Holmes in Ferns squad for WXV

Renee Holmes celebrates last year’s Women’s Rugby World Cup final victory over England. Holmes is excited at the prospect of playing top-tier nations on an annual basis in the WXV competition. New Zealand is hosting the inaugural WXV1 in October-November. NZ Herald picture

Gisborne’s Renee Holmes has predictably been named in the 30-strong Black Ferns squad for their final test match of the O’Reilly Cup and the inagural WXV1 tournament on home soil.

Fullback Holmes will add to her 23 tests in a squad featuring four newcomers — Auckland props Chryss Viliko  and Sophie Fisher, Manawatu lock Layla Sae and Canterbury outside back Martha Mataele — and the return of Ruby Tui after her sabbatical.

“It has been a very tough selection for our coaching group, which demonstrates the growth in our women’s game and a reflection our depth is certainly building,” Black Ferns head coach Allan Bunting said.

“Our new players have really stood out in several important behaviours we value — all of which we have been looking for in this year’s Farah Palmer Cup.

“It is an exciting opportunity for them to come on this journey and look to continue their growth both on and off the field. The future of our internal competition is exciting to see.”

The Black Ferns will play Australia in Hamilton  on September 30 in the second test of the Laurie O’Reilly Cup. New Zealand routed the Wallaroos 50-0 in the first test in Brisbane in June.

New Zealand will then host the six-nation annual WXV1 tournament, which kicks off with England taking on Australia in Wellington on October 20.

The other competing nations are New Zealand, France, Canada and Wales.

New Zealand play France in Wellington on October 21; Wales in Dunedin on October 28; and England in Auckland on November 4.

Holmes, following confirmation of the draw in August, said the Women’s Rugby World Cup was heavily based in the North Island, so spreading it south was “going o be awesome”.

“Getting more regular test matches confirmed . . . it’s huge. Being able to play those top-tier teams year in, year out, leading into world cups is really crucial.

“Getting that anticipation of getting to a world cup not having played a Northern Hemisphere team for a while, that’s going to disappear and we’re going to be able to match up in and get those quality games year in, year out, which is exciting.”

Coast-born former Gisborne Girls’ High student Charmaine McMenamin, working as a statistical analyst for Ngāti Porou East Coast Rugby Union, was  among those unavailable due to injury.