Women's rugby
New Zealand Rugby launches Next Ferns in nationwide search for new talent
10 April 2025- Four regional combines to unearth new women’s rugby talent
- Top 30 athletes to be invited to a national combine in Wellington
- Open to women and girls aged 16-25 with no prior rugby experience required
- Talent search focused on 2029 Rugby World Cup and 2032 Olympics
New Zealand Rugby (NZR) has launched Next Ferns, a nationwide search for new rugby talent in a bid to uncover future Black Ferns and Black Ferns Sevens.
Next Ferns registrations open today to women and girls aged 16 to 25 for four regional combines in May where athletes will be tested across speed, strength, agility, skill and character.
Next Ferns regional combines:
- Wellington: Sunday, 11 May
- Christchurch: Sunday, 18 May
- Hamilton: Sunday, 24 May
- Auckland: Saturday, 25 May
Next Ferns national combine:
- Wellington: 22 June
Current school or club rugby players can register, but those who have played at provincial union representative level, been involved in a rugby academy, or are currently in an NZR high-performance programme will not be eligible.
The top 30 athletes across the regional events will be invited to a national combine at the New Zealand Campus of Innovation and Sport (NZCIS) in Wellington on 22 June which will be attended by coaching staff from the Black Ferns, Black Ferns Sevens, Sky Super Rugby Aupiki and the Farah Palmer Cup (FPC) presented by Bunnings Warehouse.
NZR Head of Women’s High Performance Hannah Porter said prior rugby experience was not required to register.
“We want to see athletes from other sports or who are new to rugby put their hands up and show us they have athletic potential and a dream to wear the black jersey on the international stage.”
Uncovering athletes who could perform at pinnacle events like the 2029 Rugby World Cup in fifteens and 2032 Olympics in sevens was a major focus of the programme, Porter said.
“We know athletes who have played multiple sports often excel in rugby. For those who make it to the national combine, this is a genuine opportunity to enter our high-performance pathways. That could look different depending on the athlete’s age and ability, but we anticipate some of players who make it to the national event will spend time in the Black Ferns and Black Ferns Sevens environments.”
NZR Women's High Performance Pathways Manager Kendra Cocksedge, a three-time Rugby World Cup winning Black Ferns halfback, said registering for the combines could change a young athlete’s life.
“We’ve seen in the past the power of opportunity and some of our best women’s rugby players made their names by showcasing their athleticism. Portia Woodman-Wickliffe and Michaela Brake are great examples from the Go for Gold programme, and we believe the next generation of young women and girls playing sport in New Zealand are just as talented.”
In 2012, Brake and Woodman-Wickliffe attended Go for Gold testing days and have gone on to become two of New Zealand’s greatest rugby players. Both are two-time Olympic Gold medallists with the Black Ferns Sevens, while Woodman-Wickliffe has won two Rugby World Cups with the Black Ferns.
Black Ferns Head Coach Alan Bunting said:
“The Black Ferns have built an incredible legacy, and we know they have become aspirational for a lot of women and girls in Aotearoa. We are always on the lookout for new talent, and we back our pathways to guide and nurture that talent onto the international stage.”
Black Ferns Sevens Head Coach Cory Sweeney said:
“The athletic talent in in Aotearoa is incredible and we've seen the Black Ferns Sevens showcase the power of our women and girls on the international stage. I’d encourage any young woman aspiring to be their best and wear the black jersey to give rugby a go and register for Next Ferns.”
