Black Ferns' 11-test season shows how far women's rugby has come

PremiumAnalysisUpdatedAnalysis byAlice SoperContributing Sports Writer·nzme·13 Aug, 2026 11:21 PM4 mins to readAlice Soper is a sports columnist for the Herald on Sunday. A former provincial rugby player and current club coach, she has a particular interest in telling stories of the emerging world of women's sports.‌This week, 56 of the best women in New Zealand rugby have assembled in Upper Hutt. The Black Ferns and Black Ferns XV squads have come together before facing off this afternoon in a friendly match which will likely be anything but.

From here, the Black Ferns play

Black Ferns' 11-test season shows how far women's rugby has come

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