The 28-strong squad included 12 capped Black Ferns, players from the wider training squad, and new faces.
The squad is (*denotes capped Black Fern):
Joanna Fanene - Auckland
Natahlia Moors* - Auckland
Saphire Abraham - Auckland
Angel Mulu - Bay of Plenty
Kelsie Wills - Bay of Plenty
Kendra Reynolds - Bay of Plenty
Luka Connor* - Bay of Plenty
Alana Bremner - Canterbury
Amy Rule - Canterbury
Chelsea Bremner - Canterbury
Grace Brooker* - Canterbury
Martha Lolohea - Canterbury
Mel Puckett - Canterbury
Olivia McGoverne - Canterbury
Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu* (Captain) - Counties Manukau
Hazel Tubic* - Counties Manukau
Lisapeta Molia - Counties Manukau
Langi Veainu - Counties Manukau
Leilani Perese* - Counties Manukau
Forne Burkin* - Hawke's Bay
Krysten Cottrell* - Hawke's Bay
Lauren Balsillie - Manawatu
Pia Tapsell* - North Harbour
Eilis Doyle - Otago
Kilisitina Moata'ane* - Otago
Kennedy Simon* - Waikato
Amanda Rasch - Wellington
Joanah Ngan-Woo* - Wellington
Waikato's Farah Palmer Cup (FPC) Coach Wayne Maxwell has been appointed Head Coach and Canterbury FPC Coach Kieran Kite named as Assistant Coach for the backs and Whitney Hansen Assistant Coach for the forwards.
Former Black Ferns Lock Amanda Murphy will take up the Strength and Conditioning Coach role. Murphy is currently the Women’s Rugby High Performance Manager for Canterbury Rugby.
The Development XV will be managed by Counties Manukau Steelers’ Manager Faamoana Leilua, and Gabrielle McCullough was appointed the squad’s physiotherapist.
This will be the first time a Black Ferns Development XV side will take part in the Oceania Rugby Women’s Championship which includes Fiji, Samoa, Papua New Guinea, Tonga and Australia A.
The competition kicks off on 18 November at Churchill Park in Laukota, Fiji.
New Zealand Rugby’s Head of Women’s Rugby Cate Sexton said it is an important opportunity for up and coming players to gain valuable international experience and exposure to the Black Ferns environment.
“As women’s rugby goes from strength to strength globally we need to make sure we are continuing to develop greater depth at the high performance level. To do this we need to give our top emerging talent opportunities to play other international sides.
“The selected squad is a mix of capped Black Ferns who will build on their international experience, and players from FPC teams who we believe have the potential to step up to the next level.”
“It’s really exciting for the players, but it also provides growth opportunities for the coaching and management team to build on their skills and experience.”
Sexton said the 2019 Oceania Rugby Women’s Championship provided an important pathway for women’s rugby in the Pacific with qualifying positions for 2021 Rugby World Cup available.
“When we host the 2021 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand we want as many nations as possible to be in a position to be able to send a team to take part. While we want to build depth for our Black Ferns, it’s very important to New Zealand Rugby that we support our Oceania neighbours to develop women’s rugby in their countries too.”
The Black Ferns and Australia have qualified for 2021 Rugby World Cup and will play in pool matches only.