Northern Region Football (NRF) have announced their intentions for the make-up of Northern Region Football League (NRFL) in 2022 and beyond (see below).
 
The recommended changes will have implications for WaiBOP clubs currently playing in the NRFL and also clubs competing in the WaiBOP Premiership, Championship and W-League. There will be a restructuring of our Federation’s leagues, both in terms of what they look like and what we call them, especially leading into the 2023 season.
 
We will seek feedback from our football community soon. In the meantime, if you have any questions could you please email them to dwayne.b@waibop.co.nz and we will do our best to answer them.

Changes to the LOTTO NRFL and a plan to create and support more opportunities for players, clubs and officials has been laid out following a comprehensive review of all aspects of the competition and club listening.  

Read the LOTTO NRFL Review 

The outcomes will mean increased standards with more chances for players, clubs and officials from NRF region to reach their potential and get involved in national, International and professional level competitions. 

“We worked closely with our clubs through the review, and spoke direct to players, coaches and officials. It’s been a really extensive process and we’re really pleased with how people have engaged with it,” said NRF CE Laura Menzies.  

“We worked alongside WaiBOP Football and New Zealand Football throughout this process, it was really important that we had strong engagement across the different levels.” 

The recommendations lay out a clear vision until 2026 including a tiered pathway supported by club licencing and costs framework, the youth season split into identification, development, and performance phases, and more resources for officials and education. 

“Ultimately, the opportunity is a stronger league with more opportunities to play, coach and referee at a higher level – if we can achieve that at Federation and National levels then it’s exciting times,” said New Zealand Football Technical Director Andy Boyens.

Changes to the women’s competition start with an expanded eight team LOTTO NRFL Women’s Premier League in 2022, and consolidation of NRF Championship and WaiBOP W-League competitions into NRFL Championship in 2023. 

“The women’s game was one of the key drivers for the review – with FIFA Women World Cup 2023 coming up we need to create an incredible legacy for girls and women in particular, so we’re giving clubs the opportunity, encouragement and support to really challenge themselves and support women’s and girls football,” said Laura Menzies. 

Changes to the Men’s LOTTO NRFL competitions include the realignment of Division 2 competition into eight team Northern (NRF) and Southern (WaiBOP) conferences in 2023, and the expansion and realignment of Federation competitions in the senior pathway. 

The changes give a more structured and tiered pathway from the lower levels to the premier leagues – Federations have to work really closely with the clubs to support them and make sure they can move through all the LOTTO NRFL grades in a sustainable way,” said Fred De Jong, Ellerslie AFC Technical Director.