The RFU council has approved scrapping relegation from the Premiership this season, BBC Sport can reveal.
A vote passed on Friday with a "strong majority", meaning the league will be expanded to 13 teams next season, with one side being promoted from the Championship.
There will then be engagement with the league's broadcaster, BT Sport, along with clubs, sponsors, players and fans on what happens for future seasons.
The vote was delayed from last Friday after concerns were raised by BT Sport, given the jeopardy of relegation adding to the excitement of the season.
But concerns are understood to have been allayed by the assurance that the hold on relegation would apply just to this season.
The Covid-19 crisis has brought severe financial challenges to the clubs, while a points-based system has been used for deciding five matches that have been cancelled this season due to coronavirus outbreaks, which some argue makes relegating a club unfair.
More to follow.
Source: BBC Rugby Union News