By Kevin Redsull

Deal & Betteshanger coach Danny Vaughan is fairly happy with how the Lions will be affected by the Rugby Football Union's major restructuring of the adult men’s game.

Deal will be playing in the new Counties 1 Kent Division next season which will also feature Ashford, Aylesford Bulls, Beccehamian, Bromley, Charlton Park, Cranbrook, Crowborough, Folkestone, Heathfield & Waldron, Old Alleynians and Thanet Wanderers.

Vaughan said: “I’m fairly happy as far as we are concerned. Counties 1 Kent looks a fair and competitive league, with not so many trips to London for us.

“Four of the stronger clubs in our league last season [Beckenham, Dartfordians, Gravesend and Old Colfeians] have now been promoted to Regional 2 South East, and we will have four new fixtures against Aylesford Bulls, Bromley, Cranbrook and Heathfield & Waldron.”

The Lions’ nearest rivals, Dover, have been put into the Counties 2 Kent Division.

Vaughan did admit some concerns about that’s league make-up.

He said: “I’m not sure about this league.

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"Having allowed Westcombe Park 2nds, Sevenoaks 2nds and Canterbury 2nds to enter the league makes it very challenging for the rest of the teams in that division.”

The Lions finished seventh in London 2 South East last season, while Dover were fifth in London 3 South East.