
Nine Matatu players in Black Ferns XV squad
Coach Willie Walker yesterday announced a 28-strong second-string national squad to play two games against the Springboks in Cape Town.
Three of the five props - Marcelle Parkes, Maddi Robinson and Ashley Palu — played for Matatu in Super Rugby Aupiki this season.
Outstanding flanker Lucy Jenkins, who made her test debut in the 2023 Pacific Four series, and rookie No 8 Fiaali'i Solomona are among the loose forwards.
Outside backs Winnie Palamo, Hollyrae Mete-Renata and Kaea Nepia, and young first five Hannah King, are the Matatu representatives in the backs.
Black Ferns XV selection could be a mixed blessing for King.
It could mean she is missing out on the Black Ferns squad heading to England to defend their World Cup crown in August-September.
The Black Ferns will name a squad of 32 on July 25, and leave on August 13.
King, who has 10 test caps, came off the bench in all three Pacific Four tests earlier this year to replace captain Ruahei Demant. But with veteran Kelly Brazier back in the mix, Black Ferns coach Allan Bunting may feel he has enough cover at first five.
That would be a tough blow for the woman nominated for World Rugby's breakthrough player of the year award last year.
Veteran winger Ruby Tui is not in the second-string squad, which may mean she has made the World Cup cut.
Bay of Plenty lock Holly Greenway will captain the Black Ferns XV, selected following a trial game against the national squad.
Chiefs Manawa hooker Luka Connor is the senior hand with 24 test caps.
Walker said the trial had been a successful exercise ahead of the trip to Cape Town.
"The trial in Whangarei was an ideal build-up for this group and helpful in assessing players and combinations.
"We've selected a strong squad and it's a huge opportunity for these players to experience a touring environment and to play against a tier one international opponent."
The Black Ferns XV head to South Africa on Sunday.
The games will both be played at the 34,000-seat Athlone Stadium in Cape Town, on July 26 and August 2.
It is the first time a New Zealand women's team has played in South Africa. Black Ferns XV
Forwards: Holly Greenway (captain), Luka Connor, Grace Leaso Gago, Jordan Tihore, Marcelle Parkes, Cheyenne Tuli-Fale, Maddi Robinson, Ashley Palu, Harono Te Iringa, Maama Vaipulu, Sam Taylor, Holly Greenway, Taufa Bason, Elinor-Plum King, Fiaali'i Solomona, Lucy Jenkins, Mia Anderson.
Backs: Tara Turner, Reese Anderson, Hannah King, Keira Su'a Smith, Justine McGregor, Kelsey Teneti, Leilani Hakiwai, Winnie Palamo, Hollyrae Mete-Renata, Jaymie Kolose, Kaea Nepia, Mererangi Paul.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

RNZ News
9 hours ago
- RNZ News
Prop Fletcher Newell the latest All Black to re-commit to NZ Rugby
Fletcher Newell. Photo: Kerry Marshall / All Blacks prop Fletcher Newell has re-signed with New Zealand Rugby and the Crusaders to after the 2027 World Cup. The front rower will remain in Aotearoa to the end of 2028. Newell made his All Blacks debut in 2022 and has played 25 tests, scoring one try. He played in all three tests in the recent 3-0 series win over France, starting the first two matches. Born and raised in Rangiora, Newell joined the Crusaders Academy in 2018 whilst studying towards a Bachelor of Commerce at Lincoln University. He made his Crusaders debut in 2021. "I'm extremely grateful to re-sign with the Crusaders, it's a team I grew up watching as a young kid. I've played rugby for as long as I can remember and would come to the games when I was a wee one," Newell said. "I just love this team, and I wouldn't want to be with anyone else All Blacks prop Fletcher Newell in action against Argentina. Photo: photosport "We've got an amazing culture here at the Crusaders; not just the players, but all the management and back-room staff. You turn up every day, everyone wants to work hard for each other, which is one of my values that we all share. I just love coming in every day and working with these guys," he says. "It means the world to me. Growing up wanting to be a Crusader and now being one, I'm just extremely grateful." Chris Lendrum, NZR general manager professional rugby and performance said Newell's re-signing was a boost for New Zealand Rugby. "Fletcher is a young man with a bright future and his success so far is a mark of both his talent and dedication to his craft as he's moved through the high-performance system from the New Zealand U20s in 2019 through the All Blacks. "We look forward to watching his continued development and progression in coming seasons." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

RNZ News
12 hours ago
- RNZ News
Rugby: Springboks leave out experienced trio for Australia tests
Faf de Klerk of South Africa Photo: Paul Thomas / South Africa have named their squad for the two Rugby Championship tests at home to Australia next month as they begin the defence of their title, with no place for double World Cup winners Lukhanyo Am, Faf de Klerk and Makazola Mapimpi. The experienced trio are on a stand-by list in case of injury as coach Rassie Erasmus named a 37-player group on Wednesday to meet the Wallabies in Johannesburg on 16 August and in Cape Town a week later. Recent new caps Ethan Hooker (utility back), Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Boan Venter (both props), Marnus van der Merwe (hooker) and Cobus Wiese (utility forward) have all been included. Bath prop Thomas du Toit has been granted a compulsory two-week rest as agreed with the English Premiership, while number eight Jasper Wiese, the brother of Cobus, is serving a four-week suspension. Erasmus has already used almost 50 players in three tests this year as he looks to add depth to the squad with the 2027 Rugby World Cup in mind. "It's always challenging to reduce the squad, especially given how the expanded group of players put up their hands (in wins over Italy and Georgia this month), but we always said we would select a smaller, more manageable squad during the Rugby Championship," Erasmus said. "We probably have three players who can cover each position. One of our key pillars as a team is to build squad depth, and there is no better way to see what some of the younger players are capable of than to expose them to some of the top teams in the world." The Springboks have also invited three players from South Africa's victorious side at the recent Under-20 World Cup to train with the team to gain experience. They are loose-forward Bathobele Hlekani, wing Cheswill Jooste and scrumhalf Haashim Pead, the stand-out performer in the tournament. Forwards : Lood de Jager, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Jean-Luc du Preez, Eben Etzebeth, Vincent Koch, Siya Kolisi, Wilco Louw, Malcolm Marx, Bongi Mbonambi, Franco Mostert, Ox Nche, Ruan Nortje, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Kwagga Smith, RG Snyman, Marnus van der Merwe, Marco van Staden, Boan Venter, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Cobus Wiese. Backs : Kurt-Lee Arendse, Damian de Allende, Andre Esterhuizen, Aphelele Fassi, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Ethan Hooker, Jesse Kriel, Cheslin Kolbe, Willie le Roux, Manie Libbok, Canan Moodie, Handre Pollard, Cobus Reinach, Edwill van der Merwe, Morne van den Berg, Grant Williams, Damian Willemse. - Reuters


NZ Herald
a day ago
- NZ Herald
Swann reflects on Gisborne's Rugby Park redevelopment, surge in player numbers
Swann said the success of locally born-and-bred Black Ferns and Black Ferns Sevens players such as Renee Holmes, Charmaine McMenamin, Kaipo Olsen-Baker and Kelsey Teneti also promoted women's rugby and showed there was a pathway for talented players. He said Horowhenua-Kāpiti was the only one of the other 25 unions to match Poverty Bay's increased player numbers, which came at a time of economic challenges and growing competition from other codes. The Covid-19 era was another testing time, Swann said. 'We were still having matches. Rugby was operating in a bubble. We worked so hard. It was really, really hard to keep going, but we did. 'We were wiping down posts and pads. We were wiping everything. We were breaking people down into groups, but we got there.' Gisborne's Kelsey Teneti in action for New Zealand against France at the Singapore 7s earlier this year. The success of Teneti and other Gisborne-connected female players is a factor in the increase in female player numbers in Tairāwhiti, says Hayden Swann in reflecting on his tenure as Poverty Bay Rugby Football Union chairman. Photo / Jayne Russell, Photosport The annual report said the Rugby Park redevelopment had been impacted significantly by the Covid-19 pandemic, Cyclone Gabrielle and inflation. But the union decided to develop 'our ageing asset' and the $12.5 million grandstand redevelopment, originally costed at $8m, had been fully funded by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment/ Kanoa Regional Economic Development and Investment Unit and Trust Tairāwhiti. Swann told the Herald the union was showing huge profits for the past two years of around $2.5 million, 'which of course' related to capital project funding for the grandstand redevelopment which had not yet been spent. 'It is not a real profit.' But the union had made an operating profit in 2024 of $45,000. Swann attributed that to an increase in commercial revenue and New Zealand Rugby (NZR) funding being boosted because of increased player registrations. The union retained strong relationships with local sponsors and funders and took a conservative approach to spending, resulting in more revenue and less spending in 2024, he said. The union was now endeavouring to 'put money away'. Swann said interest earned from the union's $500,000 share of the Silverlake equity payout to NZR would be ring-fenced for maintaining assets and would not be spent on staffing or operations. The union wanted to avoid the example of other sporting infrastructure in the district ageing to a point where it was not fit-for-purpose. The grandstand was due for completion next June and would result in a significant uplift in the equity of the union. Swann said the union had assets of only $321,000 back in 2018 and recorded a deficit of $129,000. Swann, who has stepped aside after serving as an independent member of the PBRFU board for the maximum period of three three-year terms (seven years as chairman), said his nine years had been the most rewarding and enjoyable time of any organisation he had served on. 'Being chairman is a privileged position because you are working for New Zealand Rugby,' the Makaraka School principal said. 'There are 25 other provincial union chairmen [and] you learn from their knowledge, experience and capabilities. 'Rugby is such a neat network and such a giving network.' The new union chairman is Trust Tairāwhiti general manager economic development Hayden Green.