NRFL Women's Championship

NRFL Women's Championship
Founded1974, as NRFL Women's Division Two
2023, as NRFL Women's Championship
CountryNew Zealand New Zealand
ConfederationOFC (Oceania)
Number of clubs8
Level on pyramid3
Promotion toNRFL Women's Premiership
Relegation toNRF Women's Conference
WaiBOP W-League
Domestic cup(s)Kate Sheppard Cup
Current championsFC Tauranga Moana (1st title)
(2024)
Most championshipsLynndale
Westlake Girls High School
(2 titles each)
WebsiteNorthern Region Football
Current: 2024 NRFL Championship

The Northern Regional Football League Women's Championship, currently known as Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Women's Championship for sponsorship reasons, is a semi-professional New Zealand association football league competition. The league began in 1974 as NRFL Women's Division Two until 1992 when it was dissolved. On four separate occasions since, there were plate competitions of the NRFL Women's Premiership with the winners considered Division Two winners.[1] In 2023, after the restructuring of New Zealand football leagues in 2021,[2][3][4] the league was reestablished as the NRFL Women's Championship.[5][6]

The league includes football clubs located in the northern part of the North Island, with clubs from the Northland, Auckland, Waikato and Bay of Plenty provinces. The league sits at step 3 of the New Zealand football pyramid.

Current clubs

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Location of clubs in New Zealand for the 2024 NRFL Women's Championship season
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Location of clubs in Auckland Region for the 2024 NRFL Women's Championship season

Northern Rovers were relegated from the 2023 NRFL Women's Premiership,[7] while Melville United were promoted from the WaiBOP W-League[8] and Birkenhead United were promoted from the NRF Women's Conference.[9] Fencibles United were promoted to the NRFL Women's Premiership[10] and Te Atatu were relegated.[11] Tauranga City and Otumoetai merged along with Papamoa to form FC Tauranga Moana.[12]

As of 2024 season:[13]

Team Location Stadium 2023 season
Birkenhead United Beach Haven, Auckland Shepherds Park 1st in NRF Women's Conference (promoted)[a]
Central United Sandringham Kiwitea Street 7th
FC Tauranga Moana Mount Maunganui, Tauranga Links Avenue 4th[b]
Franklin United Drury Drury Sports Grounds 3rd
Manukau United Māngere East, Auckland Centre Park 6th
Melville United Melville, Hamilton Gower Park 1st in WaiBOP W League (promoted via play-offs)
Northern Rovers Glenfield, Auckland McFetridge Park 8th in NRFL Women's Premiership (relegated)
Onehunga Sports Onehunga, Auckland Waikaraka Park 2nd

Past champions

Source:[14]

Notes

  1. ^ Birkenhead United lost the promotion play-off to Melville United originally missing out on promotion.[8] As Tauranga City and Otumoetai merged,[12] Birkenhead United were awarded the remaining spot.[9]
  2. ^ Tauranga City finished 4th in 2023, merging with Otumoetai who finished 5th, and Papamoa FC, to form FC Tauranga Moana.[12]

References

  1. ^ "Northern Premier Women's League". UltimateNZSoccer. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
  2. ^ "New National League competition details confirmed". New Zealand Football. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  3. ^ "New National League competition". New Zealand Football. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  4. ^ "New National League system". New Zealand Football. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  5. ^ "Floodlit games to get new-look Lotto NRFL Women's Championship underway". friendsoffootballnz.com. 24 March 2023. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
  6. ^ "Update - LOTTO NRFL Championship and NRF League One draws released". Northern Region Football. 16 March 2023. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
  7. ^ "Women's Premier League champs survive late scare before celebrations begin". friendsoffootballnz.com. 14 August 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  8. ^ a b "Melville United win promotion to Lotto NRFL Women's Championship". friendsoffootballnz.com. 24 September 2023. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
  9. ^ a b "Birkenhead United to join next season's Lotto NRFL Women's Championship". friendsoffootballnz.com. 25 December 2023. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
  10. ^ "2023 Season". ultimatenzsoccer.com. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
  11. ^ "Birkenhead United and Melville United to decide promotion in one-off final". friendsoffootballnz.com. 23 September 2023. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
  12. ^ a b c "New era for female football in Tauranga". SunLive. 20 December 2023. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  13. ^ "Clubs building on success of night matches in LOTTO NRFL 2024 draw". Northern Region Football. 23 February 2023. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
  14. ^ "Northern Premier Women's League". ultimatenzsoccer.com. Retrieved 31 August 2023.