Black Ferns Sevens squad named for Hong Kong Sevens four-peat bid

Playmaker Risi Pouri-Lane will captain the Black Ferns Sevens next weekend, as they chase a four-peat of titles at the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens. Following the SVNS Series regular season, this event marks the start of the new-look World Championship Series.

New Zealand won the first women’s SVNS Series event at the Hong Kong Sevens in 2023, before going back-to-back with a one-sided win over the USA the following year, and defending those titles at the new stadium in 2025.

The Black Ferns Sevens started the 2025/26 campaign with Cup Final glory at the Dubai Sevens, followed by defeat in the big dance at SVNS Cape Town. But the New Zealanders dominated the first division season from then, winning the other four titles and the overall SVNS 1 crown.

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Vice-captain Jorja Miller leads the way in the race to become the inaugural RugbyPass Women’s SVNS Series MVP, with teammate Kelsey Teneti and Australia’s Maddison Levi rounding out the top three.

Teneti was named the Player of the Final at last month’s regular season finale at New York’s Sports Illustrated Stadium, scoring twice in a thrilling comeback win over Australia. Pouri-Lane, Miller and Teneti have been named in a fairly familiar Black Ferns Sevens squad.

Paris Olympics gold medallist Jazmin Felix-Hotham will miss her second event in a row after picking up an injury at Vancouver’s BC Place. Le’Oxeayn Maiu’u has also been ruled out of the World Championship opener.

Manaia Nuku, Stacey Waaka, Mahina Paul, Maia Davis, Alena Saili, Braxton Sorensen-McGee, Jaymie Kolose, Olive Watherston and Katelyn Vahaakolo round out the travelling squad, with Cory Sweeney the head coach.

All eight teams from SVNS 1 will compete for the World Championship title over events in Hong Kong China, Valladolid and Bordeaux. They will be joined by four teams from SVNS 2, who qualified across three recent regular season events.

New Zealand are joined in pool A by Fiji, Japan and Brazil. Australia headline a tough Pool B, with Olympic silver medallists Canada, Great Britain, and SVNS 2 side South Africa vying for a place in the knockout rounds.

Pool C might just be the toughest to call with Argentina and Spain both showing immense promise during the recent second division tournaments. They have ben draw in Pool C with SVSN giants the USA and France.

The 50^th anniversary event of the Hong Kong Sevens will take place at Kai Tak Sports Park next weekend on April 17-19.

Black Ferns Sevens travelling squad for Hong Kong Sevens

1. Manaia Nuku
2. Jorja Miller (VC)
3. Stacey Waaka
4. Mahina Paul
7. Risaleaana Pouri-Lane (C)
11. Maia Davis
12. Alena Saili
15. Braxton Sorensen-McGee
23. Jaymie Kolose
82. Olive Watherston
88. Kelsey Teneti
95. Katelyn Vahaakolo