the division had a break for the 2015-16 season as the rfu decided to restructure the south lancs/cheshire league into three zones - merseyside (west), cheshire (south) and lancashire (north). this was short-lived and the division returned to its original format for the 2016-17 season - with only lancashire (north) remaining of the three zones. up until the 2017-18 season the division was known as south lancs/cheshire 2 but the name changed for the 2018-19 season due to restructuring of the northern leagues by the rfu due to 19 lancashire clubs withdrawing from rfu competitions across the leagues to form their own competitions. this would see the north lancashire/cumbria division abolished, with lancashire-based sides from that league being transferred into lancs/cheshire 1, while the cumbria sides were transferred into cumbria 1.