs or semi-final/final stage, they will be docked 20 points in the current season and 10 points in the following season. A club in the relegation pool that becomes insolvent during the play-offs or semi-final/final stage will have 10 points deducted and if the club is not relegated, 10 points will be deducted in the next season.