FOOTBALL TASMANIA | MEDIA RELEASE
Football Tasmania announces new Men’s senior competition structure for 2027
Football Tasmania has announced a restructure of its Men’s senior football competitions for the 2027 season, introducing a clearer and more streamlined competition structure across the state.
As part of the changes, the existing Championship 1 competition will be discontinued, with teams transitioning into the newly named League 1 competitions in their respective regions.
The restructure removes the requirement for clubs participating in the Northern and Southern Championships to also field a Championship 1 team, providing clubs with greater flexibility in managing their playing numbers, finances and volunteer resources.
The National Premier Leagues (NPL) Tasmania and Northern and Southern Championships will remain part of the senior competition structure.
The new Men’s competition structure for 2027 will be:
Statewide and Premier Competitions
- National Premier Leagues (NPL) Tasmania
Regional Championships
- Northern Championship
- Southern Championship
Southern Regional Leagues
- League 1 South
- League 2 South
- League 3 South
- League 4 South
Northern Regional Leagues
- League 1 North
- League 2 North/Northwest
- League 3 North/ Northwest
Promotion and Relegation
The restructure will introduce a clear promotion and relegation system between the regional leagues.
The team finishing at the top of each league will be promoted to the division immediately above, while the team finishing at the bottom will be relegated to the division immediately below, where applicable.
League 1 North and League 1 South will sit immediately below their respective Championship competitions, with no automatic promotion or relegation between League 1 and Championship.
Football Tasmania CEO Tony Pignata OAM said the changes were designed to create a simpler, more sustainable and more accessible competition structure for clubs across Tasmania.
"This restructure is about making our competitions easier to understand and providing greater flexibility for our clubs," Pignata said.
"Under the existing structure, clubs competing in the Championship have been required to also field a Championship 1 team. We are removing that requirement.
"Clubs that want to continue fielding two senior teams can absolutely do so, with their existing Championship 1 team moving into League 1. However, clubs will no longer be required to maintain two teams simply to participate in the Championship.
"We also want to introduce a genuine promotion and relegation system through our regional leagues, giving clubs and players something to compete for throughout the season.
"By establishing League 1, League 2 and subsequent divisions, we are creating a clearer structure that provides opportunities for clubs to progress based on their performances on the field.
"Importantly, these changes are about strengthening football at all levels, reducing unnecessary obligations on clubs and establishing a competition structure that is sustainable into the future."
The changes follow discussions through Football Tasmania's Competitions Working Group, established to review the structure and future direction of senior football competitions across the state.
Football Tasmania will work with clubs to finalise competition entries, fixtures and operational arrangements ahead of the 2027 season.
ENDS
Media enquiries: Football Tasmania media@footballtasmania.com.au