2025 NRFL Leagues


The 2025 NRFL Leagues is the 61st and 59th 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 are competing in the league – the top ten teams from the previous season, one team promoted from the NRFL Championship and Auckland FC Reserves. The promoted team is Fencibles United. It is both Auckland FC Reserves's and Fencibles United's first season in the National League. They replaced Melville United and Hamilton Wanderers.

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.

Championship teams

Twelve teams are competing in the league – nine teams from the previous season, the two teams relegated from the 2024 Northern League and one team promoted from the NRFL Conference. The relegated teams were Melville United and Hamilton Wanderers, while the promoted team is Cambridge. Fencibles United were promoted, while Metro and Franklin United were relegated.
TeamLocationStadium2024 season
CambridgeCambridgeJohn Kerkhof Park1st in Southern Conference
EllerslieEllerslie, AucklandMichaels Avenue7th
Hamilton WanderersChartwell, HamiltonPorritt Stadium12th in Northern League
Hibiscus CoastWhangaparaoa, AucklandStanmore Bay Park4th
Manukau UnitedMāngere East, AucklandCentre Park2nd
Melville UnitedHamilton Lake, HamiltonGower Park11th in Northern League
Mount Albert-PonsonbyMount Albert, AucklandAnderson Park8th
Ngaruawahia UnitedNgāruawāhiaCentennial Park, Ngāruawāhia3rd
North Shore UnitedDevonport, AucklandAllen Hill Stadium9th
Northern RoversGlenfield, AucklandMcFetridge Park5th
Onehunga-Mangere UnitedMāngere Bridge, AucklandMāngere Domain6th
TakapunaTakapuna, AucklandTaharoto Park10th

Northern Conference

Northern Conference teams

Eight teams are competing in the league – five teams from the previous season, two teams relegated from the 2024 Championship, and one team promoted from the NRF League One. The relegated teams are Metro and Franklin United, while the promoted team is Central United. Beachlands Maraetai, Te Atatu and Oratia United were relegated.
TeamLocationStadium2024 season
Albany UnitedAlbany, AucklandRosedale Park4th
Beachlands MaraetaiBeachlands, AucklandTe Puru Park6th
Bucklands BeachBucklands BeachLloyd Elsmore Park5th
Central UnitedSandringham, AucklandKiwitea Street1st in NRF League One
Franklin UnitedDruryDrury Sports Grounds12th in Championship
MetroMount Albert, AucklandPhyllis Street11th in Championship
NorthlandMorningside, WhangāreiMorningside Park3rd
WaitemataTe Atatū South, AucklandMcLeod Park2nd

Southern Conference

Southern Conference teams

Eight teams are competing in the league – five teams from the previous season, and three teams from WaiBOP League One. Otorohanga won WaiBOP League One but declined promotion allowing Northern United and Matamata Swifts to be promoted. Waikato Unicol pulled out before the start of the season and were replaced by West Hamilton United. Cambridge won the league and play-off gaining promotion, while Te Awamutu were relegated.
TeamLocationStadium2024 season
Claudelands RoversClaudelands, HamiltonGalloway Park3rd
Matamata SwiftsMatamataMatamata Domain3rd in WaiBOP League One
Ngongotahā LakesNgongotahā, RotoruaTamarahi Reserve7th
Northern UnitedRototuna North, HamiltonKorikori Park2nd in WaiBOP League One
OtumoetaiMatua, TaurangaFergusson Park4th
PapamoaPapamoa Beach, PapamoaGordon Spratt Reserve6th
TaupoTauhara, TaupōCrown Park2nd
West Hamilton UnitedMelville, HamiltonMahoe Park9th in WaiBOP League One

Conference play-offs

The conference play-offs took place on 13 and 20 September 2025.

Overview


Matches

''Taupo won 2–0 on aggregate and was promoted to NRFL Championship.''

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 2024 NRFL Championship. The promoted team is FC Tauranga Moana as winners of the NRFL Championship. They replaced Hamilton Wanderers.

Women's Championship

Women's Championship teams

Eight teams are competing in the league – six teams from the previous season, the one team relegated from the 2024 NRFL Premiership, Hamilton Wanderers, and one team promoted from the WaiBOP W-League as play-off winners. The promoted team is Cambridge. FC Tauranga Moana were promoted, while Manukau United were relegated. Hamilton Wanderers withdrew before the start of the season as they were unable to fulfil their league commitments. They were replaced by Onehunga-Mangere United, who originally lost the play-off to Cambridge.
TeamLocationStadium2024 season
Birkenhead UnitedBeach Haven, AucklandShepherds Park5th
CambridgeCambridgeJohn Kerkhof Park1st in WaiBOP W League
Central UnitedSandringhamKiwitea Street7th
Franklin UnitedDruryDrury Sports Grounds2nd
Melville UnitedMelville, HamiltonGower Park4th
Northern RoversGlenfield, AucklandMcFetridge Park6th
Onehunga-Mangere UnitedMāngere Bridge, AucklandMāngere Domain1sth in NRF Conference
Onehunga SportsOnehunga, AucklandWaikaraka Park3rd