NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Sport / Rugby / Black Ferns

Rugby: Black Ferns name squad for next month's Rugby World Cup in New Zealand

NZ Herald
13 Sep, 2022 03:20 AM5 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

The Black Ferns haka. Photo / Photosport

The Black Ferns haka. Photo / Photosport

New Zealand Sevens stars Portia Woodman, Sarah Hirini and Stacey Fluhler have been named in the Black Ferns squad for the upcoming Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.

Black Ferns coaches Wayne Smith, Wesley Clarke and Whitney Hansen selected 32 players in the squad, which was announced by New Zealand Rugby deputy chair and Rugby World Cup winner Dr Farah Palmer at College Rifles Rugby Club this afternoon.

Veteran halfback Kendra Cocksedge and outside back Renee Wickliffe will be attending their fourth Rugby World Cup, while seven players are returning for their second after taking part in the 2017 victory.

Players selected range from Northland through to Canterbury, with Sylvia Brunt the youngest selected at just 18 years old.

The Black Ferns will be co-captained by Auckland's Ruahei Demant and Waikato's Kennedy Simon.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Chelsea Semple and Tyla Nathan-Wong are the notable omissions.

Black Ferns director of rugby Smith, who will attend his first women's Rugby World Cup and fifth overall, congratulated those selected.

"This is an incredibly special moment for the players selected, and on behalf of the coaching group I want to congratulate all those named in today's squad - it's an exciting time, not only for them, but their whānau and wider communities as well," said Smith.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"It's also important to make note of those players that missed out. This selection process has been incredibly difficult as the standard of players we have seen across the country this year has been impressive.

"There are a number of players who have had long, distinguished careers in the black jersey and their contribution to this team has been crucial in getting the team to where it is today. And we know as with any campaign of this length, we may still see some of them called into the squad."

The Black Ferns have developed a new game plan in 2022 under the new coaching setup, and Smith said he hopes it is one that will excite the rugby public and get them in behind the team throughout the Rugby World Cup.

"We've talked a lot this year about wanting to play an exhilarating style of rugby and we have seen that developing throughout the year. We want to play on top of the opposition, and that requires a certain set of skills that we have been working really hard on."

Discover more

Sport|rugby

Why next month's Rugby World Cup will only be played in NZ's north

12 Sep 12:00 AM
Sport|rugby

Heartbreak for New Zealand sevens sides at World Cup

11 Sep 06:45 PM
Entertainment

Rita Ora to headline RWC: 'NZ holds a special place in my heart'

07 Sep 07:30 AM
Sport|rugby

Alice Soper: The double standards in NZ rugby's fan experience for women

06 Sep 07:00 PM

With an exciting Farah Palmer Cup, presented by Bunnings Warehouse, coming to a conclusion on Saturday, with Canterbury and Hawke's Bay claiming titles, Smith said the competition has been a solid build-up for the players.

"This year we saw a fast, open and exciting style of game played across the country. Teams were playing with a huge attacking intent which was pleasing to see, and there are a number of players who really cemented their selection in this squad off the back of their FPC form," said Smith.

Having been involved in the All Blacks home Rugby World Cup campaign in 2011, Smith said he knows how much it means to players to have a chance to compete for the biggest prize in the game on home soil.

"To compete at home in front of our whānau and fans will be exceptionally special for the players. In my experience, understanding the significance of the event is important, but at the same time you need to be excited by that challenge. You can't let the pressure overcome you or ignore it. It's a fine balance. To play with freedom and joy in front of our own people is what we have been training for," said Smith.

The Black Ferns squad will assemble in Auckland on Monday in advance of their first-ever test match against Japan at Eden Park. They will stay assembled through to the start of the Rugby World Cup, which kicks off at Eden Park on 8 October.

The Black Ferns will face Australia (8 October), Wales (16 October) and Scotland (22 October) in Pool A of the Rugby World Cup.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Black Ferns squad

(Age, Super Rugby team, province and test caps)

Hookers

Luka Connor (26, Bay of Plenty, Chiefs, 8)
Natalie Delamere (25, Bay of Plenty, Matatū, 2)
Georgia Ponsonby (22, Canterbury, Matatū, 6)

Props

Tanya Kalounivale (23, Waikato, Chiefs, 4)
Phillipa Love (32, Canterbury, Matatū, 19)
Krystal Murray (29, Northland, Blues, 4)
Amy Rule (22, Canterbury, Matatū, 6)
Awhina Tangen-Wainohu (24, Waikato, Chiefs, 1)
Santo Taumata (19, Bay of Plenty, Chiefs, 1)

Locks

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Chelsea Bremner (27, Canterbury, Matatū, 5)
Joanah Ngan-Woo (26, Wellington, Hurricanes, 10)
Maiakawanakaulani Roos (21, Auckland, Blues, 7)

Loose Forwards

Alana Bremner (25, Canterbury, Matatū, 8)
Sarah Hirini (29, Manawatū, Hurricanes, 10)
Charmaine McMenamin (32, Auckland, Blues, 27)
Liana Mikaele-Tu'u (20, Auckland, Blues, 6)
Kendra Reynolds (29, Bay of Plenty, Matatū, 5)
Kennedy Simon (25, Waikato, Chiefs, 10)

Halfbacks

Ariana Bayler (25, Waikato, Chiefs, 5)
Kendra Cocksedge (34, Canterbury, Matatū, 61)
Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu (30, Counties Manukau, Chiefs, 9)

First Five-Eighths

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Ruahei Demant (27, Auckland, Blues, 20)
Hazel Tubic (31, Counties Manukau, Chiefs, 16)

Midfielders

Logo I Pulotu Lemapu Atai'i (Sylvia) Brunt (18, Auckland, 4)
Amy du Plessis (23, Canterbury, Matatū, 3)
Theresa Fitzpatrick (27, Auckland, Blues, 12)

Outside Backs

Stacey Fluhler (26, Waikato, Chiefs, 20)
Renee Holmes (22, Waikato, Matatū, 4)
Ayesha Leti-I'iga (23, Wellington, Hurricanes, 17)
Ruby Tui (30, Counties Manukau, Chiefs, 4)
Renee Wickliffe (35, Bay of Plenty, Chiefs, 44)
Portia Woodman (31, Northland, Chiefs, 18)

Unavailable due to injury: Grace Brooker, Kaipo Olsen-Baker, Aleisha Pearl Nelson

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Save

    Share this article

Latest from Black Ferns

Premium
Black Ferns

Woodman-Wickliffe on babies, books, broadcasting and King’s Birthday honour

02 Jun 03:00 AM
Black Ferns

'I don't know how many I scored': Woodman-Wickliffe after creating Black Ferns history

25 May 12:30 AM
Black Ferns

Woodman-Wickliffe breaks record as Black Ferns win title

24 May 05:30 AM

Jono and Ben brew up a tea-fuelled adventure in Sri Lanka

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Black Ferns

Premium
Woodman-Wickliffe on babies, books, broadcasting and King’s Birthday honour

Woodman-Wickliffe on babies, books, broadcasting and King’s Birthday honour

02 Jun 03:00 AM

She aims to start a family after the Rugby World Cup in England.

'I don't know how many I scored': Woodman-Wickliffe after creating Black Ferns history

'I don't know how many I scored': Woodman-Wickliffe after creating Black Ferns history

25 May 12:30 AM
Woodman-Wickliffe breaks record as Black Ferns win title

Woodman-Wickliffe breaks record as Black Ferns win title

24 May 05:30 AM
'Where we need to be': Black Ferns take stock as sevens stars get their shot

'Where we need to be': Black Ferns take stock as sevens stars get their shot

22 May 03:54 AM
Help for those helping hardest-hit
sponsored

Help for those helping hardest-hit

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP