Black Ferns XV head coach Willie Walker has announced a 28-strong squad to travel to South Africa for two matches against the Springboks women’s team in Cape Town.

The two fixtures will both be played at the 34,000-seat Athlone Stadium in Cape Town on July 26 and August 2, in what will be the first time a national New Zealand women’s team have played in South Africa.

Bay of Plenty Volcanix lock Holly Greenway will captain a Black Ferns XV squad that was selected following a final trial match against the Black Ferns at Semenoff Stadium in Whangārei on July 5.

In a statement, Walker said the trial match had been a successful exercise ahead of the trip to Cape Town with a strong squad selected to play the Springboks.

“The trial in Whangārei was an ideal build-up for this group and helpful in assessing players and combinations. We’ve selected a strong squad and it’s a huge opportunity for these players to experience a touring environment and to play against a tier one international opponent.”

The squad depart for South Africa on July 20.

Black Ferns XV 2025 schedule

– Sunday, July 27: Athlone Stadium, Cape Town, kickoff 3am NZT (5pm Saturday, July 26, local time)

– Sunday, August 3: Athlone Stadium, Cape Town, kickoff 3am NZT (5pm Saturday, August 2, local time)

Black Ferns XV travelling squad

FORWARDS (16)

Hookers

Luka Connor (Chiefs Manawa/Bay of Plenty)

Grace Leaso Gago (Blues/Counties Manukau)

Jordan Tihore (Bay of Plenty)

Props

Marcelle Parkes (Matatū/Canterbury)

Cheyenne Tuli-Fale (Blues/Auckland)

Maddi Robinson (Matatū/Canterbury)

Ashley Palu (Matatū/Canterbury)

Harono Te Iringa (Blues/Counties Manukau)

Locks

Maama Vaipulu (Blues/Auckland)

Sam Taylor (Hurricanes Poua/Manawatū)

Holly Greenway (Blues/Bay of Plenty) (c)

Loose forwards

Taufa Bason (Blues/Manawatū)

Elinor-Plum King (Hurricanes Poua/Manawatū)

Fiaali’i Solomona (Matatū/Tasman)

Lucy Jenkins (Matatū/Canterbury)

Mia Anderson (Chiefs Manawa/ Waikato)

BACKS (12)

Halfbacks

Tara Turner (Blues/Northland)

Reese Anderson (Chiefs Manawa/Waikato)

First five-eighths

Hannah King (Matatū/Canterbury)

Keira Su’a Smith (Hurricanes Poua/Wellington)

Midfield

Justine McGregor (Wellington)

Kelsey Teneti (Waikato)

Leilani Hakiwai (Hurricanes Poua/Hawke’s Bay)

Outside backs

Winnie Palamo (Matatū/Canterbury)

Hollyrae Mete-Renata (Matatū/Manawatū)

Jaymie Kolose (Blues/Counties Manukau)

Kaea Nepia (Matatū/Waikato)

Mererangi Paul (Chiefs Manawa/Counties Manukau)