The Black Ferns' chances of defending the Rugby World Cup this year have been boosted by the availability of seven New Zealand sevens internationals.
Stacey Waaka, Theresa Setefano, Alena Saili, Dhys Faleafaga and Kelsey Teneti are all capped Black Ferns and along with Risi Pouri-Lane and Jorja Miller will vie for World Cup selection in 2025.
The World Cup will be held in England starting in August. New Zealand have been world champions a record six times.
Waaka and Setefano played starring roles in the Black Ferns' World Cup victory in New Zealand in 2022, and, after a few lean years results-wise for the 15-aside team, they and their sevens teammates are likely to be welcomed back with open arms.
Miller, 21, has been a sensation on the sevens circuit and will similarly add a significant amount to the squad for the World Cup.
A New Zealand Rugby statement said Black Ferns director of rugby Allan Bunting and Black Ferns sevens head coach Cory Sweeney have been working together on a transition plan for the seven players.
Saili, Faleafaga, Teneti, Setefano and Pouri-Lane will join the Black Ferns’ first camp in April, ruling them out of selection for the final SVNS Series event of the season in Los Angeles. Waaka and Miller will join the Black Ferns squad during the PAC4 Series.
“Having the ability to add players into the mix that have a proven ability of winning pinnacle events under pressure is invaluable," said Bunting.
“It’s great to have our best female athletes driving internal competition and striving for selection for World Cup."
Sweeney said: “We want to have the best XVs and Sevens programmes in the world and we can’t do that independently.
“We’ve seen real success in the past two World Cup cycles with our players transitioning across to the Black Ferns environment. For the players remaining it will be an exciting opportunity for them to get more game time in Los Angeles and grow on the world stage.”
The coaches have worked closely together in recent years, as seen with Black Fern winger Katelyn Vahaakolo making her SVNS Series debut last December.
Not included in this list of players is Kelly Brazier, who has been released from sevens to play Sky Super Rugby Aupiki and will be available for selection in the Black Ferns at the conclusion of that competition.
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