women
international women
The Class of 2026 wasted no time making an impact for the Black Ferns, with all nine debutants this year continuing to push for Test selection week in and week out. Head coach Whitney Hansen is far from surprised.
With an up-close and personal look at the next generation of talent coming through New Zealand’s ranks, Hansen saw the new crop coming and knew who she wanted to invest playing time in her first year in charge of the national team.
Tara Turner, Amarante Sititi, Maddi Robinson, Mo’omo’oga Palu, Justine McGregor, Shyrah Tuliau-Tua’a, Ngano Tavake, Maia Davis and Elinor-Plum King have all etched their names in the Black Ferns log in the first year of this new Rugby World Cup cycle, and many of those players are already helping to define a new era of Black Ferns rugby.
Turner, Sititi, Robinson, Tuliau-Tua’a and McGregor were selected in match 23 for the second Test of the Black Ferns’ series against France in Whangarei this weekend, having quickly won Hansen’s trust.
“I think there are athletes who often come through and surprise in that space, on the world stage. Whether it’s a big surprise for us or not – I have the opportunity to watch all the things behind the scenes and see them in training,” said the coach after naming her side on Thursday morning.
“I remember the first time we had the likes of Amarante (Sititi) in camp, and we kind of joked on the radio that someone should come from the side, get her a contract very quickly. Obviously we didn’t do that at the time, but I think you see moments of that ‘special’ when they come to camp, in their Super and in those training sessions.
“And so, I’m not surprised, I’m just super grateful that all these athletes in our space right now feel like they can show up, be themselves and play with real confidence.”
King has been the most consistent presence in the Test team since her debut earlier this year, but was not selected for the Whangarei Test, with Layla Sae backed up in the No.7 jersey instead.
“Look, she’s been phenomenal for us,” Hansen said of the young winger. “We asked some things of her in the Super coming off the uncertain selection in the PacFour, in her physicality and around her and what it would look like, and to prove herself in that Super space, she absolutely did it, and everything we asked of her, she stepped up.
“She’s so hardworking. She’s incredibly hardworking, super humble, disappointed she didn’t play because she’s also incredibly competitive. But again, she understands that everyone has to be ready, and this is an opportunity for Layla this week, and we’re not going to take two specialist weeks in the team we’ve picked for the week.
“So her mindset was very much ‘what do I do to serve the team?’ And I know she’s going to be buzzing in training this afternoon to make sure the team is ready on Saturday.”