Four uncapped Wellington players in Black Ferns squad

Above: Monica Tagoai (top), Joanah Ngan-Woo (bottom left) and Ayesha Leti'L'iga in action recently against Otago, whom they meet in this coming weekend's WNPC Championship semi-final. 

Four uncapped Black Ferns from the Wellington Pride, Oriental-Rongotai players Ayesha Leti-L’iga and Joanah Ngan-Woo and Marist St Pat’s players Monica Tagoai and Marcelle Parkes are in the Black Ferns squad for their upcoming tour of the USA and France.

The four players join Petone’s Jackie Patea-Fereti in the 29-strong squad that will play an historic triple header Test against the USA in Chicago and two Tests against France next month.

Ngan-Woo, Tagoai and Parkes were with the Black Ferns squad that recently played home and away Tests against Australia, but neither took the field.

Pride captain Patea-Fereti was named Wellington Women’s Player of the Year on Monday night and has played 14 tests to date.

Exciting young backs Leti-I’iga, Kilisitina Moata’ane (Otago) and Natahlia Moors (Auckland) received the call-up from Moore following their Farah Palmer Cup seasons.

Interestingly, the squad features 10 Auckland players, with Auckland performing poorly and being relegated from the top flight of the Farah Palmer Cup this year.

Black Ferns Sevens players Theresa Fitzpatrick and Alena Saili were unavailable for selection due to Black Ferns Sevens commitments, but Stacey Waaka was included in Moore’s 15s team as a utility back. 

Aside from the newcomers, Moore and his selectors have retained the players who were part of the squad who successfully retained the Laurie O’Reilly Memorial Trophy in their August Tests against Australia.

Fiao’o Faamausili, the most-capped Black Fern (54 caps) will captain the side and Selica Winiata (33 caps) and Kendra Cocksedge (44 caps) have been named as co-vice captains. 

The squad also includes experienced loose forwards Linda Itunu (37 caps) and Aroha Savage (30 caps), along with Bay of Plenty wing Renee Wickcliffe (32 caps).

“We are continuing our strategy of including a mix of experienced and new players. We want to give younger players an opportunity to be in the Black Ferns environment and develop their skills so by the time the 2021 World Cup comes around we have a broad base of outstanding athletes to select from.”

Moore said his squad were excited about the prospect of playing the USA at Soldier Field in Chicago as part of a triple header which includes Tests between the Maori All Blacks and the USA and Ireland against Italy.

“We last played the USA in a World Cup semi-final last year and they are a very fit and fast team. Playing them in a venue like that on their home turf will be a fantastic experience. To be on the other side of the world with the Maori All Blacks makes it all the more special for us.”

The squad is:

FORWARDS  
Eloise Blackwell (34) Auckland
Les Elder (nee Ketu) (11) Bay of Plenty
Fiao'o Faamausili (54) (captain) Auckland
Aldora Itunu (17) Auckland
Linda Itunu (37) Auckland
Pip Love (4) Canterbury
Charmaine McMenamin (16) Auckland
Aleisha Nelson (26) Auckland
Joanah Ngan-Woo* Wellington
Te Kura Ngata-Aerengamate (22) Counties Manukau
Marcelle Parkes* Wellington
Jackie Patea-Fereti (14) Wellington
Leilani Perese (2) Counties Manukau
Aroha Savage (30) Counties Manukau
Charmaine Smith (18) Auckland
Cristo Tofa (2) North Harbour

BACKS  
Chelsea Alley (17)  Waikato
Kendra Cocksedge (44) (vc) Canterbury
Krysten Cottrell (2) Hawke's Bay
Kiritapu Demant (2)  Auckland
Ruahei Demant (2) Auckland
Ayesha Leti-I’iga* Wellington
Kilisitina Moata’ane* Otago
Natahlia Moors* Auckland
Kristina Sue (12) Manawatu
Monica Tagoai* Wellington
Stacey Waaka (13) Waikato
Renee Wickliffe (32) Bay of Plenty
Selica Winiata (33) (vc) Manawatu

Northern Tour

Test match 1:
Soldier Field, Chicago, USA
Saturday 3 November, 
V USA (with Maori All Blacks v USA and Italy v Ireland)
Kickoff: 12pm
(Sunday 4 November 6:00am NZT)

Test match 2:
Stade Felix Mayol, Toulon, France
Friday 9 November
V France
Kickoff: 9pm
(Saturday 10 November 9am NZT)

Test match 3:
Stade des Alpes, Grenoble, France
Saturday 17 November
V France
Kickoff: 2.30pm
(Sunday 18 November 2.30am NZT)