National League Rugby chairman John Inverdale has issued a statement in relation to the decision to swap the respective leagues that Chester and Lymm will compete in in 2023-24.

From National League Rugby Chairman John Inverdale

I think it’s important to clarify what happened in respect of the decision to swap the respective leagues that Chester and Lymm will play in next season – made as it was, following an RFU review of an appeal by Lymm against being allocated a place in National Two West.

The factors in determining league placement cannot, for obvious reasons, be definitive given the fluctuating nature of the geography of participating clubs due to promotion and relegation.

The original decision was made in good faith, considering all relevant factors. The appeal process placed greater weight on travel distance while acknowledging the difficulty of hard and fast rules in an issue that may well raise its head again as long as the structure of Level Four remains the same.

The outcome is Chester have accepted the verdict that they will be in National Two West next season. We move on, but I’d just like to reassure all clubs in National League Rugby that all similar future situations will be dealt with, as they have in the past, in as fair a way as possible.

I also hope all the relevant tackle height material is finding its way to every National League Rugby club and that you’re all enjoying the last few weeks of relative peace before pre-season begins in earnest next month.

A full list of league compositions for 2023-24 can be viewed here