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Black Ferns XV established with debut fixture against Samoa announced
New Zealand Rugby has taken another step in the development of the women’s game, establishing a Black Ferns XV with an aim to “foster the professional growth of players, coaches and management on the international stage and provide a high-performance pathway to the Black Ferns.”
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The team will debut with a matchup against Samoa on Saturday, September 23 in Pukekohe. The fixture will be preceded by an NPC clash between Counties Manukau and Manawat?, giving fans a double-header of rugby action.
Fetu Samoa went undefeated in the 2023 Oceania Rugby Women’s Championship, dispatching Fiji, Tonga and Papua New Guinea to qualify for WXV2.
While an exact date is yet to be confirmed, the Black Ferns XV squad will be announced in mid-September and will be led by Matat?’s Head of Rugby Whitney Hansen. The former Black Ferns assistant is joined by Blues Assistant Coach, former Black Fern Linda Itunu and former Wallaroos Assistant Coach Peter Breen.
Hansen expressed her excitement for the team and the opportunity to develop and promote the next generation of talent.
“We have a talented pool of athletes in New Zealand,” she said in a statement. “And this offers the next generation of aspiring athletes the opportunity to take their first or next step, which is hugely exciting. While the development of our aspiring players is an important focus, this team will also provide the chance for former Black Ferns who are returning to the game, a chance to push for a recall and showcase their talent. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity and excited to work alongside an exceptional management group and what will be an impressive playing group.”
NZR Women’s High Performance Manager Hannah Porter said the Black Ferns XV was an important part of the high-performance pathway.
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“We know for the continued success of our Black Ferns team we need to ensure we are developing and exposing a wider group of players to high-performance environments. The inclusion of the Black Ferns XV in our high-performance pathway provides aspiring players and coaches the opportunity for continued growth, experience, and a chance to demonstrate their craft.
“We have an abundance of talent coming through the Bunnings Farah Palmer Cup competition and the Black Ferns XV will allow us to capture a wider group of this talent, enhance and develop it, which will be important as we build towards the 2025 Rugby World Cup.”
Porter said Hansen would be an asset to the side and was supported by a talented coaching group.
“We are excited to be able to have Whitney lead the Black Ferns XV. She holds a great amount of experience, has a fantastic rapport with the players. It has long been an ambition for her to grow as a leader of a programme and we are looking forward to continuing to support her in that.
“With the inclusion of Linda and Peter, it makes for an exciting coaching group. Linda was a highly regarded player, who is quickly developing into a highly respected coach in her own right. Peter has returned to New Zealand from Australia, where he was involved with the Wallaroos and Melbourne Storm.”
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Comments on RugbyPass
“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
37 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
5 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
33 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
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