Club chiefs voted overwhelmingly on Thursday to reduce the French First Division from 24 clubs to 16 by the start of the 2001-2001 season.
The proposal attracted 42 votes from a possible 55 from the National Rugby league . Next season's competition will involve 22 clubs in two pools of 11 clubs. At the end of the season no less than seven clubs will be relegated and only the side that finishes top of the Second Division will be promoted to the First.
Throughout the Six nations season national coach Bernard Laporte complained that his results would be better if his players played less club rugby and turned up fit for training.
Serge Blanco, head of the National Rugby league, welcomed the decision , saying , ' It is unimaginable that we will go back on this dcision.'