The 'TotalRL.Com Rugby League Conference' will again have a new look to it for the eighth summer season of competition.

Fourteen new clubs will take part in eight regional leagues and with the advent of four Premier Divisions above that for 2005, the total number of sides playing throughout the length and breadth of England and Wales will reach 80.

Devon becomes the latest county to join the sport's fastest growing competition with Plymouth one of ten who are debutants to the code. Their Chairman Paul Willerton commented, "A group of us got together around May time last year to plan our application and form an interim committee and now we have been given the go-ahead we expect interest to rocket with a further boost coming once the fixtures are announced. We have already secured our first major sponsorship with phone company 'Orange' agreeing a four figure deal to buy and appear on our kit which will carry the city colours of green, black and white. Things are really starting to bubble down here."

The other new entrants are; Club Catterick, Winlaton Vulcans, Thames Valley based at Aldermaston, Lincoln City Knights, Bedford Tigers, Ormskirk Heelers, Warrington Wizards, Haringay Hornets and Runcorn; with Bramley Buffaloes, who made such an impression when they re-joined the family in LHF Healthplan National League Three last year, Hull Phoenix and Leeds Akademiks each now running a second side in the Yorkshire division. Luton Vipers are doing likewise in the East such is the depth of talent beginning to emerge. All will be chasing defending Champions Widnes Saints while the RLC Shield is currently held by Cardiff Demons.

The inauguration of four Premier Divisions covering North, Central and Southern England along with an upgrade for the Welsh section will now provide a bridge to LHF Healthplan National League 3 as the RFL adds a new tier to its pyramid structure. The Premier Divisions will offer a longer regular season, twelve rounds instead of ten, leading to play offs and a Grand Final which is scheduled to take place in Wales on August 28th following the Powergen Challenge Cup decider in Cardiff the previous day. The eventual winners will receive the existing Harry Jepson Trophy.

The Premier Division format has already been given a tremendous boost with last week's draw for the First Round of the prestigious Powergen Challenge Cup which has thrown up a capital derby between two of the sides destined to be front runners in the south; South London Storm who have opted to grow their club at this level after two season in NL3 and 2004 RLC runners up West London Sharks. The tie is scheduled to take place on February 5th and has already generated massive interest locally.

RFL Services Manager Niel Wood, who has operational responsibility for the competition believes that the Premier Leagues are the next logical step. "The drive and initiative has come from the clubs themselves" he said. "A number of them are keen to extend not only the length of their season but also the intensity of the level they play at. There are a number of fierce local derbies among the fixtures which will add extra spice to what is already looking like being a tremendous summer of entertainment. There will also be a re-focused emphasis on youth development throughout the whole of the RLC with grants and subsidies to clubs now dependant on their efforts in this area as we seek to consolidate the hard work done to date."

"Interest in the RLC has been as intense as ever over the close season with numerous enquires from locations throughout England and Wales" he added. "There is little doubt that the competition has enormous value and a growing presence and that is a testimony to the tremendous amount of effort that goes into it by a number of dedicated and valued volunteers. A template has been developed which is rapidly becoming the envy of other sports."

TOTALRL.COM RUGBY LEAGUE CONFERENCE VIII - 2005 STRUCTURE

RLC PREMIER NORTH - Copeland Athletic, West Cumbria Crusaders, Penrith Pumas, Jarrow Vikings, Sunderland City, Peterlee Pumas

RLC PREMIER CENTRAL - Leeds Akademiks, Hull Phoenix, Manchester Knights, Bolton Le Moors, Telford Raiders, Nottingham Outlaws

RLC PREMIER SOUTH - Ipswich Rhinos, West London Sharks, Greenwich Admirals, London Skolars, South London Storm, Luton Vipers

RLC WALES - Bridgend Blue Bulls, Cardiff Demons, Aberavon Fighting Irish, Torfaen Tigers, Newport Titans, Swansea Valley Miners, Valley Cougars

REGIONAL DIVISIONS

NORTH EAST

Newcastle Knights, Durham Tigers, Club Catterick, Scarborough Pirates, Winlaton Vulcans, Whitley Bay Buccaneers

WEST MIDLANDS

Birmingham Bulldogs, Leicester Phoenix, Wolverhampton Wizards, Rugby Raiders, Coventry Bears, TBA

SOUTH WEST

Thames Valley, Gloucestershire Warriors, Plymouth, Bristol Sonics, Oxford Cavaliers, Somerset Vikings

EAST

St Ives Roosters, South Norfolk Saints, Bedford Tigers, St Albans Centurions, Cambridge Eagles, Luton Vipers

LONDON & SOUTH

Gosport & Fareham Vikings, Middlesex Lions, South London Storm, Hemel stags, Kingston Warriors, Haringay Hornets

YORKSHIRE

Leeds Akademiks, Bramley Buffaloes, Bradford Dudley Hill Demons, Huddersfield Underbank Rangers, Hull Phoenix, South Wakefield Sharks, Wetherby Bulldogs, Bridlington Bulls

EAST MIDLANDS

Derby City, Mansfield Storm, Worksop Sharks, Sheffield Hillsborough Hawks, Lincoln City Knights, Thorne Moor Marauders, Rotherham Giants

NORTH WEST

Blackpool Sea Eagles, Ormskirk Heelers, Liverpool Buccaneers, Lancaster, Widnes Saints, Chester Wolves, Crewe Wolves, Warrington Wizards, North Wales Coasters, Runcorn