Black Ferns at Rugby World Cup 2025

The story so far

The Black Ferns, the defending Rugby World Cup champions, named a 32-player squad for the tournament in England, leaving out Ruby Tui.^{25 Jul 2025} Before their opener they reshuffled the squad, bringing back four injured players and elevating veteran playmaker Kelly Brazier.^{23 Aug 2025} They beat Spain 54-8 in their opening match, though loose forward Kalpo Olsen-Baker suffered a major leg injury, and Portia Woodman-Wickliffe extended her tournament try-scoring record to 21.^{24 Aug 2025} They then beat Japan 62-19 in Exeter, where Woodman-Wickliffe became New Zealand's highest outright test try-scorer, and went on to beat South Africa in the quarter-final.^{1, 14 Sep 2025} Flanker Jorja Miller was ruled out of the semi-final against Canada, where Ruahei Demant was set to play her 50th test. The team then played in the bronze play-off, which they won against France, while England beat Canada in the final.^{18, 28 Sep 2025}

Latest

The Black Ferns beat France 42-26 in the bronze play-off, surviving a late French surge to take third place. England won the tournament by defeating Canada in the final.^{28 Sep 2025}

Key moments

1. 25 Jul 2025Coach names 32-player squad to defend World Cup title; Ruby Tui omitted
2. 24 Aug 2025Opening 54-8 win over Spain; Olsen-Baker suffers major leg injury
3. 1 Sep 2025Woodman-Wickliffe becomes New Zealand's highest outright test try-scorer
4. 14 Sep 2025Quarter-final win over South Africa sends Black Ferns into semi-finals
5. 18 Sep 2025Jorja Miller ruled out of semi-final against Canada through injury
6. 28 Sep 2025Bronze play-off win over France, 42-26, before more than 50,000 fans

Written from the stories below; each sentence links to its sources.