2024 NRFL Leagues

The 2024 NRFL Leagues is the 60th and 58th 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 eight teams compete in the Northern and Southern sections of the Conference League.

The week the Northern League and NRFL Championship started, NRF announced changes to the competition structure for the 2024 season to accommodate Auckland FC.^[1] Auckland FC will have a reserves team playing in the qualifying and championship phases of the New Zealand National League from next season to fulfil their A-League Men requirements.^[2] To allow space for Auckland FC, the Northern League will now have a relegation play-off between the 10th place team and the runners up of the NRFL Championship for this season only. This also means an additional team will be relegated from the NRFL Championship and from the NRFL Conference leagues (with potential for further relegations to keep the conference leagues at 8 teams).^[1][3] New Zealand Football apologised for the late communication of decisions on 5 September 2024.^[4]

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 will compete in the league – the top ten teams from the previous season and the two teams promoted from the 2023 Championship. The promoted teams are Tauranga City and East Coast Bays.^[5] This is both Tauranga's and East Coast Bay's first season in the Northern League. They replaced Takapuna (two seasons) and Manukau United (three seasons).^[6]

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.^[7]

Championship teams

Twelve teams are competing in the league – nine teams from the previous season, the two teams relegated from the 2023 Northern League and one team promoted from the NRFL Conference. The relegated teams were Takapuna and Manukau United,^[6] while the promoted team is Franklin United.^[8] Tauranga City were promoted alongside East Coast Bays, while Waiheke United were relegated.^[5]

Championship personnel and kits

Championship scoring

Championship top scorers

Northern Conference

Northern Conference teams

Eight teams are competing in the league – five teams from the previous season, the team relegated from the 2023 Championship and the champions of the 2023 NRF League One. The relegated team is Waiheke United,^[5] while the promoted team is Te Atatu.^[25] Franklin United were promoted as winners of the conference play-off,^[8] while West Auckland and Central United were relegated.^[26]

1. ^ Birkenhead United lost the promotion play-off to Melville United originally missing out on promotion.^[34] As Tauranga City and Otumoetai merged,^[37] Birkenhead United were awarded the remaining spot.^[33]
2. ^ Tauranga City finished 4th in 2023, merging with Otumoetai who finished 5th, and Papamoa FC, to form FC Tauranga Moana.^[37]

Northern Conference table

Southern Conference

Southern Conference teams

Eight teams are competing in the league – the same eight teams from the previous season. No side were promoted from WaiBOP League One as Tauranga City won the league and couldn't be promoted, due to their first team being in an NRFL league.^[28]

1. ^ Ngongotaha AFC signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Lakes FC at the end of the 2022 season to have a combined team for the 2023 season onwards.^[39]

Conference play-offs

The conference play-offs took place on 14 and 21 September 2024.^[29]

Overview

<section begin=Details />

|}<section end=Details />

Matches

Cambridge 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 2023 NRFL Championship. The promoted team is Franklin United as winners of the NRFL Championship.^[30] They replaced Northern Rovers.^[31]

Women's Championship

Women's Championship teams

Eight teams are competing in the league – five teams from the previous season, the one team relegated from the 2023 NRFL Premiership, Northern Rovers,^[32] and one team promoted from each of the NRF Women's Conference and the WaiBOP W-League. The promoted teams are Birkenhead United and Melville United.^[33][34] Franklin United were promoted,^[35] while Te Atatu were relegated.^[36] Tauranga City and Otumoetai merged along with Papamoa to form FC Tauranga Moana.^[37]

Women's Championship table

References

1. ^ "Auckland FC: Introduction of new team impacts Northern Region Football domestic competitions". New Zealand Herald. 23 March 2024. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
2. ^ "New National League system". New Zealand Football. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
3. ^ "LOTTO NRFL Regulations 2024: Appendix 1, Article 8 - Declaration of Winner". Northern Region Football. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
4. ^ "National body apologises to clubs, federation for late call on rule changes". friendsoffootballnz.com. 5 September 2024. Retrieved 7 December 2024.
5. ^ "Tauranga City finish season in style to win Lotto NRFL Men's Championship". friendsoffootballnz.com. 9 September 2023. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
6. ^ "Unbeaten Auckland City wrap up three-peat of Northern League titles". friendsoffootballnz.com. 2 September 2023. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
7. ^ "LOTTO NRFL Regulations 2024: Appendix 1, Article 8 - Declaration of Winner". Northern Region Football. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
8. ^ "Franklin United clinch promotion with 1-0 win against Waikato Unicol". friendsoffootballnz.com. 16 September 2023. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
9. ^ "Ellerslie confirm coaches for women's and men's first teams". friendsoffootballnz.com. 4 January 2024. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
10. ^ "NRFL MENS PLAYER SIGNINGS". Ellerslie AFC Instagram. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
11. ^ "Fencibles United unveil Rhys Ruka as men's head coach for Championship". friendsoffootballnz.com. 17 October 2023. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
12. ^ "Coaching changes underway at relegation-threatened Franklin United". friendsoffootballnz.com. 16 May 2024. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
13. ^ "Ryan Faithfull returns to coaching with new role at Hibiscus Coast". friendsoffootballnz.com. 2 July 2023. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
14. ^ "Metro name Neil Sykes as men's first team head coach for next three years". friendsoffootballnz.com. 24 October 2023. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
15. ^ "White and Jasper to return for another crack at promotion to Northern League". friendsoffootballnz.com. 19 October 2023. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
16. ^ "Lewis Black returns for 2023". Mt Albert-Ponsonby Instagram. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
17. ^ "Ngaruwahia United v Onehunga Mangere United". Northern Region Football. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
18. ^ "WPLAYER SIGNING ANNOUNCEMENT ✍🏽". Ngaruahwaia United. 15 March 2024. Retrieved 19 March 2024. – via instagram.
19. ^ "Dave Fahy to lead North Shore United's next NRFL Championship campaign". friendsoffootballnz.com. 17 October 2023. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
20. ^ Sharp, Jack (21 March 2024). "Season preview: How the Lotto NRFL Men's Championship shapes up". friendsoffootballnz.com. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
21. ^ "Northern Rovers appoint Daniel Donegan as men's head coach for next season". friendsoffootballnz.com. 18 October 2023. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
22. ^ "Paul Marshall returns to Onehunga Mangere United as head coach". friendsoffootballnz.com. 5 December 2023. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
23. ^ "Takapuna name Daniel Semp as head coach for next year's Championship season". friendsoffootballnz.com. 12 October 2023. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
24. ^ "Lotto NRFL 2024". NRFL. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
25. ^ "Promoted Te Atatu retain Nathan Christie as men's head coach for next year". friendsoffootballnz.com. 25 October 2023. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
26. ^ "Relegated West Auckland appoint Jonny Aalbers as coach for next season". friendsoffootballnz.com. 5 December 2023. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
27. ^ "Bucklands Beach v Northland". Northern Region Football. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
28. ^ "RESULTS: The winners, scorers and tables from Saturday's top matches". friendsoffootballnz.com. 16 September 2023. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
29. ^ "LOTTO NRFL Northern Southern playoff details confirmed". Northern Region Football. 13 September 2024. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
30. ^ "Coasting to victory". Northern Region Football. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
31. ^ "Title-winners end season with 3-0 win at relegated Tauranga City". friendsoffootballnz.com. 3 September 2022. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
32. ^ "Women's Premier League champs survive late scare before celebrations begin". friendsoffootballnz.com. 14 August 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
33. ^ "Birkenhead United to join next season's Lotto NRFL Women's Championship". friendsoffootballnz.com. 25 December 2023. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
34. ^ "Melville United win promotion to Lotto NRFL Women's Championship". friendsoffootballnz.com. 24 September 2023. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
35. ^ "2023 Season". ultimatenzsoccer.com. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
36. ^ "Birkenhead United and Melville United to decide promotion in one-off final". friendsoffootballnz.com. 23 September 2023. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
37. ^ "New era for female football in Tauranga". SunLive. 20 December 2023. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
38. ^ "Melville United v Birkenhead United". Northern Region Football. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
39. ^ "Clubs form partnership to compete in new Lotto NRFL Southern Conference". friendsoffootballnz.com. 11 December 2022. Retrieved 3 March 2023.