Black Ferns End of Year squad named

Black Ferns

1 hour ago

Black Ferns Head Coach Whitney Hansen and Assistants Tony Christie, Riki Flutey and Simon Kneebone have announced a 31-player strong squad for the remainder of 2026.

Nine changes made to Black Ferns squad

Nine changes have been made to the squad named earlier this year for the Pacific Four Series, including five uncapped players off the back of consistent Sky Super Rugby Aupiki performances. Loosehead prop Ngano Tavake, Amarante Sititi (lock), Elinor-Plum King (loose forward) and outside backs Maia Davis and Shyrah Tuliau-Tua’a have earned Black Ferns call-ups.

Returning Black Ferns include prop Santo Taumata, who last appeared in the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2022 winning squad, and centre Alena Saili who makes her first Black Ferns appearance since 2018. Fullback Braxton Sorensen-McGee also joins the squad, while loose forward Layla Sae completes a remarkable return after recovering from an ACL injury.

The squad is intended to remain the same for their upcoming match against Black Ferns XV and the remaining eight Tests; the O’Reilly Cup presented by Bupa against Australia, against South Africa as part of the RGR tour, and the WXV Global Series (home and away).

Black Ferns End of Year squad is:

(Age, Sky Super Rugby Aupiki club, Provincial Union, Test caps)

Loosehead Props

Chryss Viliko (25, Blues, Auckland, 22)

Maddison Robinson (25, Matatū, Canterbury, 3)

Ngano Tavake (25, Hurricanes Poua, Manawatū, uncapped)

Hookers

Vici-Rose Green (24, Chiefs Manawa, Waikato, 7)

Atlanta Lolohea (23, Blues, Canterbury, 11)

Georgia Ponsonby (26, Matatū, Canterbury, 40)

Tighthead Props

Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu (21, Chiefs Manawa, Waikato, 6)

Mo’omo’oga Palu (24, Hurricanes Poua, Hawke’s Bay, 1)

Santo Taumata (23, Matatū, Bay of Plenty, 7)

Locks

Maiakawanakaulani Roos (25, Blues, Auckland, 41)

Laura Bayfield (27, Matatū, Canterbury, 9)

Maama Mo’onia Vaipulu (23, Blues, Auckland, 10)

Amarante Sititi (19, Blues, Auckland, uncapped)

Loose forwards

Mia Anderson (24, Chiefs Manawa, Waikato, 3)

Liana Mikaele-Tu’u (24, Blues, Auckland, 38)

Kaipo Olsen-Baker (24, Matatū, Manawatū, 19)

Elinor-Plum King (22, Matatū, Manawatū, uncapped)

Layla Sae (25, Hurricanes Poua, Manawatū, 19)

Halfbacks

Maia Joseph (24, Matatū, Otago, 19)

Tara Turner (22, Blues, Northland, 3)

First-five eighths

Ruahei Demant (31, Blues, Auckland, 54) – co-captain

Hannah King (22, Matatū, Canterbury, 13)

Midfield

Logo-I-Pulotu Lemapu-Atai’i Sylvia Brunt (22, Blues, Auckland, 32)

Justine McGregor (20, Chiefs Manawa, Black Ferns Sevens, 3)

Amy Du Plessis (27, Matatū, Canterbury, 25)

Alena Saili (27, Matatū, Black Ferns Sevens, 5)

Outside backs

Maia Davis (20, Matatū, Black Ferns Sevens, uncapped)

Ayesha Leti-I’iga (27, Hurricanes Poua, Wellington, 33)

Mererangi Paul (27, Blues, Counties Manukau, 17)

Braxton Sorensen-McGee (19, Blues, Black Ferns Sevens, 9)

Shyrah Tuliau-Tua’a (19, Chiefs Manawa, uncapped)

Unavailable due to injury: Kennedy Tukuafu (hamstring), Jaymie Kolose (ankle).

This

squad

has

an

exciting

blend

of

experience

and

emerging

talent,

finding

the

right

balance

was

a

key

part

of

our

selections

process.

We’re

also

thrilled

to

welcome

our

new

Black

Ferns,

who

will

bring

different

strengths

to

our

environment

on

and

off

the

field.

The

quality

of

rugby

in

Sky

Super

Rugby

Aupiki

continues

to

rise

every

year.

The

competition

for

spots

in

the

squad

is

stronger

than

ever,

with

so

many

talented

players

across

every

position.

That’s

made

selection

decisions

for

us

incredibly

tough,

but

it’s

exactly

where

we

want

the

game

to

be

and

it’s

only

going

to

get

harder.
Black Ferns Head Coach, Whitney Hansen

Watch: Black Ferns v Wallaroos 2026 Pacific Four Series Match Highlights

Black Ferns begin End of Year Test campaign

The Black Ferns begin their preparations this week in Wellington to play Black Ferns XV, before travelling up to Auckland for the O’Reilly Cup Test. They’ll then travel offshore from August 28 and return home from October 1 ahead of their home Tests against France.

Co-captain Kennedy Tukuafu and Jaymie Kolose were unavailable for selection due to injury, while fullback Renee Holmes and wing Katelyn Vahaakolo were also unavailable due to their Black Ferns Sevens commitments.

Black Ferns eye 2027 British & Irish Lions Tour

Hansen said the upcoming matches create an opportunity for the group to put the Black Ferns’ rugby identity to the test, while continuing to build towards the first-ever British and Irish Lions Women’s Tour next year.

At

the

start

of

the

year

we

wanted

to

bring

our

brand

of

rugby

to

life,

and

I

think

we

saw

that

throughout

the

Pacific

Four

Series.

The

next

phase

is

about

evolving

how

we

play

and

staying

connected

as

a

group.

The

challenges

ahead

will

demand

more

of

us,

and

we’re

looking

forward

to

the

opportunities

of

growing

from

good

to

great.
Black Ferns Head Coach, Whitney Hansen

Potential Black Ferns debutant players

Ngano Tavake

Ngano Tavake is an emerging powerhouse in the props, known for her physicality and strong ball-carrying skills. Tavake was a consistent selection in the Hurricanes Poua team during this year’s Sky Super Rugby Aupiki and has been with the Poua since it’s inception. She has also represented the Manawatū Cyclones for seven seasons and is a product of St Peter’s College in Palmerston North.

Amarante Sititi

Amarante Sititi is a dynamic forward marked as one of New Zealand rugby’s rising stars. A product of Auckland Girls’ Grammar School where she served as Head Girl, Sititi progressed through the women’s rugby pathway with standout performances in her debut Hilux Farah Palmer Cup campaign with the Auckland Storm, earning both the Auckland Rugby FPC Emerging Player of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year awards in 2025. Sititi brings explosive ball-carrying, physical defence and relentless work ethic as seen in her first Sky Super Rugby Aupiki campaigns with the Blues.

Elinor-Plum King

Elinor-Plum King is a talented loose forward known for her work rate, physicality and competitiveness on the field. A product of Manawatū rugby, King has been a consistent performer for the Cyclones in the Hilux Farah Palmer Cup. She represented Matatū in this year’s Sky Super Rugby Aupiki after two seasons with the Hurricanes Poua and has also previously earned selection in the Black Ferns XV programme.

Maia Davis

Maia Davis is a skilful and energetic player who contibutes speed and intensity as seen in her recent Sky Super Rugby Aupiki campaign with Matatū and in the Black Ferns Sevens programme. Davis made her international sevens debut at the 2025 Canada Sevens in Vancouver, and was a member of the New Zealand team that won the Hong Kong Sevens that same year. Davis also has two seasons of Hilux Farah Palmer Cup with the Manawatū Cyclones under her belt.

Shyrah Tuliau-Tua’a

Shyrah Tuliau-Tua’a is a winger known for her speed, agility, and try-scoring ability. Developing her skills through the rugby programmes at Sacred Heart Girls’ College and Hamilton Girls’ High School, she quickly established herself as a standout young talent, earning selection to the New Zealand Under18 Sevens programme. Tuliau-Tua’a represented Chiefs Manawa in Sky Super Rugby Aupiki and Waikato in the Farah Palmer Cup presented by Hilux.

WATCH: Highlights from the last time the Black Ferns met the Black Ferns XV

2026 Black Ferns Home Series

Black Ferns End of Year squad named

Nine changes made to Black Ferns squad