Hooker is another position with limited experience, with Atlanta Lolohea and Vici-Rose Green serving as backups to Georgia Ponsonby, who is the best in her position by a country mile. There are no test debutants in the squad.<\/p>\n
Kennedy Tukuafu, Ruahei Demant and Portia Woodman-Wickliffe are returning for the Black Ferns at the Rugby World Cup. Photo \/ PhotosportKing dethroned<\/p>\n
Since May 2024, Hannah King has had numerous opportunities to establish herself, having played in 10 tests. She started as first five-eighths for most of 2024 and was even nominated for the World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year. However, in 2025, Ruahei Demant returned to the No 10 jersey, and King found herself mostly coming off the bench. Recently, for the Australian test in Wellington, King was dropped from the bench in favour of 35-year-old Kelly Brazier, who had not played any international matches since 2021 and is better known as a second five-eighths.<\/p>\n
At just 21 years old, King\u2019s career is still in its early stages, and the next World Cup in Australia in 2029 could be her opportunity to shine. However, it would be disappointing for her that all the investment didn\u2019t yield a World Cup spot. Might she reconsider her rugby future? The Women\u2019s National Rugby League, or a spell in England, could be desirable.<\/p>\n
Attention Bayfield<\/p>\n
The least experienced player on the team is Laura Bayfield<\/a>, who, after only 25 minutes against Australia, is boarding the plane to England. <\/p>\n AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.<\/a><\/p>\n Bayfield, the top tackler in the Farah Palmer Cup (FPC) last year, comes from a military background and covers lock or loose forward. Bayfield made her debut for Canterbury in the 2023 FPC and has played 16 games for her province, achieving 11 victories and scoring three tries.<\/p>\n Black Ferns director of rugby Alan Bunting has had his eye on the Cantabrian for some time, remarking: \u201cLaura was a standout throughout Super Rugby Aupiki this year and has put in the work. She topped all stats for the Black Ferns XV in Whang\u0101rei and deserves her debut. It\u2019s a proud moment for Laura and her wh\u0101nau.\u201d<\/p>\n Bayfield\u2019s selection likely comes at the expense of Maama Mo\u2019onia Vaipulu, who was not only very impressive in her eight tests but also holds two Super Rugby Aupiki titles with the Blues and a 2023 FPC Premiership title with Auckland, making her a domestically elite player.<\/p>\n Vaipulu is physically imposing, an explosive athlete from a volleyball background. Bayfield is more in the workhorse category, as is Chelsea Bremner, who played all 12 tests in 2022, but has struggled to hit those heights since.<\/p>\n Discover more<\/p>\n Was Vaipulu covering the flanks considered? Bayfield, with less experience and silverware, has made a rapid ascent.<\/p>\n Social media went into meltdown when it was announced that Ruby Tui wouldn\u2019t be heading to England<\/a>. However, this decision isn\u2019t surprising given the Black Ferns are stacked when it comes to wingers. Frankly, it would have been a scandal to exclude Portia Woodman-Wickliffe, Katelyn Vahaakolo, or Ayesha Leti-I\u2019iga from the team.<\/p>\n When Bunting was asked about the possibility of Tui being recalled, he replied, \u201cThe door\u2019s not closed, but performances matter.\u201d<\/p>\n Despite scoring two tries and delivering a high-energy performance in a tough trial match, and a try in the Black Ferns\u2019 37-12 victory over Australia, Tui\u2019s efforts weren\u2019t enough to regain her place.<\/p>\n Is this harsh?<\/p>\n In a position where raw speed is crucial, Tui\u2019s near decade in age difference compared with Vahaakolo and Leti-I\u2019iga may have counted against her.<\/p>\n AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.<\/a><\/p>\n Spare a thought for Mererangi Paul. She brings greater versatility than Tui, as she can play at centre and is more accustomed to the fullback position, which Tui has also covered. Paul has an impressive record, scoring 14 tries in 14 tests, yet she was also cut from the squad.<\/p>\n Goal kicking: Does it actually matter?<\/p>\n A lack of decent goal-kicking options is an area in which Black Ferns selectors have been challenged, but it might not matter \u2013 at least not as much as in male rugby.<\/p>\n In 38 Rugby World Cup matches, the Black Ferns have won 36 times and scored 289 tries, converting just 143 of those. They have kicked 23 penalties, with just two of those slotted in 2022.<\/p>\n In the past three and a half seasons, the Black Ferns have converted 114 of 211 tries and kicked 11 penalty goals in 31 tests. The most penalties they have kicked in a single game is two, and that was in a 27-29 loss to Ireland. <\/p>\n The advent of professionalism hasn\u2019t resulted in a significant improvement in the Black Ferns\u2019 goal-kicking success rate. However, the inclusion of Renee Holmes suggests it is at the forefront of selectors\u2019 minds. <\/p>\n Holmes kicked 16 of the Black Ferns\u2019 29 conversions in 2024 and 19 of their 45 in the ground-breaking 2022 season, where they won a dozen internationals on the trot.<\/p>\n AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.<\/a><\/p>\n With only one outing against Australia, in July, and a one-from-five goal-kicking record, Holmes\u2019 past reputation with the boot can be the only explanation for her rapid ascent from outcast to tourist. <\/p>\n Albeit a smaller sample size, the goal kicking of England and France was outstanding in the 2025 Six Nations. The Roses were on target with 27 out of 39 kicks, but French fullback Morgane Bourgeois was kicking them like Thomas Ramos, with 26 goals from 29 attempts.<\/p>\n Oh, Canada<\/p>\n If all goes according to plan, the Black Ferns and Canada are likely to top their respective groups and face each other in the semifinals.<\/p>\n This week, Canada announced their 32-player squad, which includes 21 returning players from the previous campaign. The team will be captained by Alexandra Tessier, a nominee for the 2024 World Rugby Player of the Year, who is set to compete in her third Rugby World Cup. Veterans Tyson Beukeboom, Olivia DeMerchant, and Karen Paquin will also be participating in their fourth Rugby World Cup.<\/p>\n Sophie de Goede, a goal-kicking loose forward, might be the best women\u2019s rugby player on the planet and is returning from a serious knee injury. <\/p>\n Canada nearly pulled off an upset against the Black Ferns Sevens in the 2024 Paris Olympic final. Six players from that team \u2013 Caroline Crossley, Fancy Bermudez, Florence Symonds, Olivia Apps, Asia Hogan-Rochester, and Taylor Perry \u2013 are featured in the World Cup squad.<\/p>\n AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.<\/a><\/p>\n Since 2023, Canada has lost just five of 20 test matches, including a historic victory against the Black Ferns in 2024 and two wins over France.<\/p>\n The numbers are imposing: 55 wins in their past 56 tests, including a streak of 25 consecutive victories. Officially ranked World No 1 for 244 successive weeks, England have won 42 home games in a row since 2016. The Red Roses World Cup squad comprises 32 players with a total of 1374 international caps among them, including 24 players with previous World Cup experience. <\/p>\n Marlie Packer and Alex Matthews are heading to their fourth tournaments and Emily Scarratt (118 tests, 103 wins, 789 points) will attend her fifth.<\/p>\n Abi Burton, May Campbell, Mackenzie Carson, Kelsey Clifford, Maddie Feaunati, Lilli Ives Campion, Jade Shekells and Emma Sing are all making their tournament debuts. <\/p>\n Carson originally switched her allegiance from Canada and has been a strong anchor for the English scrum. She plays for Gloucester-Hartpury, who have won the past two English Premier Leagues. <\/p>\n Maddie Feaunati previously played for Wellington, where her father, former Samoan international Isaac Fe\u2019aunati, lived both before and after his time in England. Like her father, she is known for being an aggressive loose forward.<\/p>\n AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.<\/a>Laura Bayfield on the charge for Canterbury in the Farah Palmer Cup. Photo \/ PhotosportRuby World Cup?<\/p>\n
Sophie de Goede is a star for the Canadian team. Photo \/ PhotosportEngland\u2019s statistics<\/p>\n
England loose forward Marlie Packer is heading to her fourth World Cup. Photo \/ PhotosportFresh Roses<\/p>\n
England’s Red Roses are in strong form going into the Rugby World Cup. Photo \/ Photosport<\/p>\n