women
international women
The Black Ferns have added former MNZM legend Anna Richards to the selection panel to help Whitney Hansen, Tony Christie, Riki Flutey and Simon Kneebone.
Richards will become an independent selector for Hansen and the Black Ferns, following talks between the two at the 2025 Global Youth Sevens in Auckland.
The former Black Fern will provide behind-the-scenes insight into future Black Ferns campaigns and help spread development across teams and generations across multiple age groups.
Richards, 61, said it was important to have a feedback panel when picking a Black Ferns side.
“We met again at the Global Sevens and discussed the role in a bit more detail, and I was more excited about the opportunity. I’ve supported Whitney in an informal capacity throughout this year, so I’m really pleased to now make it official,” Richards said in an NZR press release.
“Whitney likes to be challenged; she’ll listen to you, think it through and isn’t afraid to change her mind. Being in a selector’s role like this and having tough conversations is important to the credibility of the women’s game, and having a panel that’s receptive to feedback is just as important.
“The talent we see New Zealand is exciting, and as NZR continues to invest in women’s pathways, I look forward to seeing the pathway strengthen and create more opportunities for athletes.”
Hansen believes this appointment is crucial to the selection process for the national side and to have someone with Richards’ experience is exciting.
“As a head coach, I wanted to have a challenge in the selection room. When you’re selecting a team from a group of athletes who work incredibly hard, you have a responsibility to do your due diligence by having different perspectives in the room.”
“A big part of this role has been about making sure we get the right selection for the Black Ferns, but even wider than that has been thinking about how we identify and retain talent across the board. With more than 35,000 women and girls registered to play rugby in 2026, the year-on-year growth is evident and Anna will help us stay connected to that space.
“For both of us, we have an eye on the present and the future with the upcoming France Test series at home, heading towards the first British and Irish Lions Women’s series next year and then the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2029.”
Hansen explained that even without this official role, Richards was a helping hand in 2026.
“Even before this role was established, Anna was very supportive as a coach going through the coaching journey and always happy to be on the other end of the phone.
“It’s a privilege to have her back in this space, it’s clear how much she cares about this team and the legacy of the Black Ferns. I know she’ll bring ideas and opinions to the table, which is exactly what we need from someone in this role. We’re lucky to have her experience, knowledge and care as part of who we are now.”
