31 May 2014

New Black Ferns face Australia

1:10 pm on 31 May 2014

Three new Black Ferns will make their debuts against Australia in Sunday's opening fixture of the international women's rugby series in Rotorua.

Waikato winger and sevens star Honey Hireme, Wellington lock Sanita Levave and Counties Manukau hooker Te Kura Ngata-Aerengamata all start.

The women's series also features Australia, Canada and Samoa. All teams play four games.

New Zealand play the Samoans in the curtain raiser to the opening All Blacks Test against England at Eden Park in Auckland next Saturday, June 7th.

The other venues for the women's series are Whakatane and Tauranga.

New Zealand:

1 Kathleen Wilton (Otago)

2 Te Kura Ngata-Aerengamate* (Counties Manukau)

3 Stephanie Te Ohaere-Fox (Canterbury)

4 Eloise Blackwell (Auckland)

5 Sanita Levave* (Wellington)

6 Rawinia Everitt (Counties Manukau)

7 Linda Itunu (Auckland)

8 Casey Robertson (Canterbury)

9 Kendra Cocksedge (Canterbury)

10 Victoria Subritzky-Nafatali (Otago)

11 Chelsea Alley Waikato)

12 Amiria Rule (captain, Canterbury)

13 Huriana Manual (Auckland)

14 Honey Hireme* (Waikato)

15 Selica Winiata (Manawatu)

Reserves:

16 Fiao'o Fa'amausili (Auckland)

17 Ruth McKay (Manawatu)

18 Aleisha Nelson (Auckland)

19 Aroha Savage (Auckland)

20 Justine Lavea (Auckland)

21 Emma Jensen (Auckland)

22 Renee Wickliffe (Counties Manukau)

23 Halie Tiplady-Hurring (Canterbury)