Capital Football (CF) have been working in the background with New Zealand Football (NZF), Central Football and clubs that currently participate in the W-League on a project called ‘Bridging the Gap’. This project will see the NZF women’s National League (wNL) competition transition to a club-based model, the same as the men’s National League.

As part of this project, yesterday NZF released communications around the expansion of the wNL to ten teams including adding the Wellington Phoenix (WPX) reserves. This expansion brings positive change across the W-League (now known as the Women’s Central League (WCL)) and provides a new pathway for clubs from both CF and Central Football to compete in the newly designed wNL.

Please see the below operational details that relate directly to WCL Clubs:

• The WCL will in time be a qualification pathway for club teams to the wNL. However, to support clubs in this transition this will be a collaboration between Clubs and the Federation. This will allow the clubs who to play in the top competitions in the country and provide a platform for the growth and development of their club and players. Both Federations have committed to supporting the qualifying clubs financially and will work through the details with participating clubs in the WCL.
• The transition to integrated qualification from WCL to wNL will take time and significant resourcing from clubs and the Federation. As an intermediary step to ensure club participation in 2023, Capital Football and Central Football have agreed with NZF for a transition period to allow this to happen. This transition period is in place for the 2023 season with the option of extending to 2024, if required. A review will be carried out at the end of the 2023 season.  
• The wNL will move to a 10-team league (4 from NRFL, 3 from WCL, Mainland, Southern and WPX). There will be one round (9 games) followed by a Grand Final.
• The top two placed eligible Capital club teams and a Central-based club team will qualify to play in collaboration with the Federation in the wNL.
• The WPX will have a team in the wNL which will have some form of age restriction. The final make-up of the team is to be confirmed. These players will all be from their Academy Girls' teams playing in CF mixed youth competitions during the winter season. NZF have confirmed that CF will be consulted with by NZF when developing the conditions for the WPX participation.
• CF will continue to solely operate the Girls Under 18’s team that participates in the Girls National Youth Development League during 2023 and 2024 after which it will be reviewed. 

CF are excited about this change and believes that it is a positive step towards a full linear pathway for clubs to participate across all levels of the women’s game in New Zealand.   

Article added: Friday 10 March 2023