My Black Ferns Rugby World Cup Squad
After wrestling back their Pacific Four title from Canada, all eyes now turn towards the Black Ferns defence of their World Cup title later this year. The three tests so far this year have given us a glimpse into how the Black Ferns are looking to play to stake on another World Cup title, and as a result I am going to have a go at picking my squad for who I would send to the UK this August. I’m assuming it will a 32 strong squad, and I’ve gone for a 17/15 split.
Hookers
Georgia Ponsonby
Atlanta Lolohea
Luka Connor
One change for me with Luka Connor coming back into the squad at the expense of Vici-Rose Green. Green had an impressive debut but I feel the plan was always to bring her in to add to the depth in the hooker position. Despite an underwhelming season for the Chiefs Manawa, Connor’s experience speaks for itself. She played a key part in the 2022 campaign coming off the bench in all three finals games, including scoring two tries against the Welsh in the quarter final. At the moment I’d have Ponsonby starting and Lolohea coming off the bench, but Connor could absolutely force her way on the bench. Ponsonby is by far our best hooker, and is one of, if not the, best hookers in the game. It will be crucial for Connor or Lolohea to come on and continue the level of play that Ponsonby brings, particularly against the massive forward packs of England and Canada.
Props
Chryss Viliko
Kate Henwood
Awhina Tangen-Wainohu
Amy Rule
Tanya Kalounivale
Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu
No changes in the Pacific Four propping stocks. We have brilliant depth in the props, with six genuine world class props. Amy Rule, Tanya Kalounivale and Awhina Tangen-Wainohu were all present in 2022 for the last World Cup. Kate Henwood, Chryss Viliko and Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu will all be headed in their first tournament in the UK later this year. Mahutariki-Fakalelu really impressed in her debut against the USA, being formiddable in the scrum but also very mobile and threatening around the park, I would not be at all surprised if she forces her way into our best 23 during the World Cup. However, you’d expect the experienced and incumbent combo of Rule and Kalounivale to be hard to force out of their positions. On the loosehead side of the scrum, Viliko and Henwood will both be vying for the 1 jersey. At this stage I’d probably lean towards Viliko, but a bench front row of Viliko, Lolohea and Kalounivale could add some real punch off the bench late in games. Tangen-Wainohu is no slouch either, and could certainly find a spot in the 23 due to her experience.
Locks
Alana Bremner
Maiakawanakaulani Roos
Maama Mo’onia Vaipulu
After being called in for the injured Dhys Faleafaga, Chelsea Bremner once again misses out on selection. Having had her in the squad she’ll be on notice and no doubt ready for the call up should anything happen to one of our locks, but originally I think she’ll miss out to allow for another back to be selected. Alan Bunting has made his stance on the locking positions clear, with Maia Roos and Alana Bremner starting all three Pacific Four matches. Vaipulu was a prominent feature in 2024’s edition of WXV in Canada, and fits the mould of a highly mobile lock so she can easily slot into the role of Bremner or Roos and as a result will be the third lock on the plane come August.
Loose Forwards
Kennedy Tukuafu (CC)
Layla Sae
Liana Mikaele-Tu’u
Kaipo Olsen-Baker
Jorja Miller
The loose forwards are a pretty straight forward selection. Jorja Miller was superb on debut against the USA and as a result solidifies her spot in the World Cup squad, meaning Lucy Jenkins misses out. Jenkins was brilliant for Matatū during Super Rugby Aupiki, but suffered an injury at the end of the season which has definitely hurt her chances of going to the World Cup, as well as Miller being a specialist openside and Tukuafu and Sae also being able to cover there, it’s hard to justify selecting another openside flanker . While the selection of these five loosies is straight forward, who actually makes the side is another story completely. For me, Mikaele-Tu’u and Olsen-Baker are locks. Olsen-Baker was the Black Fern’s player of the year in 2024 and has only gotten better in 2025 so far, and Mikaele-Tu’u is one of the most dynamic and powerful carriers in the world and an important lineout option. The openside is the position hardest to select. I would start with Miller at 7 and Tukuafu off the bench, with Sae missing out. Tukuafu has an ability to cover both blindside and openside, and her ability to carry and threat at the breakdown has the potential to be game changing in the last 20 minutes. This is how Wayne Smith used her in the 2022 campaign, which worked really well (with the exception of the final where she got yellow carded). But Tukuafu’s intensity and leadership will be vital off the bench. Miller’s skillset suits this Black Fern’s side so well. She has the skillset of a back having come from sevens but is not afraid to put herself in some dark places and front up despite her size. Originally I was worried she would be too small to play in the forwards, but after checking she is very similar in size to Marlie Packer, who has probably been the best loose forward in the game for the last decade. Sae has an ability to cover the entire backrow, which could be enough to force her way into the side on the bench, but currently I’d have her missing out on our best 23.
Halfbacks
Maia Joseph
Iritana Hohaia
Risealeaana Pouri-Lane
Another straight forward selection. Maia Joseph and Iritana Hohaia have cemented their spots in the side over the last year. After the retirment of the most capped Black Fern ever in Kendra Cocksedge after the 2022 World Cup, Alan Bunting has struggled to find a replacement to fill this massive void, but over the last year Hohaia and Joseph have stepped up. Joseph would be my starter at the moment. Her ruck speed is probably the quickest and she is also a sound defender. She also has a kicking game that will be important as it seems Ruahei Demant will be starting at 10. Risi Pouri-Lane is definitely knocking on the door for being in the 23 though, and will push both Hohaia and Joseph for a spot. Pouri-Lane has the best ball skills in my opinion and this may help her odds of getting into a Black Ferns team who want to play an expansive game of possession.
First-Fives
Ruahei Demant (CC)
Hannah King
Straight forward again. The two best fly halfs in the country. Ruahei looks to be getting back to her top form that saw her claim World Player of the Year in 2022. As for Hannah King. she has had a meteorical rise in the last two years since getting a start with the Hurricanes Poua. At this stage I still believe Ruahei’s best position is 10, so I would start her there. Part of me does consider King due to her kicking game and particularly goal kicking, which is undoubtedly a weakness of this Black Ferns side when King isn’t starting. In tight games which we will encounter in the World Cup, goal kicking will be vital, so maybe King ends up starting some of those do or die games.
Midfield
Sylvia Brunt
Amy Du Plessis
Stacey Waaka
Theresa Setefano
Stacked. These four probably start in most teams around the world, yet at least one of them will miss out on the 23 altogether. Before Pacific Four, I was pretty set on Brunt and Du Plessis being our midfield combo, with maybe Waaka on the wing and Setefano on the bench, but the USA game has me rethinking that completely. Setefano, aside from Demant, was probably my player of the World Cup last time out. She is such a well rounded 12 and there is no doubt the game becomes easier for our game drivers when Setefano is out there. Waaka is also just the perfect 13. Coming from sevens she has an elite pass but is also an extremely threatening runner. She is the perfect bridge between our halves and midfield and the back three. Her work at the breakdown is also very underrated and was crucial in 2022. Therefore, my starting pair would be Waaka and Setefano. Brunt takes a spot on the bench, as her power would be borderline unstoppable coming off the bench facing tired players. As a result, Dupes misses out. As a Matatu fan this pains me. She is so underrated and I’d have her as the best defensive 13 in the world at the moment, potentially you could put Waaka onto the wing to accomodate Du Plessis, but given the logjam in the outside backs I find that unlikely.
Outside Backs
Braxton Sorensen-McGee
Portia Woodman-Wickliffe
Ayesha Leti’iga
Katelyn Vaha’akolo
Mererangi Paul
Ruby Tui
Ruby returns. The extra spot afforded by Chelsea Bremner being dropped in my opinion goes to Ruby Tui. While I’m not expecting Ruby to get much game time, her presence in the squad will no doubt be highly beneficial. Also her ability to cover fullback is really the reason I’ve selected her, as I feel we are definitely short in this area. Teen sensation Braxton Sorensen-McGee lit up Pacific Four and will only grow as a player the more time she spends in the environment, I’d love to see her given a chance as a goal kicker, we haven’t seen her have the tee for the Black Ferns or the Blues but by all acounts as she came through the League scene she was a deadeye off the tee. The GOAT Portia will be chomping at the bit to extend her World Cup try scoring record, and to hopefully have a better send off than she got when she was carted from the field in the final after the tackle which resulted in Lydia Thompson’s game defining red card. Ayesha Leti’iga is the other player returning from the 2022 World Cup, having scored a double in the final after being injected following Portia’s concussion. Katelyn Vaha’akolo attends her first World Cup after debuting for the Black Fern’s in 2023, coming off of a four try haul against the USA, she’s in red hot form and you’d assume would line up on the left wing come the opening game. Mererangi Paul rounds out the squad. Her versatility of being able to cover anywhere from 11 to 15 will undoubtedly be crucial, and also makes her an interesting bench option.
My Predicted 23
Chryss Viliko
Georgia Ponsonby
Amy Rule
Alana Bremner
Maiakawanakaulani Roos
Liana Mikaele-Tu’u
Jorja Miller
Kaipo Olsen-Baker
Maia Joseph
Ruahei Demant (CC)
Katelyn Vaha’akolo
Theresa Setefano
Stacey Waaka
Portia Woodman-Wickliffe
Braxton Sorensen-McGee
Luka Connor
Kate Henwood
Tanya Kalounivale
Maama Mo’onia Vaipulu
Kennedy Tukuafu (CC)
Risealeaana Pouri-Lane
Hannah King
Sylvia Brunt
