Black Ferns
Kennedy Tukuafu

PLAYER PROFILE

Kennedy Tukuafu

Loose Forward

KEY STATS
UPDATED
AGE
28
HEIGHT
172CM
GAMES
25
POINTS
20
TRIES
4

BIOGRAPHY

Black Fern #210

Tukuafu nee Simon made her Farah Palmer Cup debut for Waikato in 2018 and immediately established herself as one of the team’s most important players.

She was selected for the Black Ferns in 2019 and made four appearances as a replacement for the team in their Super Series in San Diego.

Tukuafu was named Black Ferns Player of the Year in 2021, and despite injury ruling her out of contention for the early parts of 2022, she returned to lead the Black Ferns for the first time, alongside fellow co-captain Ruahei Demant in the O'Reilly Cup series.

In 2022, she returned from injury to lead the Black Ferns to Rugby World Cup glory, alongside fellow co-captain Ruahei Demant. In 2023 Demant alongside Black Ferns Co-Captain Kennedy Tukuafu were named as Members of the New Zealand Order of Merit.

Player Stats

Province:
Waikato

Test Debut:
v USA, 2019

Super Club:
Chiefs Manawa

Kennedy Tukuafu news

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Vahaakolo hattrick powers Black Ferns home against France
The Black Ferns have snapped a three-game losing streak with a resounding 39-14 victory over France at BC Place in Vancouver.
PREVIEW: Black Ferns v England (London)
The Black Ferns face the biggest challenge in women’s rugby this weekend when they attempt to conquer England at Allianz Stadium (formerly Twickenham) this weekend.

Black Ferns overpower Australia in Pacific Four finale
The Black Ferns have finished the 2024 Pacific Four tournament on a high and wrapped up the Laurie O’Reilly Cup with a 67-19 win over the Wallaroos at North Harbour Stadium.
PREVIEW: Black Ferns v France (WXV 1)
Black Ferns Director of Rugby Allan Bunting described the inaugural WXV 1 Tournament as a “mini World Cup.”
Black Ferns primed for WXV1 opener against France in Wellington
The Black Ferns coaching group of Allan Bunting, Steve Jackson, Mike Delany and Tony Christie have named an exciting 23 to take on France in their opener of the inaugural WXV1 Tournament this Saturday evening (7.00pm), in Wellington at Sky Stadium.
PREVIEW: Black Ferns v Wallaroos (Brisbane)
New Zealand's World Cup-winning Black Ferns set out on a new phase when playing Australia's Wallaroos in Thursday's first game of the Pacific Four Series in Brisbane.
First Black Ferns squad of 2023 named
A new era for the Rugby World Cup winning Black Ferns is underway with the first squad named today ahead of their opening Test for the Pacific Four Series and O’Reilly Cup against Australia in Brisbane later this month.
Black Ferns crowned Rugby World Cup champions
Stacey Fluhler boasts a smile that could melt margarine. A try she scored to help the Black Ferns Sevens win the Olympic final against France in Tokyo last year became an iconic image. Unfortunately, nobody was inside the stadium to see it.
Black Ferns team named for Rugby World Cup Final
The Black Ferns team to face England for the Rugby World Cup title, at a sold-out Eden Park this Saturday, has been named.
“We’ve got a lot of heart in this team” – Wayne Smith
The heart of the Black Ferns is not in question after their pulsating Rugby World Cup semifinal victory over France, but some of the tactics will need tweaking or at least refining.
Black Ferns primed for semifinal showdown with France
Remembering lessons dished out by France in two Tests during last season's tour of Europe will ensure the Black Ferns have plenty to build on ahead of Saturday's Rugby World Cup semifinal against France.
Quarterfinal Preview: Black Ferns v Wales (Rugby World Cup)
For the second time in less than a fortnight the Black Ferns will tackle Wales at the Rugby World Cup when the first and eighth seeds clash in the quarterfinals in Whangārei.
Co-Captain Kennedy Simon makes her return for Black Ferns quarter-final clash
Black Ferns coaches have named a powerful match day 23 for their Rugby World Cup quarter-final against Wales, with the return of co-captain Kennedy Simon from injury.
Preview: Black Ferns v Australia (Rugby World Cup)
The ninth edition of the Women’s Rugby World Cup is set to kick-off at Eden Park on Saturday with an opening day triple header featuring the top three seeds in front of a world record crowd for women's rugby internationals.
History awaits the Black Ferns at Eden Park
Black Ferns co-captain and first five-eighths Ruahei Demant believes Saturday's Rugby World Cup opening game against Australia will result in emotions she has never experienced before.
Deep Canterbury connection ahead of O'Reilly Cup opener in Christchurch
Black Ferns Director of Rugby Wayne Smith spent 33 years playing and coaching in Canterbury. Christchurch was the city where he established his formidable reputation and met his coaching mentor Laurie O'Reilly.
Sarah Hirini collects three major prizes at ASB Rugby Awards
Black Ferns Sevens captain Sarah Hirini has collected three major prizes at the 2021 ASB New Zealand Rugby Awards, including the supreme Kelvin R. Tremain Memorial Player of the Year.
What we’ve seen so far in the Farah Palmer Cup
Before Covid-19 snuck its way back into Aotearoa, the Farah Palmer Cup had one more full regular season round to go ahead of the finals.

Players vote on their players of the year
All Blacks captain and flanker Sam Cane received more recognition for his achievements in 2020 by being selected as the international men's player of the year by the New Zealand Rugby Players' Association in their annual awards.

Kennedy Tukuafu Videos

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HIGHLIGHTS | Black Ferns v Australia | 2024 Pacific Four
The Pacific Four Series concludes with a pulsating clash between the Black…
EXTENDED HIGHLIGHTS: Black Ferns v Australia (Brisbane)
Catch up on the best moments from the Black Ferns opening Test of 2023.
Co-Captain Kennedy Simon returns from injury for RWC debut
Kennedy Simon returns from a horror injury run that could have derailed her…
PRESS CONFERENCE | Wayne and Kennedy talk RWC 21 Quarter Final build up
Black Ferns Coach, Wayne Smith and Co-Captain, Kennedy Simon, talk about the…
Get behind the Black Ferns at the Rugby World Cup
Hear from Black Ferns Assistant Coach Whitney Hansen and players Kennedy Simon…
Black Ferns players return home to Gisborne
Black Ferns' Renee Holmes & Charmaine McMenamin returned back to their old…
Black Ferns react to World Cup postponement
The Black Ferns came together in Wellington over the weekend to reconnect…