Black Ferns Head Coach Whitney Hansen and Assistants Tony Christie, Riki Flutey and Simon Kneebone have announced a 31-player strong squad for the remainder of 2026.
The squad is intended to remain the same for their upcoming match against Black Ferns XV and the remaining eight Tests; the O’Reilly Cup presented by Bupa against Australia, against South Africa as part of the RGR tour, and the WXV Global Series (home and away).
Nine changes have been made to the squad named earlier this year for the Pacific Four Series, including five uncapped players off the back of consistent Sky Super Rugby Aupiki performances. Loosehead prop Ngano Tavake, Amarante Sititi (lock), Elinor-Plum King (loose forward) and outside backs Maia Davis and Shyrah Tuliau-Tua’a have earned Black Ferns call-ups.
Returning Black Ferns include prop Santo Taumata, who last appeared in the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2022 winning squad, and centre Alena Saili who makes her first Black Ferns appearance since 2018. Fullback Braxton Sorensen-McGee also joins the squad, while loose forward Layla Sae completes a remarkable return after recovering from an ACL injury.
Black Ferns Head Coach Whitney Hansen congratulates all players who have been selected and praised the standard of rugby on display throughout Sky Super Rugby Aupiki.
“This squad has an exciting blend of experience and emerging talent, finding the right balance was a key part of our selections process. We’re also thrilled to welcome our new Black Ferns, who will bring different strengths to our environment on and off the field,” Hansen said.
“The quality of rugby in Sky Super Rugby Aupiki continues to rise every year. The competition for spots in the squad is stronger than ever, with so many talented players across every position. That’s made selection decisions for us incredibly tough, but it’s exactly where we want the game to be and it’s only going to get harder.”
Co-captain Kennedy Tukuafu and Jaymie Kolose were unavailable for selection due to injury, while fullback Renee Holmes and wing Katelyn Vahaakolo were also unavailable due to their Black Ferns Sevens commitments.
Hansen said the upcoming matches create an opportunity for the group to put the Black Ferns’ rugby identity to the test, while continuing to build towards the first-ever British and Irish Lions Women’s Tour next year.
“At the start of the year we wanted to bring our brand of rugby to life, and I think we saw that throughout the Pacific Four Series. The next phase is about evolving how we play and staying connected as a group. The challenges ahead will demand more of us, and we’re looking forward to the opportunities of growing from good to great.”
The Black Ferns begin their preparations this week in Wellington to play Black Ferns XV, before travelling up to Auckland for the O’Reilly Cup Test. They’ll then travel offshore from August 28 and return home from October 1 ahead of their home Tests against France.
Black Ferns End of Year squad is (Age, Sky Super Rugby Aupiki club, Provincial Union, Test caps):
Loosehead Props
Chryss Viliko (25, Blues, Auckland, 22)
Maddison Robinson (25, Matatū, Canterbury, 3)
Ngano Tavake (25, Hurricanes Poua, Manawatū, uncapped)
Hookers
Vici-Rose Green (24, Chiefs Manawa, Waikato, 7)
Atlanta Lolohea (23, Blues, Canterbury, 11)
Georgia Ponsonby (26, Matatū, Canterbury, 40)
Tighthead Props
Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu (21, Chiefs Manawa, Waikato, 6)
Mo’omo’oga Palu (24, Hurricanes Poua, Hawke’s Bay, 1)
Santo Taumata (23, Matatū, Bay of Plenty, 7)
Locks
Maiakawanakaulani Roos (25, Blues, Auckland, 41)
Laura Bayfield (27, Matatū, Canterbury, 9)
Maama Mo’onia Vaipulu (23, Blues, Auckland, 10)
Amarante Sititi (19, Blues, Auckland, uncapped)
Loose forwards
Mia Anderson (24, Chiefs Manawa, Waikato, 3)
Liana Mikaele-Tu’u (24, Blues, Auckland, 38)
Kaipo Olsen-Baker (24, Matatū, Manawatū, 19)
Elinor-Plum King (22, Matatū, Manawatū, uncapped)
Layla Sae (25, Hurricanes Poua, Manawatū, 19)
Halfbacks
Maia Joseph (24, Matatū, Otago, 19)
Tara Turner (22, Blues, Northland, 3)
First-five eighths
Ruahei Demant (31, Blues, Auckland, 54) – co-captain
Hannah King (22, Matatū, Canterbury, 13)
Midfield
Logo-I-Pulotu Lemapu-Atai’i Sylvia Brunt (22, Blues, Auckland, 32)
Justine McGregor (20, Chiefs Manawa, Black Ferns Sevens, 3)
Amy Du Plessis (27, Matatū, Canterbury, 25)
Alena Saili (27, Matatū, Black Ferns Sevens, 5)
Outside backs
Maia Davis (20, Matatū, Black Ferns Sevens, uncapped)
Ayesha Leti-I’iga (27, Hurricanes Poua, Wellington, 33)
Mererangi Paul (27, Blues, Counties Manukau, 17)
Braxton Sorensen-McGee (19, Blues, Black Ferns Sevens, 9)
Shyrah Tuliau-Tua’a (19, Chiefs Manawa, uncapped)
Unavailable due to injury: Kennedy Tukuafu (hamstring), Jaymie Kolose (ankle).
Uncapped player bios
Ngano Tavake
Ngano Tavake is an emerging powerhouse in the props, known for her physicality and strong ball-carrying skills. Tavake was a consistent selection in the Hurricanes Poua team during this year’s Sky Super Rugby Aupiki and has been with the Poua since it’s inception. She has also represented the Manawatū Cyclones for seven seasons and is a product of St Peter’s College in Palmerston North.
Amarante Sititi
Amarante Sititi is a dynamic forward marked as one of New Zealand rugby’s rising stars. A product of Auckland Girls’ Grammar School where she served as Head Girl, Sititi progressed through the women’s rugby pathway with standout performances in her debut Farah Palmer Cup presented by Hilux campaign with the Auckland Storm, earning both the Auckland Rugby FPC Emerging Player of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year awards in 2025. Sititi brings explosive ball-carrying, physical defence and relentless work ethic as seen in her first Sky Super Rugby Aupiki campaigns with the Blues.
Elinor-Plum King
Elinor-Plum King is a talented loose forward known for her work rate, physicality and competitiveness on the field. A product of Manawatū rugby, King has been a consistent performer for the Cyclones in the Farah Palmer Cup presented by Hilux. She represented Matatū in this year’s Sky Super Rugby Aupiki after two seasons with the Hurricanes Poua and has also previously earned selection in the Black Ferns XV programme.
Maia Davis
Maia Davis is a skilful and energetic player who contibutes speed and intensity as seen in her recent Sky Super Rugby Aupiki campaign with Matatū and in the Black Ferns Sevens programme. Davis made her international sevens debut at the 2025 Canada Sevens in Vancouver, and was a member of the New Zealand team that won the Hong Kong Sevens that same year. Davis also has two seasons of Farah Palmer Cup presented by Hilux with the Manawatū Cyclones under her belt.
Shyrah Tuliau-Tua’a
Shyrah Tuliau-Tua’a is a winger known for her speed, agility, and try-scoring ability. Developing her skills through the rugby programmes at Sacred Heart Girls’ College and Hamilton Girls’ High School, she quickly established herself as a standout young talent, earning selection to the New Zealand Under18 Sevens programme. Tuliau-Tua’a represented Chiefs Manawa in Sky Super Rugby Aupiki and Waikato in the Farah Palmer Cup presented by Hilux.
With thanks to New Zealand Rugby
