The Black Ferns thrilled the nation with their high risk, high-skilled approach to the game and have plenty of milestones to celebrate.
2022 Record
Played: 12
Won: 12
Points For: 538
Points Against: 136
Tries: 86
Conversions: 45
Penalties: 6
The record for most wins in a season previously was seven in 2017. That year the Black Ferns beat Australia and Canada prior to the World Cup, lost to England in Rotorua, but flipped that result in the World Cup final with a thrilling 41-32 win over the Red Roses in Belfast.
The Black Ferns scored 64 tries in eight Tests in 2017. In 1998 they scored 53 tries in five Tests.
Wing Portia Woodman scored 14 tries in six Tests. The record for most Black Ferns tries in a season is held by fellow wing Vanessa Coutts who scored 18 tries in three Tests in 1996. That includes a record nine in a 109-0 win against France. Dianne Kahura scored 19 tries in 11 first class games in the 2002 first class season. She was the Black Ferns leading try scorer at the 2002 World Cup. Ayesha Leti-I'iga scored 11 tries in nine Tests.
Joanah Ngan-Woo and Chelsea Bremner were the only players used in all 12 Tests in 2022.
Sarah Hirini was the Black Ferns top tackler at the World Cup with 54 followed by Maia Ross with 50. Ruahei Demant was the top back tackler with 35. Theresa Fitzpatrick made 30 and Ruby Tui 26.
Sisters Alana and Chelsea Bremner each made 40 tackles in the World Cup.
Ruahei Demant joined Monique Hirovanaa (2002), Carla Hohepa (2010), Kendra Cocksedge (2015) and Portia Woodman (2017) as the other Black Ferns to have won the Women’s World Rugby player of the year award.
In 2019 Ruby Tui was World Rugby Women's Sevens Player of the Year. In 2022 she won the first women’s breakthrough 15s player of the year award.
Wayne Smith was named World Rugby coach of the year. Sir Graham Henry won World Rugby coach of the year in 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010 and 2011 when Smith was his assistant. Additionally, Steve Hansen won the coach of the year award four times with Smith by his side for the last of those wins in 2016. Smith is only the second women’s head coach to capture the coach of the year prize. England boss Simon Middleton achieved the feat last year.
Stacey Fluhler has scored tries in three consecutive Tests against England. Vanessa Coutts scored in four consecutive Tests against England between 1997 and 2001.
The Black Ferns are halfway towards matching their longest ever winning streak of 24 Tests in a row achieved between 2002 and 2009.
Black Ferns Leading Try Scorers at World Cup:
1991: Helen Mahon-Stroud/Lesley Brett, 3
1998: Vanessa Coutts, 7
2002: Dianne Kahura, 6
2006: Amiria Marsh, 6
2010: Carla Hohepa, 7
2014: Selica Winiata/Shakira Baker, 6
2017: Portia Woodman, 13
2021: Portia Woodman, 7