The Black Ferns have announced their first team of the year ahead of the Rugby World Cup.
Black Ferns coaches Wayne Smith, Wesley Clarke and Whitney Hansen have named 31 players to the squad that will host Australia, Canada and the United States next month.
Seven players are in the running to make their debuts with the Black Ferns, with the team led by new captain Ruahei Demant (Te Whanau a Apanui, Te Whakatōhea, Ngāti Awa).
Demant’s debut for the Black Ferns in 2018 cemented a resilient comeback after three serious knee injuries and since then she has played 15 Tests in the first and second five eighths.
“Lu (Ruahei) is trusted by this group. She is a clear and precise communicator and we see this as a great opportunity to develop her leadership,” said Black Ferns director of rugby Wayne Smith.
Smith said the coaching staff were impressed with what they saw from the debutants during Super Rugby Aupiki.
“These players really showed up at Aupiki. They are young, eager and really deserve the chance to have a chance.”
Four of the debutants come in first: Natalie Delamere and Angel Mulu from Bay of Plenty, Lucy Anderson from Canterbury and Tanya Kalounivale from Waikato. Youngsters Kaipo Olsen-Baker (19) and Tafito Lafaele (21) join the selected free forwards while Olympic gold medalist Ruby Tui is named to the Black Ferns for the first time.
Several experienced players, including Les Elder, Eloise Blackwell and Renee Wickliffe, missed selection for the Pacific Four Series. Smith confirmed that it was important to ensure that all players could put their best foot forward when wearing the black shirt.
“These are players who have had a significant impact on the Black Ferns team for a long time. We want them to be in the best possible condition to be selected for the Rugby World Cup.”
The Pacific Four Series serves as the qualification pathway for the top tier of the WXV, World Rugby’s new global competition featuring the top 16 nations in women’s rugby.
With the 2021 Rugby World Cup (played in 2022) fast approaching, Smith said the Pacific Four Series is also about developing the Black Ferns game.
“We’ve watched videos and done a lot of education on what kind of game we want to play. There’s potentially a little experimental tinge to it, but we know we have some catching up to do and now is the time for the do,” Smith said.
Joanah Ngan-Woo, Luka Connor and Tanya Kalounivale all recently left their day jobs and signed professional contracts for the remainder of 2022.
Black Ferns Team (Age/Super Club/Province/Test Caps)
prostitutes
Luka Connor (25, Chiefs, Bay of Plenty, 4)
Natalie Delamere (25, Matatū, Bay of Plenty, new cap)
Georgia Ponsonby (22, Matatu, Canterbury, 2)
Accessories
Lucy Anderson (30, Matatū, Canterbury, new cap)
Tanya Kalounivale (23, Chiefs, Waikato, new cap)
Pip Love (32, Matatū, Canterbury, 15)
Angel Mulu (22, Chiefs, Bay of Plenty, new cap)
Krystal Murray (28, Blues, Northland, 1)
Leilani Perese (29, Manukau Counties, 11)
Amy Rule (21, Matatu, Canterbury, 3)
Locks
Chelsea Bremner (27, Matatu, Canterbury, 0)
Joanah Ngan Woo (26, Hurricanes, Wellington, 5)
Maiakawanakaulani Roos (20, Blues, Auckland, 3)
Loose Attackers
Alana Bremner (25, Matatū, Canterbury, 3)
Tafito Lafaele (21, Blues, Auckland, new selection)
Liana Mikaele Tu’u (20, Blues, Auckland, 4)
Kaipo Olsen-Baker (19, Hurricanes, Manawatu, new selection)
Kendra Reynolds (29, Matatu, Bay of Plenty, 1)
Half-back
Ariana Bayler (25, Chiefs, Waikato, 4)
Kendra Cocksedge (33, Matatū, Canterbury, 57)
Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu (30, Chiefs, Manukau Counties, 6)
Inside backs
Ruahei Demant (27, Blues, Auckland, 15) – captain
Amy du Plessis (22, Matatu, Canterbury, 0)
Carla Hohepa (36, Chiefs, Waikato, 28)
Patricia Maliepo (19, Blues, Auckland, 3)
Chelsea Semple (29, Chiefs, Waikato, 26)
Exterior backs
Renee Holmes (22, Matatu, Waikato, 1)
Ayesha Leti-I’iga (23, Hurricanes, Wellington, 12)
Cheyelle Robins-Reti (25, Hurricanes, Waikato, 3)
Grace Steinmetz (24, Matatu, Canterbury, 0)
Ruby Tui (30, Chiefs, Counties Manukau, new cap)
Unavailable due to injury: Charmaine McMenamin, Aleisha-Pearl Nelson, Grace Brooker, Kelsie Wills, Kennedy Simon.
