Black Ferns coaches Allan Bunting, Tony Christie, Steve Jackson, Dan Cron and Riki Flutey have selected 33 players – 19 forwards and 14 backs – to defend their title at Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025, which starts in England on 22 August.
Kelly Brazier is set to play in her fourth Rugby World Cup, while Portia Woodman-Wickliffe, Theresa Setefano and Stacey Waaka will attend their third. In all, 16 players return from the last edition in New Zealand three years ago, including co-captains Ruahei Demant and Kennedy Tukuafu.
Teenage sensation Braxton Sorensen-McGee, 18, is the youngest member of the squad and will make her tournament debut alongside the newest Black Fern, Laura Bayfield, who earned a first cap in the last home test against Australia.
World Rugby Women’s Sevens Player of the Year, Jorja Miller, and half-back Risaleaana Pouri-Lane earned their selections following impressive transitions to the 15s game.
“On behalf of the coaching group, I’d like to congratulate all our players named tonight in front of their whānau. We are really excited about this group and truly believe they can take us to the next level,” Bunting said at the naming ceremony.
“We’ve got vast experience across our squad, with more than half of our players having competed at pinnacle events. While it’s an exciting time for those selected, I’d like to acknowledge the players who have missed out. Their contribution to the black jersey and to our team this year has been immense, and we wouldn’t be where we are today without them.
“The level of depth and internal competition we have seen from our wider squad made the selection process very difficult, however this speaks to the growth and exciting future of women’s rugby in Aotearoa.”
The Black Ferns have assembled in Wellington for their final training camp and depart for England on Wednesday, 13 August. They line up in Pool C with matches against Spain in York on 24 August (local), Japan in Exeter on 31 August, and Ireland in Brighton on 7 September.
New Zealand squad
Forwards
Loosehead prop
*Kate Henwood (36, Chiefs Manawa, Bay of Plenty, 10 Tests)
Awhina Tangen-Wainohu (27, Blues, Waikato, 7 Tests)
*Chryss Viliko (24, Blues, Auckland, 13 Tests)
Hooker
*Atlanta Lolohea (22, Blues, Canterbury, 7 Tests)
*Vici-Rose Green (22, Chiefs Manawa, Waikato, 2 Tests)
Georgia Ponsonby (25, Matatū, Canterbury, 31 Tests)
Tighthead prop
Tanya Kalounivale (26, Chiefs Manawa, Waikato, 22 Tests)
*Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu (20, Chiefs Manawa, Waikato, 1 Test)
Amy Rule (25, Matatū, Canterbury, 30 Tests)
Second row
*Laura Bayfield (26, Matatū, Canterbury, 1 Test)
Alana Bremner (28, Matatū, Canterbury, 29 Tests)
Chelsea Bremner (30, Matatū, Canterbury, 22 Tests)
Maiakawanakaulani Roos (23, Blues, Auckland, 33 Tests)
Back row
Liana Mikaele-Tu’u (23, Blues, Auckland, 29 Tests)
*Jorja Miller (21, Black Ferns Sevens, Canterbury, 2 Tests)
*Kaipo Olsen-Baker (23, Matatū, Manawatū, 12 Tests)
*Layla Sae (24, Hurricanes Poua, Manawatū, 14 Tests)
Kennedy Tukuafu (28, Chiefs Manawa, Waikato, 30 Tests)
Backs
Scrum-half
*Iritana Hohaia (25, Hurricanes Poua, Taranaki, 17 Tests)
*Maia Joseph (23, Matatū, Otago, 11 Tests)
*Risaleaana Pouri-Lane (25, Black Ferns Sevens, Tasman, 2 Tests)
Fly-half
Kelly Brazier (35, Chiefs Manawa, Bay of Plenty, 43 Tests)
Ruahei Demant (30, Blues, Auckland, 45 Tests)
Centre
Logo-I-Pulotu Lemapu-Atai’i Sylvia Brunt (21, Blues, Auckland, 25 Tests)
Amy du Plessis (26, Matatū, Canterbury, 21 Tests)
Theresa Setefano (30, Blues, Auckland, 19 Tests)
Stacey Waaka (29, Chiefs Manawa, Waikato, 27 Tests)
Wing / full-back
Renee Holmes (25, Chiefs Manawa, Waikato, 23 Tests)
Ayesha Leti-I’iga (26, Hurricanes Poua, Wellington, 26 Tests)
*Braxton Sorensen-McGee (18, Blues, Auckland, 3 Tests)
*Katelyn Vahaakolo (25, Blues, Auckland, 17 Tests)
Portia Woodman-Wickliffe (34, Blues, Northland, 27 Tests)
Non-travelling reserve
Krystal Murray (32, Chiefs Manawa, Northland, 14 Tests)
*denotes first Rugby World Cup