Black Ferns to play Samoa

The Test match against Samoa expands the 2014 International Women’s Rugby Series with Test matches against Canada and Australia in the Bay of Plenty already announced in October last year.

New Zealand Rugby Chief Executive Steve Tew welcomed the additional Test match as a great celebration of two close Rugby nations.

“This is a unique opportunity for New Zealanders to see both our World Cup champion All Blacks and Black Ferns on the same night, at the same ground.

“The addition of Samoa to the International Women’s Rugby Series is also a great opportunity for Samoan fans to get behind their women’s team at Eden Park.

“Many of those in and around the Manusina will be familiar to some of our players and management in the Black Ferns so we know that the connections are already close.

There has not been a Test match between Samoa and New Zealand since 2006 and they have never played each other in New Zealand.

Tickets for the Black Ferns v Samoa and All Blacks v England double-header event(one ticket provides access to both fixtures) go on sale next month.

Meanwhile, New Zealand Rugby and Bay of Plenty Rugby today released the complete schedule for the International Women’s Rugby Series.

Bay of Plenty Rugby Chief Executive Mike Rogers said they were excited to be hosting the Black Ferns, Australia and Canada.“Having hosted the National Sevens tournament in January, we know that our community gets behind great rugby events.  We’re looking forward to hosting these teams just weeks out from their Women’s Rugby World Cup campaigns.

“We are particularly excited to be hosting the Black Ferns and Canada in Whakatane which will be a great opportunity for locals to see some of the best talent in women’s world rugby, on their doorstep,” Mr Rogers said.

The International Women’s Rugby Series schedule is as follows:

Sunday 1 JuneBlack Ferns v AustraliaRotorua International Stadium, RotoruaKick-off 5:40pm

Friday 6 June:Australia v CanadaTauranga Domain, TaurangaKick-off 2:30pm

Saturday 7 June:Black Ferns v Samoa (curtain raiser to All Blacks v England)Eden Park, AucklandKick-off: 5:00pm

Tuesday 10 June:Black Ferns v CanadaTauranga Domain, TaurangaKick-off 2:30pm

Saturday 14 June:Black Ferns v CanadaRugby Park, WhakataneKick-off 2:30pm