15 Oct 2016

Wallaroos to tour NZ with new captain

2:17 pm on 15 October 2016

Veteran Australian womens rugby player, Ashleigh Hewson will captain the Wallaroos for the first time during the upcoming three match tour of New Zealand.

Black Fern Huriana Manuel is tackled by Wallaroo Tui Ormsby, 2008.

Black Fern Huriana Manuel is tackled by Wallaroo Tui Ormsby, 2008. Photo: Photosport

Hewson, who plays flyhalf or fullback, received her first Wallaroos cap in 2009 against Samoa, and went on to represent Australia during the 2010 and 2014 Women's Rugby World Cups.

Prior to representing Australia in rugby, Hewson had been named in the Australian womens' football squad and also excelled in touch, athletics and cricket on the national stage.

This year she led Sydney to back-to-back national titles at the Women's National XVs Championships.

As part of their three match tour, the Wallaroos will play an historic double header against New Zealand's Black Ferns before the Wallabies play the All Blacks at Auckland's Eden Park in the final Bledisloe Cup match.

Wallaroos Head Coach, Paul Verrell congratulated Ash for being given the role of captain

"She has been an excellent leader both on and off the field for our entire squad and will lead the team well as we take on New Zealand," he said.

"With women's rugby now one of the fastest growing sports in the world, this tour marks an exciting period for women's XVs Rugby in Australia, especially as we build towards the 2017 World Cup in Ireland."

The Wallaroos will play the Auckland Storm in an exhibition match on Tuesday 18 October before turning their attention to playing New Zealand at Eden Park.

Fixtures:

18 October 2016: Trial Match - Auckland Storm v Buildcorp Wallaroos, 3pm*

22 October 2016: 1st Test - New Zealand v Buildcorp Wallaroos, Eden Park, 5pm*

26 October 2015: 2nd Test - New Zealand v Buildcorp Wallaroos, 2.30pm*