{"id":370232,"date":"2026-04-08T22:54:09","date_gmt":"2026-04-08T22:54:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/370232\/"},"modified":"2026-04-08T22:54:09","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T22:54:09","slug":"black-ferns-v-usa-co-captain-kennedy-tukuafu-on-11-test-schedule-and-changes-ahead-of-new-campaign","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/370232\/","title":{"rendered":"Black Ferns v USA: Co-captain Kennedy Tukuafu on 11-test schedule and changes ahead of new campaign"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cIt\u2019s hard obviously being in New Zealand where [it\u2019s] an isolated part of the world. So being able to go up against the likes of South Africa, you know, that\u2019s something that I\u2019m looking forward to for this team. That\u2019ll be awesome and then yeah, the French coming over for that three-test tour will be awesome.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Black Ferns embark on the Pacific Four Series this month in their first assignment since Whitney Hansen took over as head coach<\/a>.<\/p>\n

With nine uncapped players in the squad for the series, the Black Ferns start the new World Cup cycle<\/a> looking to build.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve tried to sort of refine our DNA and look at new styles of rugby. We\u2019ve got a lot of talent in our team and it\u2019s just trying to find the balance; getting the right people in the right places. It\u2019s been a lot,\u201d Tukuafu said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhit [Hansen] has been awesome. She\u2019s put a huge emphasis on connection off-field, so then it transfers on-field, which we\u2019ve seen great results from already. So, I think the team\u2019s just really ready to go out and put on a great performance.\u201d<\/p>\n

While the Black Ferns will welcome back a number of players who have been involved in the Premiership Women\u2019s Rugby competition in England, the majority of the squad have little rugby under their belts coming into the Pacific Four Series.<\/p>\n

With that in mind, Tukuafu said \u2013 outside of winning the series title \u2013 there was a clear idea of what a successful month looked like for the team.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor us, it\u2019s about putting together a great performance. So, you know, making sure that our attack\u2019s on fire, like, getting everybody to showcase their skillsets. On defence, we want to put on big hits, dominate collisions and, you know, just be really disciplined in that area. Then for the rest of the game, it\u2019s just about giving girls confidence to try something, seeing space and just using instinct to drive our game.\u201d<\/p>\n

Black Ferns Pacific Four Series schedule<\/p>\n

USA v New Zealand. Sacramento, California. Sunday April 12, 11am.<\/p>\n

Canada v New Zealand. Kansas City, Missouri. Saturday April 18, 10.15am.<\/p>\n

Australia v New Zealand. Sunshine Coast, Queensland. Saturday April 25. 9.45pm.<\/p>\n

All times are NZT.<\/p>\n

Black Ferns 30-strong squad for the Pacific Four Series<\/p>\n

Loosehead props<\/p>\n

Maddison Robinson (24, Canterbury, uncapped)<\/p>\n

Awhina Tangen-Wainohu (28, Waikato, 10 tests)<\/p>\n

Chryss Viliko (25, Auckland, 19 tests)<\/p>\n

Hookers<\/p>\n

Vici-Rose Green (23, Waikato, 5 tests)<\/p>\n

Atlanta Lolohea (22, Canterbury, 10 tests)<\/p>\n

Georgia Ponsonby (26, Canterbury, 37 tests)<\/p>\n

Tighthead props<\/p>\n

Tanya Kalounivale (27, Waikato, 27 tests)<\/p>\n

Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu (21, Waikato, 3 tests)<\/p>\n

Mo\u2019omo\u2019oga Palu (24, Hawke\u2019s Bay, uncapped)<\/p>\n

Locks<\/p>\n

Laura Bayfield (27, Canterbury, 6 tests)<\/p>\n

Sam Taylor (23, Manawat\u016b, uncapped)<\/p>\n

Maiakawanakaulani Roos (24, Auckland, 38 tests)<\/p>\n

Maama Mo\u2019onia Vaipulu (23, Auckland, 7 tests)<\/p>\n

Loose forwards<\/p>\n

Mia Anderson (24, Waikato, uncapped)<\/p>\n

Taufa Bason (19, Manawat\u016b, uncapped)<\/p>\n

Liana Mikaele-Tu\u2019u (24, Auckland, 35 tests)<\/p>\n

Kaipo Olsen-Baker (23, Manawat\u016b, 16 tests)<\/p>\n

Kennedy Tukuafu (29, Waikato, 34 tests) \u2013 co-captain<\/p>\n

Halfbacks<\/p>\n

Maia Joseph (23, Otago, 16 tests)<\/p>\n

Tara Turner (22, Northland, uncapped)<\/p>\n

First five-eighths<\/p>\n

Ruahei Demant (30, Auckland, 51 tests) \u2013 co-captain<\/p>\n

Hannah King (22, Canterbury, 10 tests)<\/p>\n

Midfield<\/p>\n

Logo-I-Pulotu Lemapu-Atai\u2019i Sylvia Brunt (22, Auckland, 29 tests)<\/p>\n

Amy Du Plessis (26, Canterbury, 22 tests)<\/p>\n

Hollyrae Mete-Renata (22, Manawat\u016b, uncapped)<\/p>\n

Outside backs<\/p>\n

Renee Holmes (26, Waikato, 29 tests)<\/p>\n

Ayesha Leti-I\u2019iga (27, Wellington, 30 tests)<\/p>\n

Justine McGregor (19, Black Ferns Sevens, uncapped)<\/p>\n

Mererangi Paul (27, Counties Manukau, 14 tests)<\/p>\n

Shyrah Tuliau-Tua\u2019a (19, Waikato, uncapped)<\/p>\n

Unavailable for selection: Luka Connor (knee), Kaea Nepia (leg), Layla Sae (knee), Santo Taumata (knee), Chelsea Bremner (knee).<\/p>\n

Wider training group remaining in camp: Ariana Bayler, Leilani Hakiwai, Marcelle Parkes, Elinor-Plum King, Cilia-Marie Po\u2019e-Tofaeono, Holly Wratt-Groeneweg.<\/p>\n

Christopher Reive<\/a> joined the Herald sports team in 2017, bringing the same versatility to his coverage as he does to his sports viewing habits.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\u201cIt\u2019s hard obviously being in New Zealand where [it\u2019s] an isolated part of the world. So being able…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":370233,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[193718,2246,3017,95,7022,1738,4500,27604,9828,10541,3047,117,111,43,139,69,1118,90,1306,6035,193717,3337],"class_list":{"0":"post-370232","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-new-zealand","8":"tag-11test","9":"tag-2246","10":"tag-ahead","11":"tag-and","12":"tag-black","13":"tag-campaign","14":"tag-changes","15":"tag-cocaptain","16":"tag-different","17":"tag-ferns","18":"tag-kennedy","19":"tag-new","20":"tag-new-zealand","21":"tag-news","22":"tag-newzealand","23":"tag-nz","24":"tag-of","25":"tag-on","26":"tag-schedule","27":"tag-things","28":"tag-tukuafu","29":"tag-usa"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/370232","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=370232"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/370232\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/370233"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=370232"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=370232"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=370232"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}