The five Black Ferns to watch from Allan Bunting's first selections as head coach

Stuff

18 April 2023

The six new Black Ferns – Grace Gago, Layla Sae, Lucy Jenkins, Rosie Kelly, Katelyn Vahaakolo and Mererangi Paul – received their first call-ups in new head coach Allan Bunting’s squad of contracted players for 2023.

Another four – Awhina Tangen-Wainohu, Kendra Reynolds, Sylvia Brunt and Santo Taumata – were also awarded their first full-time contracts after playing for the Black Ferns last season when they won their sixth Rugby World Cup title last November.

Blues winger Vahaakolo has made the cut only five months after playing for the Kiwi Ferns in last year’s Rugby League World Cup final in England, which Australia won 54-4.

Kelsie Thwaites, Patricia Maliepo, Grace Brooker and Grace Steinmetz are on the list, too, having all played test rugby before.

That quartet were not in last year’s World Cup squad, however, from which 24 players have been retained.

Here are five to watch from Bunting’s first picks as the new Black Ferns coach, who could be key figures when they defend their World Cup title at the next tournament in England in 2025.

Luka Connor

The 26-year-old from Ōpōtiki had an incredible Super Rugby Aupiki campaign with the Chiefs Manawa and finished the short season top of the try-scoring charts, with seven from five matches, when she was ruthless with finishes close to the opposition’s line.

She was not the preferred hooker – she was behind Georgia Ponsonby throughout the World Cup – but always made an impact off the bench and has stated her case to start in tests, something she has done only four times in 14 caps.

Lucy Jenkins

Player of the year from Matatū’s title-winning side, the 23-year-old loose forward has been called up for the first time and few would have been surprised to see her name among a talented group of loose forwards.

They all met the physical challenge of the formidable English and French packs last year and Jenkins will relish the greater brutality of test rugby. She finished the Aupiki season with 71 tackles, second only to Canadian team-mate Cindy Nelles on 73.

Rosie Kelly

The 23-year-old from the West Coast made a habit of racing past defenders with great pace throughout Aupiki and had a fine season for Matatū at first five-eighth.

Her strong kicking game is another skill which will have impressed the coaches. She should suit the Black Ferns’ attacking approach and was another player called up for the first time.

Grace Brooker

Denied a World Cup spot because of a serious knee injury, her comeback with Matatū has been phenomenal. She was one of the players of the year for the new champions.

The classy 23-year-old midfielder, who has played three tests, is tough in defence and smart in attack and should get another opportunity in the Black Ferns’ starting line-up for their next test against Australia in Brisbane on June 29.

Katelyn Vahaakolo

The league convert is poised to achieve her dream of becoming a Black Fern and could join a long list of players to represent New Zealand in the two dominant codes. A natural try scorer, she played on the right wing for the Blues throughout Aupiki and is dangerous given space.

The 22-year-old also featured in last year’s Farah Palmer Cup for Auckland and for the Newcastle Knights in the NRLW. She was a regular for the Kiwi Ferns in league but will be targeting a test debut in rugby when the Black Ferns’ season starts in June.

Also, her elder brother is former Highlanders winger Freedom Vahaakolo.