Stung by the defeat to England last month - just their second home reverse - the Black Ferns are now full speed ahead in the preparations for next month's Rugby World Cup in Ireland. Coach Glenn Moore has named a 28-strong squad, with a 16-12 split heavy on versatility, experience and firepower. There are 12 returning from the 2014 group that placed fifth, so they will have extra motivation. There are some multi-skilled players in the squad, of necessity when playing five games in a tight 17-day window. Fifteen of the squad hail from the powerbase of New Zealand women's rugby, Auckland and Counties Manukau, the two unions that contested the 2016 Farah Palmer Cup final.

Source: New Zealand Herald July 05, 2017 00:19 UTC