Black Ferns to take on Aussie rivals in Rotorua

COMING TO TOWN: The Black Ferns will play a match in Rotorua as part of their build-up to the 2014 women's Rugby World Cup. PHOTO/FILE

Rotorua rugby fans will get to see the Black Ferns in action when the women's side play Australia at Rotorua International Stadium as part of their build-up to the 2014 women's Rugby World Cup.

An international women's rugby series is being hosted across Bay of Plenty in June to prepare the Black Ferns for the World Cup in France in August.

The New Zealand side will play matches against Australia, Canada and Samoa during the series.

Bay of Plenty Rugby Union chief executive Mike Rogers said the series would be an important one for the Black Ferns.

"This quad-tournament is the lead-in tournament to the women's World Cup," he said.

"This marks their final preparation before going away."

Rogers said the New Zealand Rugby Union had approached the Bay rugby union to host the series.

The match in Rotorua on Sunday, June 1 will be televised live on Sky Sports and will mark the first match of the series.

Two matches will also be held at Tauranga Domain and one match will be staged at Whakatane's Rugby Park.

Rogers said it was a good chance for locals to watch some of the best female rugby players in the world.

On top of the four matches in Bay of Plenty, one match will also be held in Auckland.

New Zealand will play Samoa at Eden Park on June 7 as a curtain-raiser to the All Blacks versus England match.

The international women's rugby series is not a proper tournament and does not include a semifinal or final.

Prices to watch each game will be $10 for an adult and $5 for children aged 14 and under.

International women's rugby series schedule:

Sunday, June 1: New Zealand v Australia, Rotorua International Stadium (5.40pm).

Friday, June 6: Australia v Canada, Tauranga Domain (2.30pm).

Saturday, June 7: New Zealand v Samoa, Eden Park (5pm).

Tuesday, June 10: New Zealand v Canada, Tauranga Domain (2.30pm).

Saturday, June 14: New Zealand v Canada, Rugby Park in Whakatane (2.30pm).