Hurricanes Poua players Elinor-Plum King, Keira Sua Smith, Leilani Hakiwai and lock Sam Taylor have been named in The Black Ferns XV squad to play two matches against the Springbok Women this year in South Africa, in another boost to New Zealand Rugby’s (NZR) women’s high-performance programme.
The two international fixtures, on 26 July and 2 August (NZST), will be part of an expanded programme for the Black Ferns XV, which will assemble for just the second time since being introduced to NZR’s high-performance women’s pathway in 2023.
Both games will be played at the 34,000-seat Athlone Stadium in Cape Town in what will be the first time a national New Zealand women’s team has played in South Africa.
Hannah Porter, NZR Head of Women’s High Performance, said the two fixtures
in South Africa were a well-timed addition to the 2025 international calendar. “These matches are a major boost for our women’s rugby programme, and playing in South Africa, where women’s rugby is growing at pace, will be a special experience for the players and a boost for the Black Ferns and Springbok Women’s Rugby World Cup preparations.
“Providing international rugby in a touring environment will accelerate the development of a wider group of players outside the Black Ferns and build the depth of women’s rugby in New Zealand.”
The Black Ferns XV travelling squad to South Africa is:
FORWARDS (16)
Hookers
Luka Connor (Chiefs Manawa/Bay of Plenty)
Grace Leaso Gago (Blues/Counties Manukau)
Jordan Tihore (Bay of Plenty)
Props
Marcelle Parkes (Matatū/Canterbury)
Cheyenne Tuli-Fale (Blues/Auckland)
Maddi Robinson (Matatū/Canterbury)
Ashley Palu (Matatū/Canterbury)
Harono Te Iringa (Blues/Counties Manukau)
Locks
Maama Vaipulu (Blues/Auckland)
Sam Taylor (Hurricanes Poua/Manawatū)
Holly Greenway (Blues/Bay of Plenty) ©
Loose forwards
Taufa Bason (Blues/Manawatū)
Elinor-Plum King (Hurricanes Poua/Manawatū)
Fiaali'i Solomona (Matatū/Tasman)
Lucy Jenkins (Matatū/Canterbury)
Mia Anderson (Chiefs Manawa/ Waikato)
BACKS (12)
Halfbacks
Tara Turner (Blues/Northland)
Reese Anderson (Chiefs Manawa/Waikato)
First-five
Hannah King (Matatū/Canterbury)
Keira Su’a Smith (Hurricanes Poua/Wellington)
Midfield
Justine McGregor (Wellington)
Kelsey Teneti (Waikato)
Leilani Hakiwai (Hurricanes Poua/Hawke’s Bay)
Outside backs
Winnie Palamo (Matatū/Canterbury)
Hollyrae Mete-Renata (Matatū/Manawatū)
Jaymie Kolose (Blues/Counties Manukau)
Kaea Nepia (Matatū/Waikato)
Mererangi Paul (Chiefs Manawa/Counties Manukau)
Black Ferns XV 2025 schedule:
Sunday, July 27: Athlone Stadium, Cape Town, kick off 3.00 am NZT (5.00 pm Saturday, 26 July local time)
Sunday 3 August: Athlone Stadium, Cape Town, kick off 3.00 am NZT (5.00 pm, Saturday 2 August local time)
