women
international women
In front of them WXV Global Series game against Scotland, Black Ferns head coach Whitney Hansen has called up Arena Landon-Lane’s unrestricted first five.
Ahead of New Zealand’s first game of the autumn against France, it has been confirmed that team co-captain Ruahei Demant has been ruled out of the European leg of their tour.
That’s what it meant New Zealand captained Georgia Ponsonby in Lyon, while Hannah King was the starting half in the 28-14 win over France.
Denmant suffered a calf injury in her team’s 52-20 win against the Springbok Women at FNB Stadium in rugby’s biggest rivalry.
Her return to action is yet to be determined, with the Black Ferns hoping Demant will return for their three-Test clash with France in October. The former World Rugby Under-15 Player of the Year will remain with the team in Europe.
Landon-Lane is a versatile guard whose primary position is the front five. The 22-year-old comes for Hurricanes Pou Super Rugby Aupiki and Wellington Pride in the Farah Palmer Cup.
She played for the Black Ferns XV against the Black Ferns earlier this year at Maidstone Park in August.
Last season, as Poua enjoyed his best ever Super Rugby Aupiki season, Landon-Lane scored two tries and beat 12 defenders.
To start the current The Farah Palmer Cup the season, Landon-Lane started with wins against Otago Spirit and North Harbour.
The 22-year-old is now in line to make her Test debut Scotland this weekend in Edinburgh. In their first game of the WXV Global Series, Scotland lost 64-26 to Kévin Rouet’s wild Canada. The North Americans now travel to Exeter to play the Red Roses at Sandy Park.
New Zealand will then play for women Rugby World Cup Champions 2025, England. Over 50,000 tickets have already been sold for the clash at the Allianz Stadium.
