Ruby Tui misses out as Black Ferns name squad for Rugby World Cup

Fan favourite Ruby Tui has not been selected in the Black Ferns squad for the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup in England, with the full 33-player group unveiled at a special event in Wellington on Friday.

Tui was seen by Stuff sitting among family and friends at the squad unveiling, indicating before the Black Ferns side was announced the winger had not been picked, which proved to be the case.

The Rugby World Cup winner missed out on the squad for the Pacific Four Series, but was later given a chance to impress in a Laurie O’Reilly Cup Test against the Wallaroos this month, scoring a try off the bench.

Stonehouse on selection and season expectations

Stonehouse on selection and season expectations

Coach Allan Bunting has still gone in another direction for the showpiece event, with Renee Holmes among the outside backs chosen. Teenager Braxton Sorensen-McGee and Katelyn Vahaakolo are two of the World Cup debutants named in that positional group.

Other World Cup first-timers include Kate Henwood, Chryss Viliko, Atlanta Lolohea, Vic-Rose Green, Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu, Laura Bayfield, Jorja Miller, Kaipo Olsen-Baker and Layla Sae in the forwards.

All three halfbacks are set for their first World Cups, with HSBC SVNS Series star Risaleaana Pouri-Lane joining Iritana Hohaia and Maia Joseph as the contenders for the starting spot. Other than the two outside backs, there are no other debutants in the backs.

16 players from the 2022 Rugby World Cup-winning squad return, including inspirational co-captains Kennedy Tukuafu and Ruahei Demant. Black Ferns great Kelly Brazier has been selected for a fourth Rugby World Cup.

Black Ferns Sevens stars Theresa Setefano, Stacey Waaka and Portia Woodman-Wickliffe are all set for their third World Cup. This squad features 19 forwards and 14 backs, with seven props headlining the positional breakdown of the group.

“On behalf of the coaching group, I’d like to congratulate all our players named tonight in front of their whanau. We are really excited about this group and truly believe they can take us to the next level,” Black Ferns Director of Performance Allan Bunting said in a statement.

“We’ve got vast experience across our squad, with more than half of our players having competed at pinnacle events.

“While it’s an exciting time for those selected, I’d like to acknowledge the players who have missed out. Their contribution to the black jersey and to our team this year has been immense, and we wouldn’t be where we are today without them.

“The level of depth and internal competition we have seen from our wider squad made the selection process very difficult, however this speaks to the growth and exciting future of women’s rugby in Aotearoa.”

The Black Ferns kick off their World Cup campaign in Pool C against Spain on August 25 before also taking on Japan (September 1) and Ireland on September 8.

Black Ferns squad for 2025 Rugby World Cup

Loosehead props

*Kate Henwood (36, Chiefs Manawa, Bay of Plenty, 10 Tests)

Awhina Tangen-Wainohu (27, Blues, Waikato, 7 Tests)

*Chryss Viliko (24, Blues, Auckland, 13 Tests)

Hookers

*Atlanta Lolohea (22, Blues, Canterbury, 7 Tests)

*Vici-Rose Green (22, Chiefs Manawa, Waikato, 2 Tests)

Georgia Ponsonby (25, Matatu, Canterbury, 31 Tests)

Tighthead props

Tanya Kalounivale (26, Chiefs Manawa, Waikato, 22 Tests)

*Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu (20, Chiefs Manawa, Waikato, 1 Test)

Amy Rule (25, Matatu, Canterbury, 30 Tests)

Locks

*Laura Bayfield (26, Matatu, Canterbury, 1 Test)

Alana Bremner (28, Matatu, Canterbury, 29 Tests)

Chelsea Bremner (30, Matat, Canterbury, 22 Tests)

Maiakawanakaulani Roos (23, Blues, Auckland, 33 Tests)

Loose forwards

Liana Mikaele-Tu’u (23, Blues, Auckland, 29 Tests)

*Jorja Miller (21, Black Ferns Sevens, Canterbury, 2 Tests)

*Kaipo Olsen-Baker (23, Matatu, Manawatu, 12 Tests)

*Layla Sae (24, Hurricanes Poua, Manawatu, 14 Tests)

Kennedy Tukuafu (28, Chiefs Manawa, Waikato, 30 Tests)

Halfbacks

*Iritana Hohaia (25, Hurricanes Poua, Taranaki, 17 Tests)

*Maia Joseph (23, Matatu, Otago, 11 Tests)

*Risaleaana Pouri-Lane (25, Black Ferns Sevens, Tasman, 2 Tests)

First five-eighths

Kelly Brazier (35, Chiefs Manawa, Bay of Plenty, 43 Tests)

Ruahei Demant (30, Blues, Auckland, 45 Tests)

Midfielders

Logo-I-Pulotu Lemapu-Atai’i Sylvia Brunt (21, Blues, Auckland, 25 Tests)

Amy du Plessis (26, Matatu, Canterbury, 21 Tests)

Theresa Setefano (30, Blues, Auckland, 19 Tests)

Stacey Waaka (29, Chiefs Manawa, Waikato, 27 Tests)

Outside backs

Renee Holmes (25, Chiefs Manawa, Waikato, 23 Tests)

Ayesha Leti-I’iga (26, Hurricanes Poua, Wellington, 26 Tests)

*Braxton Sorensen-McGee (18, Blues, Auckland, 3 Tests)

*Katelyn Vahaakolo (25, Blues, Auckland, 17 Tests)

Portia Woodman-Wickliffe (34, Blues, Northland, 27 Tests)

Non-travelling reserve

Krystal Murray (32, Chiefs Manawa, Northland, 14 Tests)