New Zealand’s Black Ferns have officially named their 33-player squad for the upcoming Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025, set to kick off in England on August 22. The squad includes a mix of seasoned World Cup veterans and first-time selections, as the reigning champions prepare to defend their title on the global stage.
The team will compete in Pool C, facing Spain (Aug 24, York), Japan (Aug 31, Exeter), and Ireland (Sept 7, Brighton) during the group stage. Final preparations are underway in Wellington before the squad departs for England on August 13.
Below is the full squad by position:
Forwards (19 players)
Loosehead Prop
- Kate Henwood – 36, Chiefs Manawa, Bay of Plenty, 10 caps
- Awhina Tangen-Wainohu – 27, Blues, Waikato, 7 caps
- Chryss Viliko – 24, Blues, Auckland, 13 caps
Hooker
- Atlanta Lolohea – 22, Blues, Canterbury, 7 caps
- Vici-Rose Green – 22, Chiefs Manawa, Waikato, 2 caps
- Georgia Ponsonby – 25, Matatū, Canterbury, 31 caps
Tighthead Prop
- Tanya Kalounivale – 26, Chiefs Manawa, Waikato, 22 caps
- Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu – 20, Chiefs Manawa, Waikato, 1 cap
- Amy Rule – 25, Matatū, Canterbury, 30 caps
Second Row
- Laura Bayfield – 26, Matatū, Canterbury, 1 cap
- Alana Bremner – 28, Matatū, Canterbury, 29 caps
- Chelsea Bremner – 30, Matatū, Canterbury, 22 caps
- Maiakawanakaulani Roos – 23, Blues, Auckland, 33 caps
Back Row
- Liana Mikaele-Tu’u – 23, Blues, Auckland, 29 caps
- Jorja Miller – 21, Black Ferns Sevens, Canterbury, 2 caps
- Kaipo Olsen-Baker – 23, Matatū, Manawatū, 12 caps
- Layla Sae – 24, Hurricanes Poua, Manawatū, 14 caps
- Kennedy Tukuafu – 28, Chiefs Manawa, Waikato, 30 caps
🔹 Backs (14 players)
Scrum-half
- Iritana Hohaia – 25, Hurricanes Poua, Taranaki, 17 caps
- Maia Joseph – 23, Matatū, Otago, 11 caps
- Risaleaana Pouri-Lane – 25, Black Ferns Sevens, Tasman, 2 caps
Fly-half
- Kelly Brazier – 35, Chiefs Manawa, Bay of Plenty, 43 caps
- Ruahei Demant – 30, Blues, Auckland, 45 caps
Centre
- Sylvia Brunt – 21, Blues, Auckland, 25 caps
- Amy du Plessis – 26, Matatū, Canterbury, 21 caps
- Theresa Setefano – 30, Blues, Auckland, 19 caps
- Stacey Waaka – 29, Chiefs Manawa, Waikato, 27 caps
Wing / Full-back
- Renee Holmes – 25, Chiefs Manawa, Waikato, 23 caps
- Ayesha Leti-I’iga – 26, Hurricanes Poua, Wellington, 26 caps
- Braxton Sorensen-McGee – 18, Blues, Auckland, 3 caps
- Katelyn Vahaakolo – 25, Blues, Auckland, 17 caps
- Portia Woodman-Wickliffe – 34, Blues, Northland, 27 caps