NZ to host Australia in women’s series

INTERNATIONAL women’s rugby will return to New Zealand in September with a twotest series against Australia confirmed yesterday.

The O’Reilly Cup will be at stake when the Black Ferns host Australia in Christchurch on September 26 before a tantalising doubleheader at Eden Park alongside the All Blacks taking on South Africa on October 2.

These are the first international fixtures for the Black Ferns since 2019 and mark the start of their test season. Ddetails of an endofyear tour are still to be announced.

New Zealand Rugby head of women’s rugby Cate Sexton said it was pleasing to lock in home tests for the Black Ferns ahead of next year’s Rugby World Cup on home soil.

“Playing at home before next year’s World Cup is vital. We are looking forward to hosting Australia and showing the New Zealand public a taste of what they can look forward to in 2022.

“There is a wider group of Black Ferns that have been preparing for international rugby since January.

‘‘They can’t wait to get back out there in the black jersey to represent their families and provincial unions, but also put their best foot forward for World Cup selection.

“It will be a wonderful occasion to return to Christchurch for a test before what is sure to be a great series decider at Eden Park in October.”

The test at Rugby Park will be the first women’s international in Christchurch since 2017.

A week later, the teams will play at Eden Park for the fourth time.

The Black Ferns’ endofyear tour schedule will be announced later.

England’s men’s team will kick off its November internationals with a match against Tonga at the Twickenham Stadium, Reuters reports.

Eddie Jones’s side, which beat Tonga 353 in the group stages of the World Cup in Japan two years ago, will face it on November 6 before hosting Australia on November 13 and world champion South Africa on November 20.

‘‘This match [against Tonga] will continue our rivalry from the World Cup where we had a good, tough game against them,’’ Jones said in a statement yesterday.

‘‘They produce a lot of good players, play physical, exciting rugby.

‘‘It’s a great way to start our autumn internationals.

‘‘This summer it was great to be back playing in front of supporters at Twickenham.

The difference it made to the players was enormous.’’

England’s Rugby Football Union said it would also make a donation to Tonga Rugby as a goodwill gesture and work with World Rugby to make coaching and other resource personnel available to the country.