black ferns

Ruby Tui re-signs with Black Ferns for two more years

The 31-year-old stepped away from the game after the winning World Cup campaign and the former rugby sevens star also sat out Super Rugby Aupiki.

Tui has been added to the Black Ferns contracted player group for 2023 but will likely miss the upcoming test match against Australia on 29 June due to her sabbatical.

"I couldn't watch footy without officially announcing I'm re-signing with the Black Ferns for two years taking an immediate sabbatical," Tui told fans on Twitter.

All Black and Black Fern Sevens enjoy Hong Kong tournament double

The All Black Sevens have won the Hong Kong Sevens tournament for the first time in almost ten years, while the Black Ferns have won their fifth tournament on the trot.

It's the second time this season the two New Zeland sides have achieved a tournament double.

RNZ reports the last time the New Zealand men's side had won the Hong Kong tournament in 2014.

Black Ferns Sevens thump Australia in Cape Town final

New Zealand have romped to a 31-14 win over Australia in the final at the Cape Town round of the series.

The result avenged the Black Ferns loss to their trans-Tasman rivals at the opening round in Dubai and brings the teams level at the top of the standings.

The New Zealand men's side couldn't quite match their female counterparts after being edged 12-7 by Samoa in a Cup final played in challenging conditions.

Sevens stars named in Black Ferns as Simon and McMenamin return

The pair are both returning from injury.

Simon will wear the captain's armband alongside first-five Ruahei Demant who led the team during the Pacific Four Series, which the Black Ferns won.

The team now plays two tests against Australia for the Laurie O'Reilly Cup, with the first match in Ōtautahi this weekend.

The Waikato loose forward was named Black Ferns Player of the Year in 2021 but missed June's series with a knee injury.

McMenamin, the Black Ferns Player of the Year in 2019, has recovered from spinal surgery to reclaim her place.

Three debutants in Black Ferns side for Australia tests

Auckland inside back Ruahei Demant led the team to Pacific Four Series victory in June and will be joined in a co-captaincy role for this series with Waikato loose forward Kennedy Simon.

Simon was the 2021 Black Ferns Player of the Year and missed the most recent series with a knee injury but will add plenty of fire power to the O'Reilly Cup squad.

New Black Ferns contracts unveiled

Building on the professional contracts introduced in 2018, 29 players have been awarded contracts with increased retainers and assembly fees and believed to be worth between $60,000-$130,000 annually.

2021 Black Ferns debutants Ariana Bayler, Alana Bremner, Liana Mikaele-Tu'u, Maiakawanakaulani Roos and Georgia Ponsonby pick up contracts for the first time.

New Zealand Rugby CEO Mark Robinson congratulated those players named in the contracted group.

NZR launches independent investigation into Black Ferns coach

In a social media post earlier this week Ngata-Aerengamate alleged Moore told her she didn't deserve to be in the team and she was selected only to play the guitar.

The end of year Northern Hemisphere tour was a tough one for the Black Ferns.

They lost all four tests, beaten convincingly by England and France in what was their first international rugby in two years due to Covid.

New Zealand Rugby chief executive Mark Robinson says the independent inquiry will run alongside the review the NZR is doing of the Black Ferns end of year tour.

Auckland Rugby Union's new president is a woman, first woman to hold the position in its history

The Marist Rugby Club stalwart is the most capped female Auckland Rugby player with 106 games in the Blue and White jersey and 57 caps for the Black Ferns (tied most of all-time), including four successful Rugby World Cup campaigns.

The detective constable has been a cornerstone in the legacy of female and Pasifika rugby in New Zealand representing the union from 1999-2018, winning 15 Domestic Championships with Auckland.

The appointment of Fa'amausili comes after Saveatama Eroni Clarke's three-year term as President comes to an end.

     

Nine debutants in Black Ferns squad

With four debutants in the run on XV and five on the bench, Black Ferns Head Coach Glenn Moore has picked a side that is a true balance of youth and experience.

"We've had some really good talent coming through back in New Zealand and the players we have brought into our environment have really stepped up and I think those that debut this weekend will all make an impact on the game," said Moore.

Experienced players Portia Woodman and Kelly Brazier weren't considered because of injuries.

Blacks Ferns join Pacific Four Series

The new series will give four of the top nations - New Zealand, Australia, Canada and USA - regular international fixtures.

The World Rugby-funded competition will soft launch this year with Canada and USA going head-to-head on 1 and 5 November and New Zealand and Australia will join in 2022 due to current Covid-19 restrictions.

The annual cross-regional series has been developed to meet the governing body's commitment to providing consistent high performance competition for elite women's international teams.