2023 NRFL Leagues


The 2023 NRFL Leagues was the 59th and 57th seasons respectively of the NRFL Championship and NRFL Conference, football competitions in New Zealand. Established in 1965, currently twelve teams compete in the Championship while 8 teams compete in the Northern and Southern sections of the Conference League.

Northern League

The Northern League sits above the two NRFL Divisions and is also overseen by Northern Region Football, despite being run by New Zealand Football as part of the New Zealand National League.
Twelve teams competed in the league – the top ten teams from the previous season and the two teams promoted from the 2022 NRFL Division 1. The promoted teams are West Coast Rangers and Manurewa. This was both Manurewa's first season in the Northern League. West Coast have returned at the first time of asking after being relegated in 2021. They replaced Waiheke United and North Shore United.

Championship

Each team can field a maximum of five foreign players as well as one additional foreign player who has Oceania Football Confederation nationality. Over the course of the season, each team must also ensure players aged 20 or under account for 7% of available playing minutes.
Following their 7–1 win over Mount Albert-Ponsonby on the final day, Tauranga City were crowned champions. They were promoted alongside East Coast Bays a week earlier.

Championship teams

Twelve teams competed in the league – eight teams from the previous season, the two teams relegated from the 2022 Northern League and two teams promoted from the 2022 NRFL Division 2. The relegated teams were Waiheke United and North Shore United, while the promoted teams are Hibiscus Coast and Ngaruawahia United. West Coast Rangers were promoted alongside Manurewa, while Albany United and Waitemata were relegated.
TeamLocationStadium2022 season
East Coast BaysNorthcross, AucklandBay City Park4th
EllerslieEllerslie, AucklandMichaels Avenue7th
Fencibles UnitedPakuranga, AucklandRiverhills Domain9th
Hibiscus CoastStanmore Bay, AucklandStanmore Bay Park1st in Division 2
MetroMount Albert, AucklandPhyllis Street8th
Mount Albert-PonsonbyMount Albert, AucklandAnderson Park5th
Ngaruawahia UnitedNgāruawāhiaCentennial Park2nd in Division 2
North Shore UnitedDevonport, AucklandAllen Hill Stadium12th in Northern League
Northern RoversGlenfield, AucklandMcFetridge Park6th
Onehunga-Mangere UnitedMāngere Bridge, AucklandMāngere Domain10th
Tauranga CityMount Maunganui, TaurangaLinks Avenue3rd
Waiheke UnitedWaiheke Island, AucklandOnetangi Sports Park11th in Northern League

Championship table


  • Metro won 3–0 against Northern Rovers, but Metro fielded an ineligible player. Result upgraded to a 3–0 win for Northern Rovers.
  • Metro drew 1–1 with Onehunga-Mangere United, but Metro fielded an ineligible player. Result upgraded to a 3–0 win for Onehunga-Mangere.

Northern Conference

Northern Conference teams

Nine teams are competing in the league – the top six northern teams from Division 2 last season, the two teams relegated from the 2022 NRFL Division 1 and the champions of the 2022 NRF Championship. The relegated teams are Albany United and Waitemata. Originally, although Central United won the 2022 NRF Championship, they were unable to be promoted due to their MoU with Auckland City. As a result, Oratia United were reprieved of relegation. However, after Central United successfully appealed to the Sports Tribunal of New Zealand, they were entered into the competition three weeks after it commenced. As a result NRF decided the league would restart, voiding all previously played matches.
TeamLocationStadium2022 season
Albany UnitedAlbany, AucklandRosedale Park11th in Division 1
Beachlands MaraetaiBeachlands, AucklandTe Puru Park7th
Bucklands BeachPakuranga HeightsLloyd Elsmore Park4th
Central UnitedSandringhamKiwitea Street1st in NRF Championship
Franklin UnitedDruryDrury Sports Grounds5th
NorthlandMorningside, WhangāreiMorningside Park6th
Oratia UnitedOratia, AucklandParrs Park10th
WaitemataBeachlands, AucklandTe Puru Park12th in Division 1
West AucklandKelston, AucklandBrains Park3rd

Northern Conference results table

;Round 1
;Round 2
;Round 3
  • Albany United 3–1 Oratia United
  • Bucklands Beach 3–1 Beachlands Maraetai
  • Franklin United 1–0 West Auckland
  • Northland 1–1 Waitemata

Southern Conference

Southern Conference teams

Eight teams are competing in the league – the top two southern teams from Division 2 last season, and the top 6 from the 2022 WaiBOP Premiership.
TeamLocationStadium2022 season
CambridgeCambridgeJohn Kerkhof Park8th
Claudelands RoversClaudelands, HamiltonGalloway Park9th
Ngongotahā LakesNgongotahā, RotoruaTamarahi Reserve6th in WaiBOP Premiership
OtumoetaiMatua, TaurangaFergusson Park2nd in WaiBOP Premiership
PapamoaPapamoa Beach, PapamoaGordon Spratt Reserve4th in WaiBOP Premiership
TaupoTauhara, TaupōCrown Park3rd in WaiBOP Premiership
Te AwamutuTe AwamutuThe Stadium5th in WaiBOP Premiership
Waikato UnicolSilverdale, HamiltonJansen Park1st in WaiBOP Premiership

Women's Premiership

The NRFL Women's Premiership acts as a qualifier for the New Zealand Women's National League.
Eight teams are competing in the league – the top seven teams from the previous season and the promoted side from the 2022 NRF Championship. The promoted team is Hibiscus Coast as winners of the NRF Championship.