▁the ▁overall ▁w inners ▁are ▁promoted ▁to ▁the ▁Super ▁ 8 , ▁replacing ▁the ▁team ▁finishing ▁last ▁in ▁the ▁top ▁division . ▁The ▁run ners - up ▁in ▁the ▁Championship ▁play ▁a ▁sudden ▁death ▁promotion ▁match ▁against ▁the ▁sevent h ▁placed ▁team ▁in ▁the ▁Super ▁ 8 ▁for ▁a ▁place ▁in ▁the ▁top ▁division ▁for ▁the ▁following ▁season . ▁ ▁The ▁lowest ▁tier ▁of ▁competition ▁in ▁senior ▁men ' s ▁hand ball ▁in ▁England ▁is ▁the ▁third ▁tier ▁which ▁consists ▁of ▁regional ▁development ▁le agues . ▁The ▁number ▁of ▁divisions ▁var ies ▁from ▁year ▁to ▁year ▁during ▁the ▁ 2 0 1 4 / 1 5 ▁season ▁there ▁were ▁five ▁regional ▁le agues , ▁London , ▁South - West , ▁East , ▁Mid lands ▁and ▁North . ▁As ▁of ▁ 2 0 1 6 / 1 7 ▁there ▁are ▁four ▁regional ▁le agues , ▁North , ▁Mid lands , ▁South - West ▁and ▁South - E ast . ▁The ▁South - E ast ▁regional ▁league ▁is ▁divided ▁into ▁three ▁divisions , ▁Tier ▁ 1 , ▁ 2 A ▁and ▁ 2 B , ▁so ▁ 2 A ▁and ▁ 2 B ▁make ▁up ▁the ▁fourth ▁tier ▁of ▁English ▁hand ball . ▁ ▁There ▁is ▁no ▁automatic ▁promotion ▁from ▁the ▁third ▁to ▁the ▁second ▁tier . ▁The ▁third ▁tier ▁is ▁where ▁clubs ▁are ▁able ▁to ▁demonstrate ▁their ▁development ▁and ▁ability ▁to ▁meet ▁the ▁criteria ▁to ▁join ▁the ▁competition ▁at ▁the ▁second ▁tier . ▁ ▁National ▁League ▁( Super ▁ 8 ▁since ▁ 2 0