A new league format has been put in place for this season's top women's teams. Seven teams from Mainland Football will contest the South Island Qualifying League (SIQL) - over one round of 6 games. The top four sides then qualifying for the South Island League, along with the top two sides from Southern Football (formerly Football South). The South Island League is played over a double round robin of 10 games. SIQL teams that finish outside of the top four will then contest the New World Women's Premiership, played over a double round robin with a number of teams from the New World Women's Championship.

The 'new' league format has come about as part of changes recently announced by New Zealand Football to move toward having the Women’s National League (NL) become a fully club based competition. NZF hope to see this fully implemented for the 2026 season. The NL has been expanded to 10 teams this year, including the Wellington Phoenix reserve side. 

The teams that will contest the inaugural SIQL are the four teams that contested the New World Premiership last season – Coastal Spirit SAS, Cashmere Technical, Universities and Nomads Utd. Nomads have made a change to their coaching staff, with Andrew Bull now in charge. The additional three sides are Nelson Suburbs (coach Neil Harding), Selwyn Utd (Scott Hoare) and a combined Halswell Christchurch United side (Tony Gumley).

Most teams have been finalising their teams this week. Coastal Spirit have one major loss with Rebecca Lake moving to Sydney and will be playing for Northern Tigers in the NSW Premier League. Technical have gained several players including Charlotte Roche (Universities), Jorja Busbridge (Nomads) and Chloe Bellamy (West Coast Rangers - Auckland). The classy Anna McPhie will be running out for Suburbs and former Mainland Defender of the Year, Lee Maoate-Cox, will be playing for Nomads after moving from Ferrymead Bays.

Saturday see’s the SIQL kick-off with Nelson Suburbs facing Nomads at Saxton Field at midday. Selwyn host Cashmere Technical at Foster Park at 4pm with opening round concluding on Monday evening when Halswell Christchurch United met Universities at the United Sports Centre at 7:30pm. Coastal Spirit SAS have the bye. It is expected that due to the SIQL only being played over six games, teams will be out to play attacking football to claim the all-important top four finish to qualify for the SIL. 

New World Women’s Championship Also Commences

The seven team New World Championship also commences on Saturday, at 12:30pm, which all also be played over 7 rounds to dovetail in with the SQL schedule.

Waimak start their season against Nomads at Kendall Park. It's a real local ‘derby’ game at Ilam Fields when Universities Gold meet Universities Maroon and at Garrick Memorial Park, Cashmere Technical face Halswell Green. Coastal Spirit SAS have the bye.

Article added: Thursday 30 March 2023