Portia still out

Ongoing recovery from her Achilles injury has prevented Portia Woodman from being included in the Black Ferns Sevens team heading to the upcoming Kitakyushu Sevens. The squad features new and returning players as the side aims to secure its place at the top of the World Series rankings; with other first choice players unavailable through either injury or illness including Michaela Blyde, Kelly Brazier, Gayle Broughton, Theresa Fitzpatrick, Huia Harding and Kat WhataSimpkins while head coach Allan Bunting has also been taken out with health issues (meaning the side will beled by assistant coach Cory Sweeney at the Japanese leg). The Black Ferns Sevens currently lead the World Series standings, having won the first three tournaments of the season, with three more to go. They will face France, Russia and the hosts in pool play.