Shock omission as reigning champs reveal their #RWC2025 squad

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Black Ferns coaches Allan Bunting, Tony Christie, Steve Jackson, Dan Cron and Riki Flutey have selected 33 players to defend their title at the World Cup 2025 in England next month.

The squad was announced by former Black Fern Honey Hireme-Smiler in front of invited guests and whānau at a special event held in Wellington.

Featured in the squad are 19 forwards and 14 backs, with the positional breakdown of seven props, three hookers, four locks, five loose forwards, three halfbacks, two first five-eighths, four midfielders and five outside backs.

Black Ferns legend Kelly Brazier is locked in for her fourth World Cup, while Portia Woodman-Wickliffe, Theresa Setefano and Stacey Waaka will attend their third.

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There is also a notable name missing: Ruby Tui.

The fan favourite and World Cup winner was present at the unveiling of the squad but was named in the goup.

She also missed the Pacific Four Series earlier this year but was later given a chance to impress against the Wallaroos this month, scoring a try off the bench.

She was recently part of the Black Ferns XV that suffered a defeat to the Black Ferns.

Meanwhile, teenage sensation Braxton Sorensen-McGee is the youngest selected at 18 years old, and she will make her first World Cup appearance alongside the newest Black Fern, Laura Bayfield, who debuted in the final home Test match v Australia.

World Rugby Women’s Sevens Player of the Year Jorja Miller and scrumhalf Risaleaana Pouri-Lane earned their selections through their impressive transition to the fifteens game.

Sixteen players from the 2022 World Cup winning squad return, including co-captains Ruahei Demant and Kennedy Tukuafu.

Black Ferns Director of Performance Allan Bunting congratulates the 33 players selected.

“On behalf of the coaching group, I’d like to congratulate all our players named tonight in front of their whānau. We are really excited about this group and truly believe they can take us to the next level,” Bunting said.

“We’ve got vast experience across our squad, with more than half of our players having competed at pinnacle events.

“While it’s an exciting time for those selected, I’d like to acknowledge the players who have missed out. Their contribution to the black jersey and to our team this year has been immense, and we wouldn’t be where we are today without them.

“The level of depth and internal competition we have seen from our wider squad made the selection process very difficult; however, this speaks to the growth and exciting future of women’s rugby in Aotearoa.”

All four Sky Super Rugby Aupiki clubs are well represented in the squad along with strong provincial representation from Northland to Canterbury.

The Black Ferns have assembled in Wellington for their final training camp and depart for England on Wednesday, August 13. They will then kick-off their Pool C matches against Spain (August 25), Japan (September 1) and Ireland (September 8).

The Black Ferns squad:

(Age, Super Rugby Club, Provincial Union, Test caps):

Loosehead props
*Kate Henwood (36, Chiefs Manawa, Bay of Plenty, 10 Tests)
Awhina Tangen-Wainohu (27, Blues, Waikato, 7 Tests)
*Chryss Viliko (24, Blues, Auckland, 13 Tests)

Hookers
*Atlanta Lolohea (22, Blues, Canterbury, 7 Tests)
*Vici-Rose Green (22, Chiefs Manawa, Waikato, 2 Tests)
Georgia Ponsonby (25, Matatū, Canterbury, 31 Tests)

Tighthead props
Tanya Kalounivale (26, Chiefs Manawa, Waikato, 22 Tests)
*Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu (20, Chiefs Manawa, Waikato, 1 Test)
Amy Rule (25, Matatū, Canterbury, 30 Tests)

Locks
*Laura Bayfield (26, Matatū, Canterbury, 1 Test)
Alana Bremner (28, Matatū, Canterbury, 29 Tests)
Chelsea Bremner (30, Matatū, Canterbury, 22 Tests)
Maiakawanakaulani Roos (23, Blues, Auckland, 33 Tests)

Loose forwards
Liana Mikaele-Tu’u (23, Blues, Auckland, 29 Tests)
*Jorja Miller (21, Black Ferns Sevens, Canterbury, 2 Tests)
*Kaipo Olsen-Baker (23, Matatū, Manawatū, 12 Tests)
*Layla Sae (24, Hurricanes Poua, Manawatū, 14 Tests)
Kennedy Tukuafu (28, Chiefs Manawa, Waikato, 30 Tests)

Scrumhalves
*Iritana Hohaia (25, Hurricanes Poua, Taranaki, 17 Tests)
*Maia Joseph (23, Matatū, Otago, 11 Tests)
*Risaleaana Pouri-Lane (25, Black Ferns Sevens, Tasman, 2 Tests)

Flyhaves
Kelly Brazier (35, Chiefs Manawa, Bay of Plenty, 43 Tests)
Ruahei Demant (30, Blues, Auckland, 45 Tests)

Centres
Logo-I-Pulotu Lemapu-Atai’i Sylvia Brunt (21, Blues, Auckland, 25 Tests)
Amy du Plessis (26, Matatū, Canterbury, 21 Tests)
Theresa Setefano (30, Blues, Auckland, 19 Tests)
Stacey Waaka (29, Chiefs Manawa, Waikato, 27 Tests)

Wings
Renee Holmes (25, Chiefs Manawa, Waikato, 23 Tests)
Ayesha Leti-I’iga (26, Hurricanes Poua, Wellington, 26 Tests)
*Braxton Sorensen-McGee (18, Blues, Auckland, 3 Tests)
*Katelyn Vahaakolo (25, Blues, Auckland, 17 Tests)
Portia Woodman-Wickliffe (34, Blues, Northland, 27 Tests)

Non-travelling reserve
Krystal Murray (32, Chiefs Manawa, Northland, 14 Tests)

*denotes first Rugby World Cup