Ruby Tui's return to international rugby has been confirmed

Women’s Rugby World Cup winner and Olympic gold medalist Ruby Tui will make her international rugby return for Barbarian F.C. against Wales in June.

The Black Ferns icon, who also won the Rugby World Cup Sevens and is a six-time HSBC SVNS Series winner, has not played international rugby since she scored two tries for the Black Ferns XV in a trial match against the Black Ferns last August.

Tui, 34, is the first confirmed women’s player for the doubleheader fixture against Wales that will take place at Allianz Stadium on Saturday 27 June.

“Very few people get to wear this jersey in the world,” Tui said. “Obviously done a lot in my career, but I’ve been talking to a couple of mentors of mine, and they said if you ever get the chance to wear the Baa-Baas jersey, you got to take it.

“Takes a lot of courage to leave your home nations and join up with some others – I’m going to be rubbing shoulders, probably, with some enemies that I’ve had on the field, which is actually a big honour.

“Everyone that I’ve talked to that has ever played Baa-Baas have just said how much fun they’ve had. You don’t get to wear this jersey if you don’t have passion for the game.

“To get the invite today’s a pretty big honour, because there’s probably nothing I love more than this game.”

Last week it was confirmed that former Exeter Chiefs head coach Susie Appleby will lead the Barbarians against Wales, while current Red Roses defence coach Sarah Hunter will be an assistant.

Tui has not been completely absent from the pitch since last Summer. In April the wing turned out for the New Zealand Rugby Legends in the Tradition HKFC 10s, which formed part of the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens.

The 34-year-old has also been a regular fixture of 2026 Guinness Women’s Six Nations coverage and is a co-presenter of For the Love of Rugby with ex-England prop Shaunagh Brown.