Black Ferns Sevens stars
Black Ferns World Cup-winning cocaptain Kennedy Simon has labelled the absence of sevens stars from next year’s Super Rugby Aupiki competition ‘‘a small loss’’, and noted it was a nod to the realities that lay ahead in the growing women’s game.
Some of the country’s biggest rugby names were missing when the four Aupiki squads were announced yesterday – sevens players who had committed to 15s in 2022 and played key roles in the Ferns’ dramatic World Cup final triumph this month.
Flanker Sarah Hirini was not listed in the Hurricanes Poua squad despite skippering the team in its inaugural season, while the trio of Ruby Tui, Portia Woodman and Stacey Fluhler were missing from the Chiefs Manawa squad, and Theresa Fitzpatrick won’t feature again for the Blues. They made up a third of the Ferns’ starting XV from the final against England at Eden Park.
Round two of the quick-fire Aupiki campaign directly clashes with the Canada round of the women’s World Sevens Series in Vancouver, and Simon admitted that, as has already become customary in the men’s game, the tough decision was having to be made between sevens and 15s for some players.
‘‘We are heading in that space, the sevens programme’s been professional for a little while, but with the Black Ferns and what we were able to do this time round with the World Cup, it’s only going to grow,’’ she said.
‘‘So I do think that heading into the future, sevens and Black Ferns 15s are going to have to choose, and it’s probably not going to be as easy just to transition straight back in, there’s going to be a lot of competition. And with Super Rugby Aupiki picking up and taking off, I think it’s definitely going to be something that you’ll have to train specifically for.’’
Asked what the standard would be like with the sevens reps missing from Aupiki next year, Simon, who is taking over the captaincy of the defending champion Chiefs Manawa side following Les Elder’s retirement, was confident the product would still stand strong.
The Aupiki competition kicks off on February 25, with the Hurricanes Poua hosting the Chiefs Manawa at Levin Domain, and the Matatu¯ entertaining the Blues at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin.
After a three-round season this year, 2023 will feature an expanded five-week programme, with three rounds followed by semifinals, then a finals day on March 25 at Hamilton’s FMG Stadium Waikato.
Super Rugby Aupiki 2023 squads
MATATŪ
Forwards: Amy Rule, Phillipa Love, Steph Te Ohaere-Fox, Moomooga (Ona) Palu, Atlanta Lolohea, Georgia Ponsonby, Natalie Delamere, Cindy Nelles, Emma Dermody, Sera Naiqama, Alana Bremner, Kendra Reynolds, Lucy Jenkins, Marcelle Parkes, Leah Miles. Backs: Di Hiini, Georgia Cormick, Rosie Kelly, Terauoriwa Gapper, Amy du Plessis, Charntay Poko, Grace Steinmetz, Cheyenne Cunningham, Grace Brooker, Martha Mataele, Renee Holmes, Cheyelle Robins-Reti. (One to be added).
Canada lock Cindy Nelles, the hero of Canterbury’s 2020 Farah Palmer Cup triumph, is one of eight new faces in the Matatu¯ squad. The 29-year-old, who crashed over for the 81st minute match-winning try in the dramatic provincial decider against Waikato two years back, has been recruited from the Blues. Joining her in the locking stocks is another new recruit in Wallaroos rep Sera Naiquama, who faced the Black Ferns in the World Cup opener. The move of five-test Black Ferns winger Cheyelle Robins-Reti from the Hurricanes Poua will also add strike power out wide.
HURRICANES POUA
Forwards: Saphire Abraham, Maddie Feaunati, Rhiarna Ferris, Krystal Murray, Te Kura NgataAerengamate, Joanah Ngan-Woo Kaipo, Olsen-Bakerm Jackie PateaFereti, Leilani Perese, Cilia-Marie Po’e-Tofaeono, Rachel Rakatau, Layla Sae, Aroha Savage, Kahurangi
Sturmey, Cristo Tofa. Backs: Carys Dallinger, Teilah Ferguson, Iritana Hohaia, Ayesha Leti-I’iga, Milly Mackey, Crystal Mayes, Bernadette Robertson, Victoria SubritzkyNafatali, Monica Tagoai, Isabella Waterman. (Three to be added).
The Hurricanes have bolstered their front row by signing World Cup-winning Black Ferns prop Krystal Murray from the Blues. Blues skipper Aroha Savage, a 33-test New Zealand international, is also capital-bound and will help fill the leadership void with Hirini missing due to sevens commitments. There are eight new players in total, but among those returning to the side is Black Ferns strike weapon Ayesha Leti-I’iga and lock Joanah Ngan-Woo, two players who had starring roles in New Zealand’s World Cup final win.
CHIEFS MANAWA
Forwards: Angel Mulu, Awhina Tangen-Wainohu, Charmaine Smith, Chelsea Bremner, Chyna Hohepa, Dhys Faleafaga, Grace HoupapaBarrett, Kelsie Wills, Kennedy Simon (c), Luka Connor, Merania Paraone, Pia Tapsell, Santo Taumata, Tanya Kalounivale, Te Urupounamu McGarvey, Tynealle Fitzgerald, Victoria Edmonds. Backs: Amanda Rasch, Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu, Azalleyah Maaka, Carla Hohepa, Chelsea Semple, Georgia Daals, Hazel Tubic, Langi Veainu, Mererangi Paul, Renee Wickliffe, Violet Hapi-Wise.
The maiden Aupiki champions will be defending their title without their big-name sevens stars, but new coach Crystal Kaua still has plenty of international experience to call upon. That includes World Cup-winning Black Ferns cocaptain Kennedy Simon, who she also coached at Hamilton Girls’ High School. Ferns lock Chelsea Bremner (Matatu¯ ) is one of four players with Aupiki experience who have transferred to the Chiefs, the others being former Black Fern Charmaine Smith (Blues) and Dhys Faleafaga and Amanda Rasch (Hurricanes Poua). There are six rookies named in the 28-woman squad, all from the Chiefs region.
BLUES
Forwards: Eloise Blackwell, Dajian Brown, Joanna Fanene Lolo, Sophie Fisher, Grace Gago, Tafito Lafaele, Letelemalanuola Lavea, Shannon Leota, Charmaine McMenamin, Liana Mikaele-Tu’u, Maiakawanakaulani Roos, Alakoka Po’oi, Cheyenne Tuli-Fale, Maama Vaipulu, Chryss Viliko. Backs: Ariana Bayler, Sylvia Brunt, Krysten Cottrell, Kiritapu Demant, Ruahei Demant, Jaymie Kolose, Patricia Maliepo, Melanie Puckett, Tara Turner, Katelyn Vahaakolo, Holly Williams. (Two to be added).
A sister act headlines the Blues’ squad, which features 12 fresh faces. Black Ferns co-captain Ruahei Demant, crowned World Rugby Player of the Year yesterday, will play alongside her sister, Kiritapu Demant – the 26-year-old two-test Black Fern (2015), who has recently returned to top-level rugby after a break in 2018. There are five other Black Ferns named, including halfback Ariana Bayler, moving north from the Chiefs to form an international eight-nine-10 axis.
Northland 18-year-old Tara Turner is one of the new faces, joining off the back of a strong Farah Palmer Cup campaign, and having also come through the Tania Dalton Foundation programme, while Katelyn Vahaakolo joins after representing the Kiwi Ferns at the Rugby League World Cup.