This simplifies the women's qualification progress for 2017/18. Sunderland and Sheffield Stingrays, sixth and seventh respectively in the lowest division, will now compete against new applicants City of Bristol (formerly Bristol Central) and Cheltenham for three places. The tournament will be completed in one day at Walsall Gala Baths on Saturday, 8 April.
The men's qualification tournament, also for three places next season, is to be staged at Walsall on 25/26 March and sees new applicants City of Coventry and Chelmsford up against Sheffield Dolphins, Watford Saxons and Spalding.
The line-up for both tournaments is, of course, subject to any further withdrawals from the League. Should a club currently playing in phase two drop out, the qualification line-ups will be adjusted accordingly.
Current teams are reminded that the deadline for withdrawal is the final day of their divisional competition this season.