More info about the WXV:
It looks like Fijiana will get a spot in XV2, although they probably will have to qualify for it in an Oceania tournament first. South Africa will probably get the African spot in this group and Japan the Asian one.
Samoa (most likely) or Tonga will probably have to compete for a spot in XV3. Kenya for the African spot?
So looking like only one (possible) home game this year.
Terrible planning by NZR when the impetus is here and now
Given the long gap between Aupiki and tests it will be interesting to see who hangs around.
Quite a few players have been lining up stints in Japan or Oz to earn some $.
Not sure what the NZR contract period was either and when renewals will be looked at.
From Stuff:
The Black Ferns will take on the Wallaroos in Brisbane on June 29 and face them again in New Zealand on September 30 in the annual battle for the O’Reilly Cup.
New Zealand Rugby announced on Thursday some details around what the world champions’ test schedule will be for 2023, although there is still plenty of it to be confirmed, including where the trans- Ta$man test in New Zealand will be held.
@Stargazer All grounds would be available as the last football game (at Eden Park) is on 15 Aug.
@Stargazer said in Black Ferns 2023:
@Bovidae Okay, so no excuses for not allocating this game to Wellington, Napier*, Christchurch or Nelson, for example (Dunedin already gets enough ABs tests).
*If Napier is an option after the flooding, not knowing what the conditions will be like by that time.
It will be OK, it's not cricket afterall!
@Stargazer said in Black Ferns 2023:
@Bovidae Okay, so no excuses for not allocating this game to Wellington, Napier*, Christchurch or Nelson, for example (Dunedin already gets enough ABs tests).
*If Napier is an option after the flooding, not knowing what the conditions will be like by that time.
Christchurch had the Laurie game last year so scratch them.
If they had smarts it would go somewhere like Welly given the huge turnout on their tour to show off the cup. Something to build on and a big enough population centre to get a crowd. Also easier for travel.
Sep 30 will be in the middle of the RWC window so the only domestic rugby will be NPC. NZR will need to work around that schedule.
@Stargazer Are you telling me the hotel/motel sector in HB will not be able to cope with three or four hundred spectators travelling for greater than a one day return driving distance away?
@Higgins said in Black Ferns 2023:
@Stargazer Are you telling me the hotel/motel sector in HB will not be able to cope with three or four hundred spectators travelling for greater than a one day return driving distance away?
Quite possibly not. How much is in use as temporary accommodation for displaced people already?
7 days later
Revelation of the final, Demant ran the ball near the end of the game because Cocksedge call her to. Almost screwed up the whole final
One thing I noticed in the endless replays we have had of that last lineout is the unheralded work from Krystal Murray. Ngan Woo gets the steal but it’s Murray that then holds back the drive to try and push into touch. There was still seconds on the clock at that stage and another lineout was a possibility.
Her effort to push back was huge.
@Crucial said in Black Ferns 2023:
One thing I noticed in the endless replays we have had of that last lineout is the unheralded work from Krystal Murray. Ngan Woo gets the steal but it’s Murray that then holds back the drive to try and push into touch. There was still seconds on the clock at that stage and another lineout was a possibility.
Her effort to push back was huge.
She had a big impact off the bench
19 days later
I'm not surprised, especially after Clarke was named as a NZ U20 assistant coach yesterday.
@Bovidae said in Black Ferns 2023:
I'm not surprised, especially after Clarke was named as a NZ U20 assistant coach yesterday.
Good to know there's no nepotism in the women's coaching selection ...
How much do we think Bunting will change the squads? He has the odd situation of seeing Aupiki then players go back to club followed by FPC.
Untimely injuries may play a part but there were a number of players not involved in the RWC that stood out in Aupiki.
Front rows are fairly settled and it was good to see some improve.
I don't think Demant played well in Aupiki but a second captain change (especially to POTY) would be a big call.
Obviously some 7s players leave gaps to be filled as well.
Will have a crack at a squad or contract list when I have a moment.
@Stargazer said in Black Ferns 2023:
How many players will get a contract? I forgot.
There were 29 players in 2022.
Contracted Black Ferns: Ariana Bayler (Waikato), Eloise Blackwell (Auckland), Alana Bremner (Canterbury), Chelsea Bremner (Canterbury), Grace Brooker (Canterbury), Kendra Cocksedge (Canterbury), Ruahei Demant (Auckland), Amy du Plessis (Canterbury), Les Elder (Bay of Plenty), Carla Hohepa (Waikato), Renee Holmes (Waikato), Ayesha Leti-I'iga (Wellington), Pip Love (Canterbury), Patricia Maliepo (Auckland), Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu (Counties Manukau), Charmaine McMenamin (Auckland), Liana Mikaele-Tu'u (Auckland), Krystal Murray (Northland), Aleisha Pearl Nelson (Auckland), Georgia Ponsonby (Canterbury), Cheyelle Robins-Reti (Waikato), Maiakawanakaukani Roos (Auckland), Amy Rule (Canterbury), Chelsea Semple nee Alley (Waikato), Kennedy Simon (Waikato), Grace Steinmetz (Canterbury), Hazel Tubic (Counties Manukau), Renee Wickliffe (Bay of Plenty), Kelsie Wills (Bay of Plenty).
Of those Elder and Wickliffe have retired, and a few of the older players will be phased out for different reasons (e.g., Blackwell, Hohepa, Semple).
Bunting needs to reward SRA form, or otherwise that is one more reason not to have the competition.
On SRA form Bayler, Blackwell, Hohepa and Nelson (did she play?) def under threat IMO.
I'd like a 10 to really step up as I'm not convinced on the game management of Demant or Tubic. Rosie Kelly looked promising.
Don't think Marino-Tauhinu is Cocksedge's natural replacement either.
Don't know if Willison is returning to Sevens.
@Stargazer I included Chelsea, hence the "different reasons". The others in that list are age-related. Hohepa is 37, for example.
There is certainly no shortage of midfielders and outside backs to choose from, but as @Crucial says, 9 and 10 are a worry, with general play kicking a concern.
Topic event: Stargazer referenced this topic on
14 days later
A complete change in the coaching staff.
Here's a direct route to the link within a link within a link of the Women and Girls in Rugby Strategy recently released.
2023 Black Ferns Contracted Players:
Alana Bremner (Matatū, Canterbury)
Amy Du Plessis (Matatū, Canterbury)
Amy Rule (Matatū, Canterbury)
Ariana Bayler (Blues, Waikato)
Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu (Chiefs Manawa, Counties Manukau)
Awhina Tangen-Wainohu (Chiefs Manawa, Waikato)
Ayesha Leti-I’iga (Hurricanes Poua, Wellington)
Charmaine McMenamin (Blues, Auckland)
Chelsea Bremner (Chiefs Manawa, Canterbury)
Georgia Ponsonby (Matatū, Canterbury)
Grace Brooker (Matatū, Canterbury)
Grace Gago (Blues, Counties Manukau)
Grace Steinmetz (Matatū, Canterbury)
Hazel Tubic (Chiefs Manawa, Counties Manukau)
Joanah Ngan-Woo (Hurricanes Poua, Wellington)
Katelyn Vahaakolo (Blues, Auckland)
Kelsie Thwaites (Chiefs Manawa, Bay of Plenty)
Kendra Reynolds (Matatū, Bay of Plenty)
Kennedy Simon (Chiefs Manawa, Waikato)
Krystal Murray (Hurricanes Poua, Northland)
Layla Sae (Hurricanes Poua, Manawatu)
Liana Mikaele’Tu'u (Blues, Auckland)
Logo-I-Pulotu Lemapu Atai'i (Sylvia) Brunt (Blues, Auckland)
Lucy Jenkins (Matatū, Canterbury)
Luka Connor (Chiefs Manawa, Bay of Plenty)
Maiakawanakaukani Roos (Blues, Auckland)
Mererangi Paul (Chiefs Manawa, Counties Manukau)
Patricia Maliepo (Blues, Auckland)
Pip Love (Matatū, Canterbury)
Renee Holmes (Matatū, Waikato)
Rosie Kelly (Matatū, Canterbury)
Ruahei Demant (Blues, Auckland)
Santo Taumata (Chiefs Manawa, Bay of Plenty)
Tanya Kalounivale (Chiefs Manawa, Waikato)
A few paragraphs from that media release:
Sky Super Rugby Aupiki standouts, Grace Gago, Katelyn Vahaakolo, Layla Sae, Lucy Jenkins, Mererangi Paul and Rosie Kelly have secured their first fulltime Black Ferns contracts.
In addition, 2022 Black Ferns Rugby World Cup champions Awhina Tangen-Wainohu, Kendra Reynolds, Sylvia Brunt and Santo Taumata have also picked up fulltime Black Ferns contracts for the first time.
Amy Rule will complete the Super W season in Australia before returning to the Black Ferns programme. NZR is also working with Ruby Tui to confirm her availability to re-join the Black Ferns programme later in the year.
Contracted players will train out of regionalised hubs in Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Wellington and Christchurch, where they will receive technical, tactical and strength and conditioning programmes.
In addition, each player will have one day a week committed to their personal development, focussing on the areas of career/education and work, finance and asset protection, character development, mental wellness and other professional rugby obligations and expectations.
Excluding those players who have retired, are pregnant, or old, Cheyelle Robins-Reti seems to be the only omission from last year. Aleisha Pearl Nelson never played in Aupiki so must have a long-term injury. She is also 33. Kaipo Olsen-Baker is unlucky. There are only two halfbacks in that list too.
Not sure if I really keen hearing that NZR are waiting Ruby Tui's decision whether or not she is going to want to play. Just seems a little unfair that a player has got the union waiting without saying yep I real keen? Not a go at Tui who I got a lot of time for, and perhapds NZR know how good she is for game's promotion, still.......
Willison looks to have re-committed to Sevens. Hard to think that she would be left out otherwise.
Tui, the public face of the Black Ferns’ success, tweeted on Sunday that she would announce her next career move “over next couple days”.
In its release, NZR said: “NZR is also working with Ruby Tui to confirm her availability to re-join the Black Ferns programme later in the year. Further contracts are to be confirmed at a later date.”
I think the boat has sailed with Tui. Still has plenty to offer playing wise but she has landed an opportunity for the future that it would be silly to pass up. She's 31 and has won Olympic Gold, RWC Sevens, RWC XVs, 10 years in a black jersey.....
Bunting has also selected a new couple of out and out wings in Paul and Vahaakolo to add to Leti-I’iga
Tui and the union are better off deciding mutually that she is finished. Then they can move on with youth and she can continue to work on her budding broadcast career
@canefan said in Black Ferns 2023:
Tui and the union are better off deciding mutually that she is finished. Then they can move on with youth and she can continue to work on her budding broadcast career
My guess is that they are only waiting on her to secure some contract details with Sky. NZR don't want to jump the gun for her sake. Once everything is signed there will be a mutual retirement announcement.
Another possibility is that NZR may also be lining her up as part of their new development policy. There were a number of roles mentioned in those documents.
If she retires fully from playing she leves on a high. Has delivered both on and off the field and in NZ terms will probably be seen as the equivalent of Lomu in providing the impetus to take the game to new levels.
Re: contracted team
Not sure how Bayler gets in ahead of Puckett. Bayler was clearly second best halfback behind Puckett for the Blues.
A bit disappointed Willison is out and maybe back to 7s. She was excellent during Aupiki. Not sure why she played Aupiki if she’s going back to the BF7s.
Henwood over Gago for me. Or Henwood in addition to.
Happy for all the newbies who were all in form.
Carla Hohepa is obviously old but my god she can still play. She was brilliant in many of the matches.
Also I thought Jaymie Kolose deserves at least a part-time contract. As with Autumn Rain Stephens-Daly. Maybe just missed out with the overflow of talent out in the outside backs.
@Auckman said in Black Ferns 2023:
Henwood over Gago for me. Or Henwood in addition to.
Gago is a Hooker. Henwood a prop.
@Crucial Also wonder if she will be used in management team as cultural/gee up type role. I know we had someone complain about Bunting having this role in WC, but I think if we can somehow keep the special thing that team had, I would be all for it. Different teams etc perhaps have different requirements to get best out of them.
@Dan54 said in Black Ferns 2023:
@Crucial Also wonder if she will be used in management team as cultural/gee up type role. I know we had someone complain about Bunting having this role in WC, but I think if we can somehow keep the special thing that team had, I would be all for it. Different teams etc perhaps have different requirements to get best out of them.
A Culture, Diversity & Inclusion Manager already exists according to the Action Plan.
These are the new roles
6 FTEs
ɤ Head of Women’s High Performance
ɤ High Performance Administration – Women’s
ɤ Black Ferns Campaign Manager
ɤ Women’s Referee Development Manager
ɤ Head of Women and Girls Community Rugby
ɤ Women’s Commercial Sales
@Crucial said in Black Ferns 2023:
ɤ Women’s Referee Development Manager
This reminded me of the following.
Lauren Jenner moved to Treviso earlier in the year so was listed as an Italian referee in the women's 6N. She would have been the no.2 NZ women's ref. I wonder how that come about.
