Latest news with #AllanBunting
RNZ News
4 days ago
- Sport
- RNZ News
World Cup-bound Black Fern Kelly Brazier thought she was getting the 'bad' phone call
2017 Women's Rugby World Cup Final between England and New Zealand. Kelly Brazier fends off a tackle. Photo: ©INPHO/Bryan Keane When Kelly Brazier received a phone call from Allan Bunting, she thought he was delivering the same bad news he delivered to her four years ago. Instead, the Black Ferns coach told her she'd made the 32-strong squad that would be going the Women's Rugby World Cup in England next month. Brazier will be appearing at her fourth edition after playing in 2010, 2014 and 2017. She has earned a place as the back-up first five-eighths alongside co-captain Ruahei Demant. Bunting was part of the coaching group during the Black Ferns last World Cup campaign, when Sir Wayne Smith was head coach. "We were in camp and flew home on Sunday night and we had been told our position-specific coach would ring us, so for me that's Tony Christie and that Bunts [Bunting] would be making all the calls to the players that hadn't made it," Brazier said. "I was unpacking my bag and the next thing I see my phone going off and I see Bunt's name pop up and I was immediately 'oh man, not this again' because he had made the call four years prior. "I picked up the phone, I was like 'Hey Bunts', and then he was just straight away 'congratulations'. "I couldn't believe it to be honest, probably because I wasn't expecting the call from him but he's someone who I have spent a lot of time with over the years so it was special to get the call from him." The pair know each other well. Bunting was head coach of the Black Ferns sevens for five years until stepping away at the end of 2021. Bunting took over as Black Ferns director of rugby in 2023. Brazier has had a long successful career in both codes. The 35-year-old debuted for the Black Ferns in 2009, and became a full-time professional sevens player in 2014. The Black Ferns Rugby World Cup Team Announcement. Photo: Marty Melville She has won two World Cup titles in the fifteens game and two Olympic medals in sevens, a silver in Rio 2016 and gold at the 2020 Tokyo games. She was aiming for a third Olympics but an achilles injury early last year put a dent in her build-up and she missed out on Paris 2024. Brazier missed out on the 2021 World Cup triumph, hosted in New Zealand and her prospects of making this year's world cup didn't look great. Can Brazier, who has played 44 tests across a 16-year career, believe she's going to another world cup? "No, to be honest, it was a massive honour to go to one, let alone thinking I was going to my fourth. "Four years ago, when I missed out on the world cup in New Zealand, I definitely had doubts if I would come back and four years is a long time when you're my age so to be here now is special and something I'm very proud of." Brazier signed to play for Chiefs Manawa in Super Rugby Aupiki 2025. She earned a late lifeline against the Wallaroos earlier this month, which was her first test since 2021. She did enough to convince the selectors they needed her in the squad for her fourth World Cup bid. Kelly Brazier playing sevens for New Zealand. Photo: Shaun Roy/BackpagePix How did she control her nerves knowing so much was on the line in that game? "Pretty nervous I guess and this time of the year, the competition was hotly contested in my position. Knowing not just playing my first test in a while, but I had to perform to be in a position to make this team," she said. "There were nerves but I've sort of been around, played in some pinnacles, played a few Test matches so just tried to go back to my strategies and just treat it like any other game." In a career littered with highlights, Brazier said being named for the world cup was "up there". "… If not the most special and probably off the back of my past four years, after missing an Olympics that I really wanted to be a part of and then missing a home World Cup in New Zealand, which is a once in a lifetime opportunity," she said. "I guess to bounce back from that and be named to go to England where it's going to be the biggest world cup for women yet is very special and proud to be here." Brazier said everything about being a part of the team still excited her. "It never gets old and probably the last couple of years when I've been injured and missed selection, there's probably things in the past I've taken for granted," she said. "But that time away from the game, coming back in, I've enjoyed those little things, those small moments, whether it's just having dinner with girls from around the country, people I haven't met before so just making sure I enjoy every moment." The lead up to this world cup, compared to her first world cup in 2010 could not be more different. "Throughout the camp some of girls asked me what it was like. My first world cup we had no tests leading in, it was maybe a seven day camp and off on the plane," she said. "The lead in we've got, the support staff we have now, the coaches, the facilities are unreal and I think it just shows the growth of women's rugby." The Black Ferns are the defending champions after beating England 24-21 in front of a sold out Eden Park in 2022. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
10-07-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Ruby Tui says she would do anything for the Black Ferns
Ruby Tui with fans after the game. Photo: Matthew Impey / Ruby Tui loves the Black Ferns and would do anything to see them succeed. The 33-year-old missed selection when Black Ferns coach Allan Bunting named his squad in May for the Pacific Four series, but she played in the trial game between the Black Ferns and a Black Ferns XV last weekend. She was then called into the squad as injury cover . She's been named on the bench for Saturday's O'Reilly Cup game against Australia, which kicks off the double header in Wellington before the All Blacks take on France. Ruby Tui in action for the Chiefs Manawa. Photo: Photosport The 2022 World Cup star said she was always ready if the Black Ferns called. "That's what I've said to Bunts all along… if you need someone to clean the boots and run the water, that's me. I love footy and I love this team." And she never gave up on playing for the Black Ferns again. "Day or night, whenever the phone call comes, if it's 2am, I'm there. You can't call pinnacle events, I got the bloody mumps for Comm Games, random stuff happens, so I've just got to put my head down and stay ready for this jersey," Tui said. The outside back would love to attend another World Cup, but she insisted she wouldn't mind if she missed out on selection. She said if she was not one of the top players in her position, she shouldn't go to England. "It feels different for me, this one. I don't feel no pressure," Tui said. "I want the best squad to go over there. I want off-field to be so connected, we understand this is going to take everything. "Everybody is getting paid now, it's not tiddlywinks no more, its pretty serious. If its me, its me, I just hope everyone who straps in, is like 'we're going to do something pretty serious'." Black Ferns coach Allan Bunting. Photo: PHOTOSPORT Bunting said Tui's presence and experience were valuable assets for the Black Ferns. "Off the field is massive and her leadership... her attitude through the hubs back home and the Black Ferns XV when she was with them last week and what she's done when she's come back here, I've been really impressed with her." Saturday's clash with Australia is the Black Ferns' final test before this year's World Cup in England, with Bunting naming his World Cup squad on 25 July in Wellington. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
NZ Herald
10-07-2025
- Sport
- NZ Herald
Black Ferns v Wallaroos: Ruby Tui, Kelly Brazier make test returns as five ruled out with injury
As the Black Ferns prepare for their final test before World Cup selection, opportunity has presented itself to players still looking to stake their claim. A string of injuries have seen director of performance Allan Bunting turn to the depth in his squad for Saturday's test against the Wallaroos
RNZ News
29-06-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Ruby Tui again misses Black Ferns selection
Ruby Tui playing for the Chiefs Manawa. Photo: Photosport Ruby Tui a star of the Black Ferns 2022 World Cup win, appears on the outer when it comes to selection for this year's World Cup in England. Tui has missed selection for the Black Ferns 33 strong squad for next month's test against Australia in Wellington. The Black Ferns will also play in a trial game against a Black Ferns XV. Tui also failed to make the squad for the recent Pacific Four Series. There are four changes from the Pacific Four Series with Renee Holmes and Kelly Brazier recalled to the squad and potential Test debuts for Matatū Laura Bayfield and Chiefs loose forward Mia Anderson. Co-captain Kennedy Tukuafu, Kaipo Olsen-Baker and Mererangi Paul are unavailable due to injury with Alana Bremner stepping into the co-captaincy role alongside Ruahei Demant. "At this stage of our World Cup journey, internal competition has been intense and selections are getting tougher as our wider squad have put in the work. Renee has come back and shown real growth, Kelly gives us experience and depth at 10 adding to our kicking game, while Mia and Laura have consistently been impressive," coach Allan Bunting said. The Black Ferns squad for the July Series is: Props Chryss Viliko, Kate Henwood, Awhina Tangen-Wainohu, Tanya Kalounivale, Amy Rule, Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu. Hookers Georgia Ponsonby, Atlanta Lolohea, Vici-Rose Green. Locks Maiakawanakaulani Roos, Alana Bremner, Maama Mo'onia Vaipulu, Chelsea Bremner, Laura Bayfield. Loose Forwards Liana Mikaele-Tu'u, Layla Sae, Jorja Miller, Mia Anderson. Halfbacks Maia Joseph, Iritana Hohaia, Risaleaana Pouri-Lane. First fives Ruahei Demant, Hannah King, Kelly Brazier, Midfield Sylvia Brunt, Amy du Plessis, Stacey Waaka, Theresa Setefano. Outside backs Katelyn Vahaakolo, Ayesha Leti-I'iga, Portia Woodman-Wickliffe, Renee Holmes, Braxton Sorensen-McGee. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Otago Daily Times
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Coach keen to see how debutantes do in US clash
Black Ferns coach Allan Bunting has pulled the trigger on testing his newcomers in a must-win clash against the United States. Otago halfback Maia Joseph moves to the bench with Black Ferns sevens star Risaleaana Pouri-Lane getting her chance in the No 9 jersey. Sevens team-mate Jorja Miller will inject plenty of speed around the breakdown in her first start on the openside, and Theresa Setefano and Stacey Waaka — who played at the Rugby World Cup in 2021 — make up the midfield. Chiefs Manawa front-rowers Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu and Vici-Rose Green are also in line for their first tests. Joseph is joined on the bench by Matatu team-mates Hannah King and Chelsea Bremner — who was called in as injury cover — while Alana Bremner, Kaipo-Olsen Baker and Georgia Ponsonby, playing her 30th test, get the start. Young Braxton Sorensen-McGee gets her third consecutive start at fullback in a breakout year, Katelyn Vahaakolo returns to the left wing and Portia Woodman-Wickliffe is on the other. Sylvia Brunt will make her impact off the bench, as will co-captain Kennedy Tukuafu, in her 30th game. Bunting said it would be a special moment to welcome four debutantes this weekend. "Veisinia and Vici-Rose have been with us since our first training camp," Bunting said. "They have worked hard and done the learning, while showing their commitment to the team by helping them prepare for the last two tests. It's now their time. "Jorja and Risaleaana, who joined us last week following their successful sevens World Series campaign, have slotted in seamlessly. "They are great humans and diligent athletes. We look forward to watching them do their thing this weekend." The Black Ferns scored a last-gasp try against Canada last week to settle for a 27-27 draw in their second Pacific Four series clash. It sets up an intriguing finish for the series, where the Black Ferns at present lead the standings on points difference. The Black Ferns will face a gritty United States side, who are winless after their 27-19 loss to the Wallaroos last weekend. They earlier lost 26-14 to Canada. United States star Ilona Maher — the most followed rugby player online — has made the switch to rugby union after winning bronze with the sevens team at the Olympics last year and is sure to draw a crowd at North Harbour Stadium tomorrow. Bunting felt the Canada clash was a good challenge for his side to tidy up areas they needed to be better in and was confident in how they were tracking ahead of the World Cup later in the year. "Pac four has been a valuable start for us moving into World Cup preparations. We've laid down the foundations and built stronger connections on and off the field."
