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Black Ferns usher in new era with first squad of 2023
A new era for the Rugby World Cup winning Black Ferns is underway with the first squad named today ahead of their opening Test for the Pacific Four Series and O’Reilly Cup against Australia in Brisbane later this month.
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Black Ferns Director of Rugby Allan Bunting has named 30 players in the squad to compete abroad in Brisbane and Ottawa, before returning home to play in front of fans at FMG Stadium Waikato in Hamilton at the end of September.
The first Black Ferns Squad for 2023 was fittingly named today at Hamilton Girls’ High School, the former High School of Black Ferns Co-Captain Kennedy Simon, rookie Tenika Willison and Kelsey Teneti who returns to the fifteens format following a successful season with the Black Ferns Sevens.
Ruahei Demant (Te Whanau a Apanui, Te Whakat?hea, Ng?ti Awa) and Kennedy Simon (Ng?ti Maniapoto, Ng?ti M?hanga) were inspirational in their leadership of the Black Ferns throughout last year’s campaign, Black Ferns Director of Rugby Allan Bunting has once again appointed the duo to lead the new squad
“Ruahei and Kennedy, are inspiring w?hine and complement one another with their leadership style. Their trust, clear communication and leading actions provides us with a strong platform to continue to build as a team.”
2023 Sky Super Rugby Aupiki champions Matat? are strongly represented with eleven players named in this year’s Black Ferns squad. The Blues and Chiefs Manawa are evenly represented, with seven players from each side and Hurricanes Poua has four notable standouts.
Eight Provincial Unions, spanning from Northland to Canterbury, are proudly represented in the 30-player squad. Sylvia Brunt is the youngest of the squad at 19, whilst incoming debutant Kate Henwood is the eldest at 34. With the retirement of Black Ferns legends Kendra Cocksedge and Renee Woodman-Wickliffe, Demant is now the highest capped player with 26 caps to her name
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Following an entertaining Sky Super Rugby Aupiki competition, form has been rewarded with all nine debutants providing eye-catching performances throughout the competition. In the front row Grace Gago, Henwood and Esther Faiaoga-Tilo are named, while Matat? Player of the Year Lucy Jenkins joins the loose forwards. In the backline, halfback Iritana Hohaia and first five-eighth Rosie Kelly receive the call up, while Chiefs Manawa outside backs Tenika Willison and Mererangi Paul will get a chance to show their talent on the international stage. In line to become a dual international, former New Zealand Rugby League Kiwi Fern Katelyn Vahaakolo rounds out the selected debutants.
Speaking of the debutants, Bunting said he, along with Assistant Coaches Steve Jackson, Tony Christie and Mike Delany, have been impressed with how they have taken hold of their opportunity.
“These players have impressed us across Sky Super Rugby Aupiki, but more importantly have joined our Black Ferns environment and taken the opportunity to put their best foot forward to wear the black jersey. We are excited to see their progression this year.”
Grace Brooker returns from injury to be named in the Black Ferns squad for the first time since 2021, alongside Black Ferns Sevens player Kelsey Teneti who makes the transition back to the fifteens format following her debut at last year’s Pacific Four Series.
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“Grace has been inspirational in her return to the game. Her energy is contagious, and it has been great to see her back in our Black Ferns environment,” said Bunting
“Kelsey has been a part of the 2023 Black Ferns Sevens campaign and while she is still putting her hand up for the 2024 Paris Olympics, she is a talented midfielder and is eager to grow her fifteens game with her sights on the 15s Rugby World Cup. Both Cory (Sweeney, Black Ferns Sevens Head Coach) and I are supportive of this and look forward to seeing her on the field developing her game,” added Bunting.
Bunting is focused on using the Pacific Four Series as an opportunity to build depth within the Black Ferns, ensuring they qualify for WXV1.
“We are excited for the 2023 Test schedule with the Pacific Four Series and O’Reilly Cup. While we are playing the Pacific Four Series abroad, we will be challenging ourselves to build our team and encourage our fans to join us on this journey.”
Hamilton will host the Black Ferns for the first time since 2013 for final O’Reilly Cup Test
“We are looking forward to returning to play the final O’Reilly Cup test in Hamilton. It will be a fantastic opportunity for wh?nau and fans to see the team in action for the first time on home soil this season.”
Black Ferns squad
Loosehead props
Kate Henwood (new cap)
Krystal Murray (9 caps)
Philippa Love (25)
Hookers
Georgia Ponsonby (13)
Grace Gago (new cap)
Luka Connor (14)
Tighthead props
Amy Rule (12)
Esther Faiaoga-Tilo (new cap)
Tanya Kalounivale (6)
Locks
Chelsea Bremner (12)
Joanah Ngan Woo (17)
Maiakawanakaulani Roos (14)
Loose forwards
Alana Bremner (13)
Kendra Reynolds (9)
Kennedy Simon (13) (cc)
Liana Mikaele Tu’u (11)
Lucy Jenkins (new cap)
Halfbacks
Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu (12)
Iritana Hohaia (new cap)
First five-eighths
Rosie Kelly (new cap)
Ruahei Demant (26) (cc)
Midfield
Amy du Plessis (7)
Grace Brooker (3)
Kelsey Teneti (1)
Logo-I-Pulotu Lemapu Atai’i (7)
Outside backs
Ayesha Leti’i’iga (21)
Katelyn Vahaakolo (new cap)
Mererangi Paul (new cap)
Renee Holmes (10)
Tenika Willison (new cap)
Unavailable due to injury: Awhina Tangen Wainohu, Charmaine McMenamin, Hazel Tubic, Layla Sae, Patricia Maliepo, Santo Taumata
Unavailable due to sabbatical: Ruby Tui
– Press release/allblacks.com/New Zealand Rugby
Comments on RugbyPass
Beautiful 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!
3 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 …
30 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.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
30 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to comments