Latest news with #ChiefsManawa
RNZ News
01-05-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Coach Alan Bunting tells of decision to drop Black Ferns star Ruby Tui
Ruby Tui has missed out on the latest Black Ferns squad. Photo: Aaron Gillions / Black Ferns director of rugby Alan Bunting admits it was tough telling Ruby Tui she had missed out of the latest squad. "I've never had a conversation like that with Ruby," Bunting said, after naming a 33-player squad for the Pacific Four series next month . Tui, 33, a superstar of women's rugby, Renee Holmes and Chelsea Bremner were among the established players to miss out. Bunting said Tui took the decision well. "The person that Ruby is, she has totally understood. She is here to give and serve and learn, but she is pretty competitive and wants to get back in.'' He said she could still return for the Rugby World Cup later this year. "Certainly, we will be naming the World Cup squad a little further down the track and she will have further opportunities." Bunting said Tui hadn't done anything wrong. "It's a pretty tight race in the outsides [outside backs], isn't there." Bunting and his fellow selectors have named Portia Woodman-Wickliffe, Katelyn Vahaakolo, Ayesha Leti-I'iga, Mererangi Paul and 18-year-old newcomer Braxton Sorensen-McGee as wings and fullbacks. Woodman-Wickliffe, also 33, announced her international retirement, after winning gold with the Black Ferns Sevens at last year's Olympics, but after her bid to switch codes was blocked by NRL officials and reinvigorated by her stint with the Blues in Super Rugby Aupiki, she signed on again with NZ Rugby last week. As for dropping goalkicker Holmes, Bunting said they had plenty of kicking options in Ruahei Demant, Maia Joseph and Hannah King. Tui, Holmes and Bremner played for Chiefs Manawa, who finished third of the four teams in Aupiki, but Bunting said that side's lack of success wasn't a factor in the selection decisions. "We were looking at [players'] consistency through Aupiki and we have selected upon that." Prop Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu and hooker Vici-Rose Green join Sorensen-McGee as international rookies, while sevens stars Jorja Miller and Risi Pouri-Lane have been named in the national 15s side for the first time. Miller, Pouri-Lane, Stacey Waaka, Theresa Setefano, Dhys Faleafaga and Risaleaana Pouri-Lane will join the squad before the Canada test, due to their sevens commitments, while Kelly Brazier will travel with the squad to Newcastle as travelling reserve. Black Ferns squad Loosehead props Chryss Viliko (24, Blues, Auckland, 10 test caps) Kate Henwood (36, Chiefs Manawa, Bay of Plenty, 8 test caps) Awhina Tangen-Wainohu (27, Blues, Waikato, 4 test caps) Hookers Georgia Ponsonby (25, Matatū, Canterbury, 27 test caps) Atlanta Lolohea (22, Blues, Canterbury, 5 test caps) Vici-Rose Green (23, Chiefs Manawa, Waikato, uncapped) Tighthead Props Tanya Kalounivale (26, Chiefs Manawa, Waikato, 18 test caps) Amy Rule (24, Matatū, Canterbury, 27 test caps) Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu (20, Chiefs Manawa, Waikato, uncapped) Locks Maiakawanakaulani Roos (23, Blues, Auckland, 29 test caps) Alana Bremner (28, Matatū, Canterbury, 25 test caps) Maama Mo'onia Vaipulu (22, Blues, Auckland, 5 test caps) Dhys Faleafaga (24, Black Ferns Sevens, 2 test caps) Loose Forwards Liana Mikaele-Tu'u (23, Blues, Auckland, 26 test caps) Layla Sae (24, Hurricanes Poua, Manawatū, 11 test caps) Kaipo Olsen-Baker (22, Matatū, Manawatū, 9 test caps) Kennedy Tukuafu (28, Chiefs Manawa, Waikato, 27 test caps) Jorja Miller (21, Black Ferns Sevens, uncapped) Halfbacks Maia Joseph (23, Matatū, Otago, 8 test caps) Iritana Hohaia (25, Hurricanes Poua, Taranaki, 14 test caps) Risaleaana Pouri-Lane (24, Black Ferns Sevens, uncapped) First fives Ruahei Demant (30, Blues, Auckland, 41 test caps) Hannah King (21, Matatū, Canterbury, 7 test caps) Midfield Logo-I-Pulotu Lemapu-Atai'i Sylvia Brunt (21, Blues, Auckland, 21 test caps) Theresa Setefano (30, Black Ferns Sevens, 18 test caps) Amy du Plessis (25, Matatū, Canterbury, 19 test caps) Stacey Waaka (29, Black Ferns Sevens, 25 test caps) Outside backs Portia Woodman-Wickliffe (33, Blues, 24 test caps) Katelyn Vahaakolo (25, Blues, Auckland, 14 test caps) Ayesha Leti-I'iga (26, Hurricanes Poua, Wellington, 24 test caps) Mererangi Paul (26, Chiefs Manawa, Counties Manukau, 12 test caps) Braxton Sorensen-McGee (18, Blues, Auckland, uncapped) *Travelling reserve Kelly Brazier (35, Black Ferns Sevens, Chiefs Manawa, 42 test caps) Black Ferns matches at the Pacific Four tournament: Saturday, 10 May, 5pm v Australia Saturday, 17 May, 3.35pm v Canada Saturday, 24 May, 3.35pm v USA
NZ Herald
26-04-2025
- Sport
- NZ Herald
Black Ferns World Cup squad battle begins with 49-player camp
Grace Brooker was keeping her options open, but the coaches have now decided that it will be an AFL, not a Black Fern contract. Patricia Maliepo, meanwhile, is off to the Warriors while Rosie Kelly has signed a three-year deal with the North Queensland Cowboys. Last Aupiki season's star halfback, Kahlia Awa, is not one of the four halfbacks named and now may think about giving the Central Pulse a call. Most disappointing of all is the fate of Monica Tagoai. The midfielder was about to put pen to paper to finalise her transfer to Samoa when the Black Ferns came calling. Just one match off the bench last year was not enough to secure her spot at this camp, but it was just enough to prevent her from appearing for the Manusina in their first World Cup since 2014. As always in the world of sport, for every tale of heartbreak, there is another of triumph. Awhina Tangen-Wainohu and Santo Taumata were the bolters into the last World Cup side before being sidelined with serious injuries. Their return is a testament to the grit they will now need in the contest ahead. Mia Anderson missed out on the end-of-year tour and an Aupiki final for the first time with her Chiefs Manawa teammates. Despite these setbacks, her strong individual performance was enough to secure a second look. Kelly Brazier may yet have her shot at a fairytale finish. She was denied one last year after being named a non-travelling reserve for the Black Ferns Sevens Olympic squad. Brazier watched Portia Woodman-Wickliffe announce her retirement while she had been planning her own. Now the old teammates are back in the mix and could see this last major event out together. For Brazier, it would be a particularly poetic bookend, her final World Cup like her first, playing in England. Kelly Brazier in action for the Chiefs Manawa against Hurricanes Poua. Photo / Photosport Much has been written of the sevens stars attempting to wrestle a spot off their 15s counterparts. However, there are also seven uncapped players making their way into this camp. Vici-Rose Green and Laura Bayfield have been rewarded for diligent Aupiki performances. At the same time, Tara Turner and Holly-Rae Mete's inclusions are perhaps examples of future planning. Taufa Bason, Braxton Sorensen-McGee and Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu have fast become fan favourites. They will want to ride that hype train all the way to the World Cup. It's just the first camp and already big calls have been made. More are still to come with just four international tests and four months to go until we head north. Within this list of 49 are those who will defend the World Cup trophy. The clock is ticking, game on. Alice Soper is a sports columnist for the Herald on Sunday. A former provincial rugby player and current club coach, she has a particular interest in telling stories of the emerging world of women's sports.
