Black Ferns XV travelling squad to South Africa announced

Black Ferns XV Head Coach Willie Walker has announced a 28-strong squad to travel to South Africa for two matches against the Springbok Women’s team in Cape Town.

The two fixtures will both be played at the 34,000-seat Athlone Stadium in Cape Town on 26 July and 2 August in what will be the first time a national New Zealand women’s team has played in South Africa.

Black Ferns XV 2025 schedule

• Sunday July 27: Athlone Stadium, Cape Town, kick off 3.00am NZT (5.00pm Saturday 26 July local time)
• Sunday 3 August: Athlone Stadium, Cape Town, kick off 3.00am NZT (5.00pm Saturday 2 August local time)

Bay of Plenty lock Holly Greenway will captain a Black Ferns XV squad that was selected following a final trial match against the Black Ferns at Semenoff Stadium in Whangarei on 5 July.

Walker said the trial match had been a successful exercise ahead of the trip to Cape Town with a strong squad selected to play the Springbok Women.

“The trial in Whangarei was an ideal build up for this group and helpful in assessing players and combinations. We’ve selected a strong squad and it’s a huge opportunity for these players to experience a touring environment and to play against a tier one international opponent.”

The squad departs for South Africa on 20 July.

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) (c)

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)