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Five new faces named in Black Ferns' Pacific Four Series squad
By Ned Lester
Three breakthrough talents from the 2025 Super Rugby Aupiki season and five Black Ferns Sevens stars have been named in the first Black Ferns squad of the year.
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The Aupiki bolters are electric Blues fullback Braxton Sorensen-McGee, and Chiefs Manawa front-rowers Vici-Rose Green and Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakaelu.
Two SVNS stars new to the 15-aside game have been selected: Jorja Miller and Risi Pouri-Lane. They are joined by three SVNS veterans who are also capped Black Ferns: Dhys Faleafaga, Stacey Waaka and Theresa Setefano.
Black Ferns Director of Rugby Allan Bunting, along with his selectors, oversaw a two-day camp of 49 players and conducted internal games before finalising a 33-strong squad.
“Our squad selections are based on consistency in Aupiki, experience and our two days in camp. The Pacific Four Series is a chance for us to reward those players with an opportunity to represent our country. We are looking forward to seeing our wahine play Test matches against quality opposition,” Bunting said.
“It’s not just about the squad of 33, this is about building a solid group of 40 plus who will be clear on how we want to be, and play come World Cup selection time.”
Familiar faces like Ruby Tui, Renee Holmes and Chelsea Bremner have missed the cut, highlighting how competitive the squad is.
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“It’s a tight race leading up to our World Cup campaign, and we know we’ve had to make tough calls at this point. I’ve been very impressed by the response and attitude from our players to still serve the team. Our whole group is important on this journey, there is still a bit more water to go under the bridge before we name our World Cup squad,” Bunting said.
Black Ferns 2025 Pacific Four Series Squad
Loosehead props
Chryss Viliko (24, Blues, Auckland, 10 Test caps)
Kate Henwood (36, Chiefs Manawa, Bay of Plenty, 8 Test caps)
Awhina Tangen-Wainohu (27, Blues, Waikato, 4 Test caps)
Hookers
Georgia Ponsonby (25, Matatu, Canterbury, 27 Test caps)
Atlanta Lolohea (22, Blues, Canterbury, 5 Test caps)
Vici-Rose Green (23, Chiefs Manawa, Waikato, uncapped)
Tighthead Props
Tanya Kalounivale (26, Chiefs Manawa, Waikato, 18 Test caps)
Amy Rule (24, Matatu, Canterbury, 27 Test caps)
Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu (20, Chiefs Manawa, Waikato, uncapped)
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Locks
Maiakawanakaulani Roos (23, Blues, Auckland, 29 Test caps)
Alana Bremner (28, Matatu, Canterbury, 25 Test caps)
Maama Mo’onia Vaipulu (22, Blues, Auckland, 5 Test caps)
Dhys Faleafaga (24, Black Ferns Sevens, 2 Test caps)
Loose Forwards
Liana Mikaele-Tu’u (23, Blues, Auckland, 26 Test caps)
Layla Sae (24, Hurricanes Poua, Manawatu, 11 Test caps)
Kaipo Olsen-Baker (22, Matatu, Manawatu, 9 Test caps)
Kennedy Tukuafu (28, Chiefs Manawa, Waikato, 27 Test caps)
Jorja Miller (21, Black Ferns Sevens, uncapped)
Halfbacks
Maia Joseph (23, Matatu, Otago, 8 Test caps)
Iritana Hohaia (25, Hurricanes Poua, Taranaki, 14 Test caps)
Risaleaana Pouri-Lane (24, Black Ferns Sevens, uncapped)
First fives
Ruahei Demant (30, Blues, Auckland, 41 Test caps)
Hannah King (21, Matatu, Canterbury, 7 Test caps)
Midfield
Logo-I-Pulotu Lemapu-Atai’i Sylvia Brunt (21, Blues, Auckland, 21 Test caps)
Theresa Setefano (30, Black Ferns Sevens, 18 Test caps)
Amy du Plessis (25, Matatu, Canterbury, 19 Test caps)
Stacey Waaka (29, Black Ferns Sevens, 25 Test caps)
Outside backs
Portia Woodman-Wickliffe (33, Blues, 24 Test caps)
Katelyn Vahaakolo (25, Blues, Auckland, 14 Test caps)
Ayesha Leti-I’iga (26, Hurricanes Poua, Wellington, 24 Test caps)
Mererangi Paul (26, Chiefs Manawa, Counties Manukau, 12 Test caps)
Braxton Sorensen-McGee (18, Blues, Auckland, uncapped)
*Travelling reserve to Newcastle
Kelly Brazier (35, Black Ferns Sevens, Chiefs Manawa, 42 Test caps)
bunting says hes basing it on aupiki performances and experience yet hes chucked players out the squad in favour of 7s players who havent played 15s in years and havent played in aupiki. in other words hes picked them purely on reputation and made room by axing some of the current 15s squad.
This was always the risk, as soon as players make themselves available from 7s to try and get a piece of the action then how do you make room for them? As soon as it was announced I had doubts they would have to compete for their places, just get a few 15s games under their belt. If I was being cynical I would say there is no place for loyalty over sentiment. Some of those now not selected provided stability and added experience after the last RWC while the squad was transitioning
Madness, our depth of quality is not deep enough to be omitting 3 of proven performers who are all still world class players.
Now is not the time to be experimenting, instead we should be gradually introducing the new selections into the fold.
Cant stand these players who retire with a great fanfare, and then say they will come back into the fold and save the team.