Touch New Zealand

The Premier Touch League (PTL) is a high performance domestic touch competition designed to bridge the gap between domestic play and international standard competition. First launched in 2019 to showcase Aotearoa’s best talent and support player development pathways, the PTL features regional franchise based teams competing in elite level matches that help prepare athletes for national squad opportunities and future international selection trials.

By bringing together top players from across the country in a competitive, structured setting, the Premier Touch League plays a crucial role in advancing skill levels, identifying emerging stars, and strengthening the overall standard of touch in New Zealand.

Broadcast on TOUCH TV (live-stream), Touch NZ YouTube and social media channels, has continued to grow the sport’s visibility and fan engagement, underscoring its importance on the domestic touch calendar. 

The 2025 Premier Touch League delivered a showcase of Aotearoa’s top touch talent when teams converged at McLennan Park in Papakura, Auckland on 22–23 November.

Over two days of intense, high-quality competition, players, coaches, referees and support staff from across the network displayed elite-level skill, speed, and teamwork - fulfilling PTL’s mission to provide a domestic arena for high-performance touch.

As part of the broader pathway from grassroots to elite, PTL offered a vital opportunity for emerging and established athletes to test themselves in a competitive, performance driven environment - strengthening the foundation for future reps at national and international level.

The 2025 season reinforced PTL’s role in fostering elite touch in New Zealand - providing fans memorable action and athletes a real pathway to the top.