Black Ferns ready for new challenge
It’s time to move on from their World Cup triumph and the talk about being on the New Zealand Rugby payroll. The Black Ferns have fresh challenges.
Coach Glenn Moore has announced his 28-strong squad to play Australia for the first time under the inaugural player contracts system, and vice-captain Selica Winiata says the successes of 2017 are now history.
The Black Ferns, who are now on New Zealand Rugby contracts, will play five tests this year – two of which will be double-headers with the All Blacks and Wallabies in Sydney and Auckland.
The Sydney match on August 18 will be the first test match for the players since they lifted the Rugby World Cup in Belfast almost a year ago when they beat England in the final.
‘‘Regardless of a contract we are professional,’’ Winiata said.
‘‘It is time to move on and I think that is the great thing about this Black Ferns team. There are so many accolades that have driven the team to success, but it is a new year and a new team and it is time to make sure that we put in the hard yards to get the performance we are after.
‘‘We have girls from the World Cup who are no longer with us for various reasons, some decided to retire, some have had children.’’
They will play the Wallaroos for the Laurie O’Reilly Memorial Trophy in Sydney just before the Bledisloe Cup match between the All Blacks and Wallabies. They will do the same at Eden Park a week later.
The Black Ferns will round out the test season by playing the USA at Chicago’s Soldier Field before flying to Europe to play reigning Women’s Six Nations champions France in Toulon and Grenoble in November.
In May, NZR announced a historic agreement with the women’s team to place 28 players on part-time player contracts. Winiata said it was a fantastic step in the right direction.
‘‘There’s definitely been a lot of positive steps forward for the Black Ferns, but now it’s time to get together, gel well and make sure we do everything we can to win those test matches.’’
Fiao’o Faamausili will again captain the side while Winiata and halfback Kendra Cocksedge will share vice-captaincy duties.