Remaining 2026 Black Ferns schedule confirmed, with free exhibition game added

All fixtures for the Black Ferns’ expanded international season have now been finalised, with a free-to-attend exhibition match added to the slate of home games in August.

Having already taken out the 2026 Pacific Four Series with three bonus-point wins in April, the team will next take the field on August 14 against the Black Ferns XV.

The exhibition match will be held in Upper Hutt, pitting the country’s top talent against those snapping at their heels, and will be free for fans to attend. While the rest of the international fixtures will be streamed live on Sky Sport, the Black Ferns XV match will also be free to watch on the Black Ferns’ YouTube and blackferns.com.

The second O’Reilly Cup match will follow on August 22 in Auckland, before the team heads to South Africa for a special double-header with the Bok women as part of the All Blacks and Springboks’ Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Series.

From there, it’s WXV time, with the European leg featuring games against France, Scotland and England, the latter to be played at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham. The home leg of the WXV features a three-Test series against France, which will conclude the Black Ferns’ season at the new One New Zealand Stadium in Christchurch.

Remaining 2026 Black Ferns schedule: 

Black Ferns v Black Ferns XV 

• Black Ferns v Black Ferns XV, Friday August 14, Maidstone Park, Upper Hutt, 3.30pm NZT.

O’Reilly Cup

• Black Ferns v Australia, Saturday August 22, Go Media Stadium, Auckland, 3.05pm NZT (as previously announced).

South Africa double-header 

• Black Ferns v South Africa, Saturday September 5, FNB Stadium, Johannesburg, 1.30pm SAST (Saturday September 5, 11.30pm NZT).

WXV Global Series (Away) 

• Black Ferns v France, Saturday September 12, Matmut Stadium Gerland, Lyon, 5.45pm CEST (Sunday September 13, 3.45am NZT).
• Black Ferns v Scotland, Saturday September 19, Hive Stadium, Edinburgh, 5.10pm BST (Sunday September 20, 4.10am NZT).
• Black Ferns v England, Saturday September 26, Allianz Stadium, London, 3.00pm BST (Sunday September 27, 2.00am NZT).

WXV Global Series (Home) 

• Black Ferns v France, Saturday October 17, FMG Stadium, Hamilton, 3.05pm NZT.
• Black Ferns v France, Saturday October 24, Semenoff Stadium, Whang?rei, 3.05pm NZT.
• Black Ferns v France, October 31, One NZ Stadium, Christchurch, 7.10pm NZT.