To say Bay of Plenty rugby player Hana Tapiata was surprised when she found out she'd made the Black Ferns training squad is a something of an understatement.

But the 23-year-old says she aims to take the opportunity and run with it – literally.

Luka Connor in action for Bay of Plenty. She is one of three Bay players named in the Black Ferns training squad. Photo: File.

The Rotorua resident has been clocking up the kilometres since the squad was announced last week, as she aims to get fit and ready for the camp.

And Hana says she was as surprised as anyone when she got the call up.

'It was a bit of a surprise,” she admits. 'I'd been aiming to make the squad at the beginning of the year, then I kind of didn't play much rugby and I just had a lot of other things going on in my life.”

She is one of three Bay players named in the wider Black Ferns training squad for 2016.

Hana, Luka Connor and Mikyla Wardlaw are among the 56 players who form part of a 12-month high performance training programme for 2016, focusing on strength and conditioning as well as building technical and tactical skills.

The loose forward says the squad contains a good mixture of youth and experience, and she is looking forward to the camps.

Black Ferns coach Glenn Moore says by naming a wider squad, he and his coaching and management team are looking ahead to the Women's Rugby World Cup in Ireland in 2017.

'We'll be announcing our Test programme for 2016 soon, and all of these women have the opportunity to be part of the Black Ferns,” says Glenn.

'We have our eyes on the prize – the Women's Rugby World Cup in 2017. The campaign to once again be world champions has begun.

'The players are hungry for it and we will make sure the World Cup team represents the best players in New Zealand.”

The coaching staff has also been confirmed. Assistant forwards coach is once again Wesley Clarke, while Grant Keenan has been appointed as assistant backs coach for the first time.

Grant is currently coach of New Zealand Heartland XV and Mid Canterbury. He was also the coach of Auckland B from 2011-to-2012 and coached professionally in Japan for Toyota from 2007 to 2011.

New Zealand Rugby's head of women's Rugby Development, Cate Sexton, says the experience within the coaching and management team, coupled with the depth of playing talent, is indicative of the increased interest and resources for women's rugby at all levels.

'Naming 56 players from around New Zealand who have a shot at the black jersey shows how much talent is out there,” says Cate.

'We really want to develop that talent and make sure that when we select the squad for our Test series and later the Women's Rugby World Cup, that we have the best of the best.”

To view the full Black Ferns training squad, click here.