New Zealand assemble for England series
The New Zealand women’s rugby team have assembled in Auckland to prepare for their three Test tour to England this month.The reigning World champions play England on 26 and 29 November and 3 December with the first match at Twickenham following the Australia v Barbarians match.Head Coach Grant Hansen said the squad members – eight of them new to the Black Ferns this year – have been training in smaller groups heading into their camp today.
Published by Scrum Queens, November 16th, 2011
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Since we announced the squad, the girls have been training individually and in their own home towns in groups. We have a pretty intense programme for the next few days but it is great to have the whole squad training together.
They are all eager and ready to get the tour under way, he said.
The three Tests against England is the first instalment of a three-year programme that will see the Black Ferns play England again in 2012 and 2013.
Captain Victoria Grant welcomed the prospect of secured annual fixtures against England.
Its always a great contest when we face England and we are all just looking forward to getting there and playing. The annual series between our two sides will be an important part of ensuring we develop the womens game, Grant said.
Among those in the squad are new Black Ferns Eloise Blackwell, Rawinia Everitt, Kelani Matapo and Hazel Tubic, all from Auckland and Wellington players Muteremoana Aiatu, Shakira Baker and Katarina Whata and Lydia Crossman from Hawkes Bay.
The girls are pretty excited. We have an exciting mix of experienced and new talent which will create some real competition for positions in the starting XV, she said.
Also joining the squad this week is Aucklands Teresa Te Tamaki who makes a return to the Black Ferns as replacement for Trish Hina who has withdrawn for medical reasons.
The Black Ferns squad to tour England is:
Muteremoana Aiatu* WellingtonShakira Baker* WellingtonEloise Blackwell* AucklandMel Bosman Hawkes BayKelly Brazier^ CanterburyKendra Cocksedge^ CanterburyLydia Crossman* Hawkes BayRawinia Everitt* AucklandFiaoo Faamausili^ AucklandVictoria Grant^ (c) AucklandTeresa Te Tamaki AucklandEmma Jensen^ AucklandJustine Lavea^ AucklandKelani Matapo* AucklandRebecca Mahoney^ WellingtonAmanda Murphy CanterburyKarina Penetito^ AucklandCasey Robertson^ CanterburyVita Robinson^ AucklandAmiria Rule CanterburyAroha Savage^ AucklandDoris Taufateau^ AucklandHazel Tubic* AucklandKatarina Whata* WellingtonRenee Wickliffe^ AucklandKathleen Wilton Otago
*denotes new cap
^denotes member of IRB Womens Rugby World Cup squad 2010
.