The Black Ferns have learnt the teams they will face in the pool phase of their 2025 Rugby World Cup defence.
The Kiwi side have been drawn in Pool C and will take on Ireland, Japan and Spain.
The Black Ferns recently lost against the Irish 29-27 in the WXV1 tournament in Vancouver.
The Black Ferns has won the last two editions of the tournament including a 34-31 win over England in New Zealand in 2022.
Black Ferns co-captain Ruahei Demant said she is looking forward to the challenge of facing the Irish again.
“I think it’s exciting, why would you want an easy pool at a World Cup?” Demant said.
“I also think its a good shot at redemption for us, sometimes we play teams don’t get the results we want and then we go a whole year and we may not get to play them again. So to know that we definitely get a shot to play them in a pool match, I know that it will be an exciting week for the 23 that are named and the squad at the World Cup.”
The Black Ferns will seek redemption against Ireland who beat them in the WXV1 earlier this year. (Source: 1News)
Demant emphasised the importance of playing regular matches ahead of the World Cup as she felt the team lacked consistency in the recent WXV1 tournament.
“We haven’t seen our draw for next year yet, but I hope that we can get a few good games pre-World Cup so we can get those combinations going and hit the ground running.”
The Irish are ranked sixth in the world and had their highest placing in the WXV1 competition, finishing second behind England with victories over the Black Ferns and USA.
Japan are ranked 11th in the world and Spain have climbed up to 13th after their recent success in the WXV3 competition.
The Black Ferns haven’t played Spain since 1998 so it will be the first time that the current players in the squad face off against the nation.
“One of the cool things about playing at a World Cup is that you get to meet people and play nations that we never usually get to play, and that’s the opportunity that Spain will present for us.”
“Every single game is going to be such a cool environment and such a cool atmosphere.”
Demant said she is also looking forward to playing in front of UK-based Kiwi fans after receiving immense support in their recent match against England at Twickenham.
The 2025 edition of the tournament will be hosted by England and will run from August 22 to September 27.
World No. 1 and hosts England have been drawn against WXV2 winners Australia, and will also take on the USA and Samoa.
Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 Pools
Pool A – England, Australia, USA, Samoa
Pool B – Canada, Scotland, Wales, Fiji
Pool C – New Zealand, Ireland, Japan, Spain
Pool D – France, Italy, South Africa, Brazil.