Fears over a second tier professional competition in England have been raised by the New Zealand rugby union.
The plan would see England's 12-team National League Division One become the Championship, with a salary cap and minimum ground requirements.
At a meeting of the International Rugby Board in London NZRU CEO Steve Tew raised the matter with England officials and says concerns have also been raised by top clubs in the English premiership.
Tew says they would like to see a restriction on the number of overseas players a club can use and also a salary cap that is enforced.
However he feels the current world economic crisis could slow up plans to introduce a new competition.
