The changes come after the top competition for franchises in New Zealand and Australia was reduced to 11 teams following the demise of the debt-ridden Melbourne Rebels this year.
The 2025 season, which kicks off next February, has been expanded to 16 rounds with each team playing 14 matches and having two byes.
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The top six teams in the table at the end of the regular season will qualify for the finals, held over three weekends.
The winners from the first three games in the knock-out stages will progress to the last four, joined by the highest-ranked losing team - the "lucky loser".
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