Bay of Plenty front-rower Santo Taumata is back in the Black Ferns in a 31-player squad for the remainder of the 2026 international season.

Taumata, who was part of the Black Ferns’ Rugby World Cup-winning squad in 2022, is the sole Bay of Plenty provincial representative in the squad announced by head coach Whitney Hansen and assistants Tony Christie, Riki Flutey and Simon Kneebone.

The 23-year-old prop returns after several seasons with South Island-based Sky Super Rugby Aupiki side Matatū and brings seven test caps to the national set-up, a Black Ferns media release said.

Taumata’s inclusion is one of nine changes from the squad that contested the Pacific Four Series earlier this year, with Hansen rewarding form and depth shown throughout the latest Aupiki campaign.

Five players have earned their first Black Ferns call-ups, including Hurricanes Poua prop Ngano Tavake, Blues lock Amarante Sititi, Matatū loose forward Elinor-Plum King, Matatū outside back Maia Davis and Chiefs Manawa winger Shyrah Tuliau-Tua’a.

Several experienced players also return, including midfielder Alena Saili, for the first time since 2018, while loose forward Layla Sae’s selection completes a remarkable comeback from an ACL injury.

Hansen said the squad reflected proven performers and emerging talent.

“This squad has an exciting blend of experience and emerging talent, finding the right balance was a key part of our selections process,” Hansen said.

She said the standard of Sky Super Rugby Aupiki continued to rise, creating fierce competition for places.

“The competition for spots in the squad is stronger than ever, with so many talented players across every position. That’s made selection decisions for us incredibly tough, but it’s exactly where we want the game to be.”

The Black Ferns will assemble in Wellington this week before facing the Black Ferns XV. They then travel to Auckland for the O’Reilly Cup test against Australia before heading overseas for matches against South Africa and the WXV Global Series.

New Zealand will return home in October for tests against France as they continue preparations for the first British and Irish Lions Women’s Tour next year.

Black Ferns end-of-year squad is:

Loosehead Props

Chryss Viliko (25, Blues, Auckland, 22)

Maddison Robinson (25, Matatū, Canterbury, 3)

Ngano Tavake (25, Hurricanes Poua, Manawatū, uncapped)

Hookers

Vici-Rose Green (24, Chiefs Manawa, Waikato, 7)

Atlanta Lolohea (23, Blues, Canterbury, 11)

Georgia Ponsonby (26, Matatū, Canterbury, 40)

Tighthead props

Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu (21, Chiefs Manawa, Waikato, 6)

Mo’omo’oga Palu (24, Hurricanes Poua, Hawke’s Bay, 1)

Santo Taumata (23, Matatū, Bay of Plenty, 7)

Locks

Maiakawanakaulani Roos (25, Blues, Auckland, 41)

Laura Bayfield (27, Matatū, Canterbury, 9)

Maama Mo’onia Vaipulu (23, Blues, Auckland, 10)

Amarante Sititi (19, Blues, Auckland, uncapped)

Loose forwards

Mia Anderson (24, Chiefs Manawa, Waikato, 3)

Liana Mikaele-Tu’u (24, Blues, Auckland, 38)

Kaipo Olsen-Baker (24, Matatū, Manawatū, 19)

Elinor-Plum King (22, Matatū, Manawatū, uncapped)

Layla Sae (25, Hurricanes Poua, Manawatū, 19)

Halfbacks

Maia Joseph (24, Matatū, Otago, 19)

Tara Turner (22, Blues, Northland, 3)

First-five-eighths

Ruahei Demant (31, Blues, Auckland, 54) – co-captain

Hannah King (22, Matatū, Canterbury, 13)

Midfield

Logo-I-Pulotu Lemapu-Atai’i Sylvia Brunt (22, Blues, Auckland, 32)

Justine McGregor (20, Chiefs Manawa, Black Ferns Sevens, 3)

Amy Du Plessis (27, Matatū, Canterbury, 25)

Alena Saili (27, Matatū, Black Ferns Sevens, 5)

Outside backs

Maia Davis (20, Matatū, Black Ferns Sevens, uncapped)

Ayesha Leti-I’iga (27, Hurricanes Poua, Wellington, 33)

Mererangi Paul (27, Blues, Counties Manukau, 17)

Braxton Sorensen-McGee (19, Blues, Black Ferns Sevens, 9)

Shyrah Tuliau-Tua’a (19, Chiefs Manawa, uncapped)

Unavailable due to injury:

Kennedy Tukuafu (hamstring)

Jaymie Kolose (ankle).