The 2026 NRFL Leagues is the 62nd and 60th 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 and the two teams promoted from the NRFL Championship. The promoted teams are Manukau United and Melville United. Manukau United return after a two-year absence, while Melville United return after one. They replaced Manurewa and West Coast Rangers (both relegated after a three-year Northern League spell).
Northern League table
Championship
Each team can field a maximum of six foreign players as well as one additional foreign player who has Oceania Football Confederation nationality.
Championship teams Twelve teams are competing in the league – nine teams from the previous season, the two teams relegated from the 2025 Northern League and one team promoted from the NRFL Conference. The relegated teams were Manurewa and West Coast Rangers, while the promoted team is Taupo. Manukau United were promoted alongside Melville United, while Ngaruawahia United were relegated.
TeamLocationStadium2024 seasonCambridgeCambridgeJohn Kerkhof Park 4thEllerslieEllerslie, AucklandMichaels Avenue 9thHamilton WanderersChartwell, HamiltonPorritt Stadium 5thHibiscus CoastWhangaparaoa, AucklandStanmore Bay Park 6thManurewaManurewa, AucklandWar Memorial Park 11th in Northern League (relegated)Mount Albert-PonsonbyMount Albert, AucklandAnderson Park 11thNorth Shore UnitedDevonport, AucklandAllen Hill Stadium 8thNorthern RoversGlenfield, AucklandMcFetridge Park 3rdOnehunga Mangere UnitedMāngere Bridge, AucklandMāngere Domain 7thTakapunaTakapuna, AucklandTaharoto Park 10thTaupoTauhara, Taupō Crown Park 1st in Southern Conference (promoted via play-offs)West Coast RangersWhenuapai, AucklandFred Taylor Park 12th in Northern League (relegated)
Championship personnel and kits Team Manager CaptainCambridge Jordan Shaw Ellerslie Ben Fletcher Seb PoelmanHamilton Wanderers Joseph Hinds Hibiscus Coast Nathan Cranney Manurewa Tashreeq Davids Mount Albert-Ponsonby Sammy Negash Lewis Black North Shore United Dave Fahy Northern Rovers Daniel Donegan Onehunga Mangere United Paul MarshallTakapuna Daniel Semp TaupoWest Coast Rangers Chad Coombes
Championship table
Championship results table
Northern Conference
Northern Conference teams Eight teams are competing in the league – seven teams from the previous season and the champions of the 2025 NRF League One. The promoted team is Te Atatu. Franklin United were relegated.
TeamLocationStadium2025 seasonAlbany UnitedAlbany, AucklandRosedale Park 6thBeachlands MaraetaiBeachlands, AucklandTe Puru Park 7thBucklands BeachBucklands Beach, AucklandRogers Park 3rd Central United Sandringham, Auckland Kiwitea Street 2ndMetroMount Albert, AucklandPhyllis Street Reserve5thNorthlandWhangareiMorningside Park 1stTe AtatuTe Atatū Peninsula, AucklandTe Atatū Peninsula Park1st in NRF League One (promoted)WaitemataTe Atatū South, AucklandMcLeod Park 4th
Northern Conference table
Northern Conference results table
Southern Conference
Southern Conference teams Eight teams are competing in the league – six teams from the previous season, one team relegated from the NRFL Championship and one team from WaiBOP League One. The relegated team is Ngaruawahia United. West Hamilton United remained in the league despite being in the relegation position.
TeamLocationStadium2025 seasonClaudelands RoversClaudelands, HamiltonGalloway Park 4thMatamata SwiftsMatamataMatamata Domain 6th Ngaruawahia United Ngāruawāhia Centennial Park, Ngāruawāhia 12th in Championship (relegated) Ngongotahā Lakes Rotorua Tamarahi Reserve 7th Northern United Rototuna North, Hamilton Korikori Park 2nd Otumoetai Matua, Tauranga Fergusson Park 3rd Papamoa Papamoa, Tauranga Gordon Spratt Reserve 5th West Hamilton United Melville, Hamilton Mahoe Park 8th
Southern Conference table
Southern Conference results table
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 2025 NRFL Championship. The promoted team is Franklin United as winners of the NRFL Championship. They replaced Northern Rovers.
Women's Premiership table
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 2025 NRFL Premiership, Hibiscus Coast, and one team promoted from the NRF Women's Conference as play-off winners. The promoted team is Uni-Mount Bohemian. Melville United were promoted, while Central United were relegated.
TeamLocationStadium2025 season Birkenhead United Beach Haven, Auckland Shepherds Park 4th CambridgeCambridgeJohn Kerkhof Park 5thFranklin UnitedDruryDrury Sports Grounds 2ndHibiscus CoastWhangaparāoa, AucklandStanmore Bay Park 8th in NRFL Women's Premiership (relegated)Northern RoversGlenfield, AucklandMcFetridge Park 7thOnehunga Mangere UnitedMāngere Bridge, AucklandMāngere Domain 6thOnehunga SportsOnehunga, AucklandWaikaraka Park 3rd Uni-Mount Bohemian Mount Wellington, Auckland Bill McKinlay Park 1st in NRF League One (promoted via play-offs)
Women's Championship table
Women's Championship results table
References