2023 NRFL Leagues

The 2023 NRFL Leagues is 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.

NRFL Leagues
Season2023
← 2022
2024 →

Northern League
Main article: 2023 New Zealand National League § 2023 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 and the two teams promoted from the 2022 NRFL Division 1. The promoted teams are West Coast Rangers and Manurewa. This is both Manurewa's first season in the Northern League. West Coast have returned at the first time of asking after being relegated in 2021.[1] They replaced Waiheke United (one season) and North Shore United (two seasons).

Northern League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Auckland City 4 3 1 0 15 3 +12 10 Winner of Northern League and qualification to National League Championship
2 Manurewa 4 3 1 0 15 4 +11 10 Qualification to National League Championship
3 Auckland United 4 3 1 0 7 2 +5 10
4 Eastern Suburbs 4 3 1 0 4 1 +3 10
5 Birkenhead United 4 2 0 2 14 11 +3 6
6 Western Springs 4 2 0 2 6 7 −1 6
7 Hamilton Wanderers 4 1 1 2 6 7 −1 4
8 West Coast Rangers 4 1 1 2 6 10 −4 4
9 Bay Olympic 4 1 0 3 8 14 −6 3
10 Melville United 4 1 0 3 3 10 −7 3
11 Manukau United 4 1 0 3 6 15 −9 3 Relegation to NRFL Championship
12 Takapuna 4 0 0 4 0 6 −6 0
Updated to match(es) played on 10 April 2023. Source:
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Goals against; 5) Head to head; 6) Disciplinary record; 7) Coin toss[2]

Championship
NRFL Championship
Season2023
Dates25 March 2023 - 2 September 2023
← 2022
2024 →

Championship teams

Twelve teams are competing 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 are Waiheke United and North Shore United,[3] while the promoted teams are Hibiscus Coast and Ngaruawahia United.[4][5] West Coast Rangers were promoted alongside Manurewa, while Albany United and Waitemata were relegated.[6][7][8]

Team Location Stadium 2022 season
East Coast Bays Northcross, Auckland Bay City Park 4th
Ellerslie Ellerslie, Auckland Michaels Avenue 7th
Fencibles United Pakuranga, Auckland Riverhills Domain 9th
Hibiscus Coast Stanmore Bay, Auckland Stanmore Bay Park 1st in Division 2 (promoted)
Metro Mount Albert, Auckland Phyllis Street 8th
Mount Albert-Ponsonby Mount Albert, Auckland Anderson Park 5th
Ngaruawahia United Ngāruawāhia Centennial Park 2nd in Division 2 (promoted)
North Shore United Devonport, Auckland Allen Hill Stadium 12th in Northern League (relegated)
Northern Rovers Glenfield, Auckland McFetridge Park 6th
Onehunga-Mangere United Māngere Bridge, Auckland Māngere Domain 10th
Tauranga City Mount Maunganui, Tauranga Links Avenue 3rd
Waiheke United Waiheke Island, Auckland Onetangi Sports Park 11th in Northern League (relegated)

Championship personnel and kits
Team Manager[9] Captain Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
East Coast Bays New Zealand Joe Hall[10] New Zealand Louie Caunter[11] Lotto Sport Italia None
Ellerslie Ben Fletcher[12] Seb Poelman[13] Lotto Sport Italia Trillian Trust
Fencibles United Marty Rodwell[14] Nike New World Howick
Hibiscus Coast Nathan Cranney[15] Lotto Sport Italia RNB Transport
Metro New Zealand Scott MacKay[16]
Mount Albert-Ponsonby New Zealand Darren White[17] Lewis Black[18] Lotto Sport Italia Woodview Construction
Ngaruawahia United Kyle Park[19] Joma None
North Shore United New Zealand Dylan Burns[20] Nike Atlas Concrete
Northern Rovers New Zealand Paul Gothard[21] New Zealand Dion Buckingham[22] Lotto Sport Italia None
Onehunga-Mangere United New Zealand Tim Ragg[23] Nike None
Tauranga City Barry Gardiner[24] Adidas None
Waiheke United Sam Negash[25] Nike Fullers 360

Championship table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 East Coast Bays 8 7 0 1 27 5 +22 21 Promotion to Northern League
2 Hibiscus Coast 8 6 2 0 14 3 +11 20
3 Tauranga City 8 5 1 2 22 8 +14 16
4 Ngaruawahia United 8 4 2 2 15 11 +4 14
5 Ellerslie 8 4 1 3 18 17 +1 13
6 Mount Albert-Ponsonby 8 4 0 4 19 16 +3 12
7 Fencibles United 8 3 2 3 11 12 −1 11
8 North Shore United 8 2 3 3 9 14 −5 9
9 Northern Rovers 8 3 0 5 8 18 −10 9
10 Metro 8 2 1 5 15 20 −5 7
11 Onehunga-Mangere United 8 0 2 6 6 16 −10 2
12 Waiheke United 8 0 2 6 7 31 −24 2 Relegation to NRFL Conference
Updated to match(es) played on 6 May 2023. Source: Northern Region Football[26]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Goals against; 5) Head to head; 6) Disciplinary record; 7) Coin toss[27]

Championship results table
Home \ Away ECB ELL FEN HBC MET MAP NGA NSU NTR OHM TGA WHU
East Coast Bays — 5–0 3–1 5–0 1–0 7–0
Ellerslie — 3–1 4–1 3–4 1–2 2–1
Fencibles United 0–2 — 1–1 1–3 2–2 2–0
Hibiscus Coast — 2–1 1–0 1–1 2–0
Metro 2–4 — 1–2 2–1 3–3
Mount Albert-Ponsonby 2–4 —
Ngaruawahia United 5–2 — 3–1
North Shore United 2–0 1–3 0–2 1–1 —
Northern Rovers 0–1 0–4 2–1 0–1 — 1–0
Onehunga-Mangere United 2–2 1–4 1–2 —
Tauranga City 2–0 0–2 4–2 1–1 4–0 — 9–1
Waiheke United 0–1 0–6 1–2 1–1 —
Updated to match(es) played on 6 May 2023. Source: UlitmateNZSoccer
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Championship scoring
As of 6 May 2023

Championship top scorers
Rank Player Club Goals[28]
1 Jonty Bidois Tauranga City 6
Tom Durkin Ellerslie
3 Nicolai Berry East Coast Bays 5
David Brown East Coast Bays
Reuben Henderson Ngaruawahia United
Gilberto Souza Metro
Nicolas Federico Vanina Waiheke United
8 Jack Caunter East Coast Bays 4
Nicholas Hindson Mt Albert Ponsonby
Stjepan Kovacic Ngaruawahia United
Liam Molloy Tauranga City

Northern Conference
NRFL Northern Conference
Season2023
Dates25 March 2023 - 2 September 2023
← 2022
2024 →

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.[6] 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.[29][30][31][8] However, after Central United successfully appealed to the Sports Tribunal of New Zealand, they were entered into the competition three weeks after it commenced.[32][33] As a result NRF decided the league would restart, voiding all previously played matches.[34][35]

Team Location Stadium 2022 season
Albany United Albany, Auckland Rosedale Park 11th in Division 1 (relegated)
Beachlands Maraetai Beachlands, Auckland Te Puru Park 3rd
Bucklands Beach Bucklands Beach Lloyd Elsmore Park 11th in Division 1 (relegated)
Central United Sandringham Kiwitea Street 1st in NRF Championship (promoted)[lower-alpha 1]
Franklin United Drury Drury Sports Grounds 4th
Northland Morningside, Whangarei Morningside Park 7th
Oratia United Oratia, Auckland Parrs Park 10th[lower-alpha 1]
Waitemata Beachlands, Auckland Te Puru Park 3rd
West Auckland Kiwi True Blues Kelston, Auckland Brains Park 1st in NRF Conference (promoted)
  1. Oratia United were reprieved from relegation as Central United were originally unable to gain promotion due to their MoU with Auckland City.[36][37] After appeal to the Sports Tribunal of New Zealand, Central United were re-entered into the competition.[32]

Northern Conference table
Table before restart
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Albany United 3 2 1 0 8 3 +5 7 Qualification for Conference play-offs
2 Bucklands Beach 3 2 1 0 6 3 +3 7
3 West Auckland 3 2 0 1 6 1 +5 6
4 Franklin United 3 2 0 1 3 2 +1 6
5 Beachlands Maraetai 3 1 1 1 5 6 −1 4
6 Waitemata 3 0 2 1 2 5 −3 2
7 Northland 3 0 1 2 2 5 −3 1
8 Oratia United 3 0 0 3 1 8 −7 0 Relegation to NRF League One
Updated to match(es) played on 8 April 2023. Source: Northern Region Football[38]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Goals against; 5) Head to head; 6) Disciplinary record; 7) Coin toss[39]
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Central United 3 2 1 0 9 5 +4 7 Qualification for Conference play-offs
2 Franklin United 3 1 2 0 5 3 +2 5
3 Bucklands Beach 2 1 1 0 7 2 +5 4
4 Beachlands Maraetai 2 1 1 0 6 2 +4 4
5 Oratia United 3 1 1 1 10 7 +3 4
6 Northland 3 1 0 2 6 9 −3 3
7 West Auckland 3 1 0 2 6 11 −5 3
8 Waitemata 3 0 2 1 6 9 −3 2
9 Albany United 2 0 0 2 0 7 −7 0 Relegation to NRF League One
Updated to match(es) played on 6 May 2023. Source: Northern Region Football[40]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Goals against; 5) Head to head; 6) Disciplinary record; 7) Coin toss[41]

Northern Conference results table
Results before restart
Round 1
  • Albany United 3–0 Waitemata
  • Bucklands Beach 2–1 Northland
  • Franklin United 1–2 Beachlands Maraetai
  • Oratia United 0–4 West Auckland
Round 2
  • Beachlands Maraetai 2–2 Albany United
  • Oratia United 0–1 Franklin United
  • Waitemata 1–1 Bucklands Beach
  • West Auckland 2–0 Northland
Round 3
  • Albany United 3–1 Oratia United
  • Bucklands Beach 3–1 Beachlands Maraetai
  • Franklin United 1–0 West Auckland
  • Northland 1–1 Waitemata
Home \ Away ALB BLM BUC CEN FRA NOR ORA WTM WAK
Albany United — 0–5
Beachlands Maraetai — 4–0
Bucklands Beach — 2–2
Central United — 3–0
Franklin United 2–0 2–2 —
Northland — 1–5
Oratia United 2–2 3–4 —
Waitemata 1–1 —
West Auckland 0–5 6–3 —
Updated to match(es) played on 6 May 2023. Source: UlitmateNZSoccer
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Southern Conference
NRFL Southern Conference
Season2023
Dates25 March 2023 - September 2023
← 2022
2024 →

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.[42][43][8]

Team Location Stadium 2022 season
Cambridge Cambridge John Kerkhof Park 8th
Claudelands Rovers Claudelands, Hamilton Galloway Park 9th
Ngongotahā Lakes Ngongotahā, Rotorua Tamarahi Reserve 6th in WaiBOP Premiership (promoted)[upper-alpha 1]
Otumoetai Matua, Tauranga Fergusson Park 2nd in WaiBOP Premiership (promoted)
Papamoa Papamoa Beach, Papamoa Gordon Spratt Reserve 4th in WaiBOP Premiership (promoted)
Taupo Tauhara, Taupō Crown Park 3rd in WaiBOP Premiership (promoted)
Te Awamutu Te Awamutu The Stadium 5th in WaiBOP Premiership (promoted)
Waikato Unicol Silverdale, Hamilton Jansen Park 1st in WaiBOP Premiership (promoted)
  1. Ngongotaha AFC finished 6th last season. They 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.[44]

Southern Conference table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Waikato Unicol 6 5 0 1 20 6 +14 15 Qualification for Conference play-offs
2 Cambridge 6 5 0 1 15 10 +5 15
3 Taupo 6 4 0 2 16 12 +4 12
4 Claudelands Rovers 6 3 0 3 13 8 +5 9
5 Papamoa 6 2 1 3 14 16 −2 7
6 Ngongotahā Lakes 6 2 1 3 14 18 −4 7
7 Otumoetai 6 1 0 5 8 16 −8 3
8 Te Awamutu 6 1 0 5 9 23 −14 3 Relegation to WaiBOP League One
Updated to match(es) played on 6 May 2023. Source: Northern Region Football[45]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Goals against; 5) Head to head; 6) Disciplinary record; 7) Coin toss[46]

Southern Conference results table
Home \ Away CAM CLR NGO OTU PAP TAU TAW WKU CAM CLR NGO OTU PAP TAU TAW WKU
Cambridge — 1–4 3–2 3–1 3–1 3–1 — — — —
Claudelands Rovers — 3–1 4–0 — — — — —
Ngongotahā Lakes — — — — — —
Otumoetai 1–2 — — — — — —
Papamoa 2–0 3–3 1–3 — — — — — —
Taupo 2–1 5–3 5–1 — 3–0 0–4 — — — —
Te Awamutu 1–2 2–4 3–2 2–6 — — — — —
Waikato Unicol 2–1 4–1 3–0 6–1 — — — — —
Updated to match(es) played on 6 May 2023. Source: UltimateNZSoccer
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

References
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  2. "National League Regulations 2023: Article 29 - NL Format". New Zealand Football. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
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  6. "Clubs finish Lotto NRFL first division season with goalscoring flourish". friendsoffootballnz.com. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
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  12. "Men's First Team & Reserves". Ellerslie AFC. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
  13. "NRFL MENS PLAYER SIGNINGS". Ellerslie AFC Instagram. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  14. "Our Coaches". Fencibles United. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
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  17. "New coaching duo to lead MAP in next year's Lotto NRFL Premiership". friendsoffootballnz.com. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
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  22. "The men's first team are pleased to announce the signing of @dion_buckingham Dion will also lead the team as the new skipper". Northern Rovers Instagram. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
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  26. Northern Region Football
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  38. Northern Region Football
  39. "Northern Region Football Competition Regulations 2023: Appendix 1, Article 8 - Declaration of Winner". Northern Region Football. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  40. Northern Region Football
  41. "Northern Region Football Competition Regulations 2023: Appendix 1, Article 8 - Declaration of Winner". Northern Region Football. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
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