Record number of Gillies Group Hurricanes Poua players across Black Ferns and Black Ferns XV squads

The Gillies Group Hurricanes Poua are celebrating a record number of players selected across the Black Ferns and Black Ferns XV squads named today. 

10 members of this year’s Hurricanes Poua

have been included across the two squads. That is the highest figure of Black Ferns and Black Ferns XV representatives at any one time in Hurricanes Poua history and is an increase from the seven players included in both squads last year. 

Four Hurricanes Poua players have been named in the Black Ferns squad for their upcoming Laurie O’Reilly Cup, Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry, and WXV Global Series fixtures throughout August and September. 

This includes uncapped prop Ngano Tavake, who has been named in the Black Ferns for the first time. The 25-year-old is a foundation member of the Hurricanes Poua, having made her debut during the team’s inaugural fixture against the Chiefs Manawa in 2022, and has since made 10 appearances for the side. 

Tavake joins Hurricanes Poua teammates Ayesha Leti-I’iga, Mo’omo’oga Palu, and Layla Sae – whose selection caps off her long-term recovery from an ACL injury that ruled her out of this year’s Super Rugby Aupiki – in the Black Ferns squad. 

Leti-I’iga and Palu both represented the Black Ferns during the Pacific Four Series in April, when Palu made her test debut against Australia, while Sae is primed to make her first appearance for the national side since last year’s Rugby World Cup. 

The Black Ferns XV features a further six Hurricanes Poua players, a record figure in of itself, for the team’s one-off match against the Black Ferns.  

Five of those players have been named in the national development squad for the first time, with Poua co-captain Sam Taylor returning to the Black Ferns XV after touring South Africa with the side last year. 

Taylor is accompanied by Arene Landon-Lane, Angel Mulu, Kokako Raki, Hinemaringi Scott, and Wikitoria Viljoen, all of whom have earned Black Ferns XV selection in recognition of their international potential after standout Super Rugby Aupiki campaigns. 

Raki, Scott, and Viljoen – who became the first-ever Hurricanes Poua player to score a hat-trick of tries last month – are selected on the back of their rookie Super Rugby Aupiki seasons, while Mulu returns to the international fold after playing two tests for the Black Ferns in 2022. 

Gillies Group Hurricanes Poua head coach Hayden Triggs welcomed the selection of all 10 players as reward for a groundbreaking Super Rugby Aupiki season for the club. 

“The club is super proud of all 10 athletes selected across both teams. 

In particular, seeing Ngano (Tavake) included in her first Black Ferns squad. The club is really excited with where she's growing and where her ceiling can potentially be.  

And to see Layla (Sae) return to the international fold. She's been fastidious in her rehab and determination to get back. So, awesome to see her hard work paid off. 

Across both squads. It's great to see a mixture of experience and youth from the Hurricanes, which shows a good range of talent. 

We’re super proud, super excited, and I know they'll represent the Hurricanes in their regions with pride.” 

The Black Ferns and Black Ferns XV have assembled at the Gillies Group Hurricanes Poua’s NZCIS headquarters ahead of Saturday’s match against each other at Maidstone Park in Upper Hutt. 

The Black Ferns will then host the Wallaroos in Auckland in the second leg of the Laurie O’Reilly Cup, which they have already secured after defeating Australia earlier this year. 

Following that, the squad departs to Johannesburg for their first-ever test match in South Africa against the Springbok Women. The test acts as a double-header with the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry fixture between the All Blacks and Springboks at FNB Stadium. 

The Black Ferns then head to Europe for the WXV Global Series, where they face France, Scotland, and reigning world champions England in consecutive weeks. 

Gillies Group Hurricanes Poua named in Black Ferns squad 

Ayesha Leti-I’iga 
Mo’omo’oga Palu 
Layla Sae 
Ngano Tavake 

Gillies Group Hurricanes Poua named in Black Ferns XV squad 

Arene Landon-Lane 
Angel Mulu 
Kokako Raki 
Hinemaringi Scott 
Sam Taylor 
Wikitoria Viljoen 

Upcoming Black Ferns fixtures (listed in NZT) 

Friday, 14 August: v Black Ferns XV – Maidstone Park, Upper Hutt, 3:30pm 
Saturday, 22 August: v Australia – Go Media Stadium Mt Smart, Auckland, 3:05pm 
Saturday, 5 September: v South Africa – FNB Stadium, Johannesburg, 11:30pm 
Sunday, 13 September: v France – Matmut Stadium de Gerland, Lyon, 3:45am 
Sunday, 20 September: v Scotland – Hive Stadium, Edinburgh, 4:10am 
Sunday, 27 September: v England – Allianz Stadium Twickenham, London, 3am