Black Ferns 2025

Wallaroos dug deep in the last 10. Just before that I was wondering if the Black Ferns were going to break 50.

Final whistle goes at 37 - 12.

The Black Ferns unveil their 33-player squad for the 2025 tournament in England at 5.05pm NZT on Friday 25 July.

Tune in on YouTube from 5.05pm NZT on Friday 25 July, as the Black Ferns announce the squad set to defend their Rugby World Cup crown in England.

The Rugby World Cup will take place in between 22 August and 27 September 2025, with the Black Ferns drawn in Pool C alongside Ireland, Japan and Spain.

I think there is still a chance that a couple of these players could make the RWC squad. Particularly King and Vaipulu.

The Black Ferns squad for the Rugby World Cup 2025 is (Age, Super Rugby Club, Provincial Union, Test caps):

Loosehead props

*Kate Henwood (36, Chiefs Manawa, Bay of Plenty, 10 Tests)

Awhina Tangen-Wainohu (27, Blues, Waikato, 7 Tests)

*Chryss Viliko (24, Blues, Auckland, 13 Tests)

Hookers

*Atlanta Lolohea (22, Blues, Canterbury, 7 Tests)

*Vici-Rose Green (22, Chiefs Manawa, Waikato, 2 Tests)

Georgia Ponsonby (25, Matatū, Canterbury, 31 Tests)

Tighthead props

Tanya Kalounivale (26, Chiefs Manawa, Waikato, 22 Tests)

*Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu (20, Chiefs Manawa, Waikato, 1 Test)

Amy Rule (25, Matatū, Canterbury, 30 Tests)

Locks

*Laura Bayfield (26, Matatū, Canterbury, 1 Test)

Alana Bremner (28, Matatū, Canterbury, 29 Tests)

Chelsea Bremner (30, Matatū, Canterbury, 22 Tests)

Maiakawanakaulani Roos (23, Blues, Auckland, 33 Tests)

Loose forwards

Liana Mikaele-Tu’u (23, Blues, Auckland, 29 Tests)

*Jorja Miller (21, Black Ferns Sevens, Canterbury, 2 Tests)

*Kaipo Olsen-Baker (23, Matatū, Manawatū, 12 Tests)

*Layla Sae (24, Hurricanes Poua, Manawatū, 14 Tests)

Kennedy Tukuafu (28, Chiefs Manawa, Waikato, 30 Tests)

Halfbacks

*Iritana Hohaia (25, Hurricanes Poua, Taranaki, 17 Tests)

*Maia Joseph (23, Matatū, Otago, 11 Tests)

*Risaleaana Pouri-Lane (25, Black Ferns Sevens, Ta$man, 2 Tests)

First five-eighths

Kelly Brazier (35, Chiefs Manawa, Bay of Plenty, 43 Tests)

Ruahei Demant (30, Blues, Auckland, 45 Tests)

Midfielders

Logo-I-Pulotu Lemapu-Atai’i Sylvia Brunt (21, Blues, Auckland, 25 Tests)

Amy du Plessis (26, Matatū, Canterbury, 21 Tests)

Theresa Setefano (30, Blues, Auckland, 19 Tests)

Stacey Waaka (29, Chiefs Manawa, Waikato, 27 Tests)

Outside backs

Renee Holmes (25, Chiefs Manawa, Waikato, 23 Tests)

Ayesha Leti-I’iga (26, Hurricanes Poua, Wellington, 26 Tests)

*Braxton Sorensen-McGee (18, Blues, Auckland, 3 Tests)

*Katelyn Vahaakolo (25, Blues, Auckland, 17 Tests)

Portia Woodman-Wickliffe (34, Blues, Northland, 27 Tests)

Non-travelling reserve

Krystal Murray (32, Chiefs Manawa, Northland, 14 Tests)

*denotes first Rugby World Cup

Black Ferns timeline:

· August 13 - Depart for Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 campaign in England

· August 25 – Black Ferns v Spain, York Community Stadium, York, 4.30am (NZT) kick-off

· September 1 – Black ferns v Japan, Sandy Park, Exeter, 1.00am (NZT) kick-off

· September 8 – Black Ferns v Ireland, Brighton & Hove Albion Stadium, Brighton & Hove, 1.45am (NZT) kick-off

@Daffy-Jaffy No Ruby Tui? Bit disappointing, even though she came back as injury cover lately.

There are better wingers than Tui. Brazier and du Plessis are lucky too.

@Daffy-Jaffy said in Black Ferns 2025:

The Black Ferns squad for the Rugby World Cup 2025 is (Age, Super Rugby Club, Provincial Union, Test caps):

Loosehead props

*Kate Henwood (36, Chiefs Manawa, Bay of Plenty, 10 Tests)

Awhina Tangen-Wainohu (27, Blues, Waikato, 7 Tests)

*Chryss Viliko (24, Blues, Auckland, 13 Tests)

Hookers

*Atlanta Lolohea (22, Blues, Canterbury, 7 Tests)

*Vici-Rose Green (22, Chiefs Manawa, Waikato, 2 Tests)

Georgia Ponsonby (25, Matatū, Canterbury, 31 Tests)

Tighthead props

Tanya Kalounivale (26, Chiefs Manawa, Waikato, 22 Tests)

*Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu (20, Chiefs Manawa, Waikato, 1 Test)

Amy Rule (25, Matatū, Canterbury, 30 Tests)

Locks

*Laura Bayfield (26, Matatū, Canterbury, 1 Test)

Alana Bremner (28, Matatū, Canterbury, 29 Tests)

Chelsea Bremner (30, Matatū, Canterbury, 22 Tests)

Maiakawanakaulani Roos (23, Blues, Auckland, 33 Tests)

Loose forwards

Liana Mikaele-Tu’u (23, Blues, Auckland, 29 Tests)

*Jorja Miller (21, Black Ferns Sevens, Canterbury, 2 Tests)

*Kaipo Olsen-Baker (23, Matatū, Manawatū, 12 Tests)

*Layla Sae (24, Hurricanes Poua, Manawatū, 14 Tests)

Kennedy Tukuafu (28, Chiefs Manawa, Waikato, 30 Tests)

Halfbacks

*Iritana Hohaia (25, Hurricanes Poua, Taranaki, 17 Tests)

*Maia Joseph (23, Matatū, Otago, 11 Tests)

*Risaleaana Pouri-Lane (25, Black Ferns Sevens, Ta$man, 2 Tests)

First five-eighths

Kelly Brazier (35, Chiefs Manawa, Bay of Plenty, 43 Tests)

Ruahei Demant (30, Blues, Auckland, 45 Tests)

Midfielders

Logo-I-Pulotu Lemapu-Atai’i Sylvia Brunt (21, Blues, Auckland, 25 Tests)

Amy du Plessis (26, Matatū, Canterbury, 21 Tests)

Theresa Setefano (30, Blues, Auckland, 19 Tests)

Stacey Waaka (29, Chiefs Manawa, Waikato, 27 Tests)

Outside backs

Renee Holmes (25, Chiefs Manawa, Waikato, 23 Tests)

Ayesha Leti-I’iga (26, Hurricanes Poua, Wellington, 26 Tests)

*Braxton Sorensen-McGee (18, Blues, Auckland, 3 Tests)

*Katelyn Vahaakolo (25, Blues, Auckland, 17 Tests)

Portia Woodman-Wickliffe (34, Blues, Northland, 27 Tests)

Non-travelling reserve

Krystal Murray (32, Chiefs Manawa, Northland, 14 Tests)

*denotes first Rugby World Cup

Black Ferns timeline:

· August 13 - Depart for Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 campaign in England

· August 25 – Black Ferns v Spain, York Community Stadium, York, 4.30am (NZT) kick-off

· September 1 – Black ferns v Japan, Sandy Park, Exeter, 1.00am (NZT) kick-off

· September 8 – Black Ferns v Ireland, Brighton & Hove Albion Stadium, Brighton & Hove, 1.45am (NZT) kick-off

A couple of the team are way younger than I realised:

Amy Rule (25
Maiakawanakaulani Roos (23
Liana Mikaele-Tu’u (23
Sylvia Brunt (21,
Renee Holmes (25,

Is this the thread to call for Bunting’s sacking and various other structural reforms required at NZRU level?

I pleased to see the Black Ferns get more games etc next year as part of build up towards 29 WC.
I admit I don't have high interest in Women's game, but think if we involved do it properly.

@Dan54 I also saw that Aupiki is being moved to the middle of the year as well, with the FPC shortly after

Moving Aupiki to the mid-year window is a good move as it’ll mean BF players playing in England and BF7s are theoretically available

@Auckman

Yeah, theoretically.
Now they have to figure out how they are going to pay them.
Hopefully by someone else lol.
I'd say the debate in NZR pro rugby right now is about what the pay split up is going to be between Aupiki and the secondary SR comp.

Moving forward it will be interesting to see how the NRLW v BFs (7s and XVs) dynamic plays out.
It appears to be reasonably "complementary" at the mo.
I know male contracts have "other sports clauses," and rugby league is mentioned specifically.
Assuming there is nothing like that in the female contracts, or their contracts are all so short it has no effect.

I think this is a good thing, provided NZR appoints the right new head coach.

Layla Sae, who was playing for Harlequins in the PWR, suffered an ACL injury, so is out for most of 2026.

I wonder who applied?

Black ferns have a Pacific 4 match in just over a month v USA then Canada in Kansas City and the Wallaroos in Oz.

Does anyone have an approximate idea what a best XV would look like given retirements and since I doubt the sevens players will be there.

@nonpartizan said in Black Ferns 2025:

Black ferns have a Pacific 4 match in just over a month v USA then Canada in Kansas City and the Wallaroos in Oz.

Does anyone have an approximate idea what a best XV would look like given retirements and since I doubt the sevens players will be there.

No idea re the best XV but here's the list of invitee's to last months training camp (https://www.allblacks.com/news/black-ferns-reveal-february-training-camp-invitees-player-list

Black Ferns February training camp invitees (Test caps):

Mia Anderson
Reese Anderson
Taufa Bason
Laura Bayfield (6)
Ariana Bayler (8)
Chelsea Bremner (24)
Logo-I-Pulotu Lemapu-Atai’i Sylvia Brunt (29)
Luka Connor (24)
Amy du Plessis (22)
Danny-Elle Fesolai
Vici-Rose Green (5)
Leilani Hakiwai
Lela Ieremia
Maia Joseph (16)
Elinor-Plum King
Hannah King (10)
Jaymie Kolose
Ayesha Leti-I’iga (30)
Atlanta Lolohea (10)
Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu (3)
Hollyrae Mete-Renata
Kaea Nepia
Kaipo Olsen-Baker (16)
Moomooga Palu
Winnie Palamo
Marcelle Parkes (7)
Mererangi Paul (14)
Cilia-Marie Po’e-Tofaeono
Maddi Robinson
Layla Sae (19)
Presayus Singh
Fiaali’i Solomona
Awhina Tangen-Wainohu (10)
Santo Taumata (7)
Sam Taylor
Kennedy Tukuafu (34)
Shyrah Tuliau-Tua’a
Tara Turner
Maama Vaipulu (7)
Chyrss Viliko (19)
Holly Wratt-Groeneweg

@allblacksfan2 said in Black Ferns 2025:

@nonpartizan said in Black Ferns 2025:

Black ferns have a Pacific 4 match in just over a month v USA then Canada in Kansas City and the Wallaroos in Oz.

Does anyone have an approximate idea what a best XV would look like given retirements and since I doubt the sevens players will be there.

No idea re the best XV but here's the list of invitee's to last months training camp (https://www.allblacks.com/news/black-ferns-reveal-february-training-camp-invitees-player-list

Black Ferns February training camp invitees (Test caps):

Mia Anderson
Reese Anderson
Taufa Bason
Laura Bayfield (6)
Ariana Bayler (8)
Chelsea Bremner (24)
Logo-I-Pulotu Lemapu-Atai’i Sylvia Brunt (29)
Luka Connor (24)
Amy du Plessis (22)
Danny-Elle Fesolai
Vici-Rose Green (5)
Leilani Hakiwai
Lela Ieremia
Maia Joseph (16)
Elinor-Plum King
Hannah King (10)
Jaymie Kolose
Ayesha Leti-I’iga (30)
Atlanta Lolohea (10)
Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu (3)
Hollyrae Mete-Renata
Kaea Nepia
Kaipo Olsen-Baker (16)
Moomooga Palu
Winnie Palamo
Marcelle Parkes (7)
Mererangi Paul (14)
Cilia-Marie Po’e-Tofaeono
Maddi Robinson
Layla Sae (19)
Presayus Singh
Fiaali’i Solomona
Awhina Tangen-Wainohu (10)
Santo Taumata (7)
Sam Taylor
Kennedy Tukuafu (34)
Shyrah Tuliau-Tua’a
Tara Turner
Maama Vaipulu (7)
Chyrss Viliko (19)
Holly Wratt-Groeneweg

Thank you.

The HK sevens clashes with the PAC4 so it's very unlikely that the likes of Miller, Sorenson-McGee, Pouri-Lane etc will be involved. There are also a number of BFs playing in the PWR but that has a 2-month break including April.