Two new caps in Black Ferns squad

Two new players have been selected in the Black Ferns squad for next month's International Women’s Rugby Series.

Auckland's Theresa Fitzpatrick and North Harbour's Rebecca Wood are the two new faces.

Centre Fitzpatrick has played the last three seasons for Auckland and has also previously represented the Black Ferns sevens, while Lock Wood played all seven matches for North Harbour in her debut Farah Palmer Cup campaign last year.

he Black Ferns take on Canada, Australia and England in the home series in the lead-up to the Women’s Rugby World Cup in Ireland in August.

The wider World Cup training squad includes a further seven players who will continue to train in regional hubs

The seven players are: Charlene Gubb (Auckland), Jessie Hansen (Christchurch), Carla Hohepa (Waikato), Emma Jensen (Auckland), Aotearoa Mata'u (Counties Manukau), Tyla Nathan-Wong (Auckland), and Stephanie Te Ohaere-Fox (Canterbury).

The squad is (*denotes new player):

FORWARDS
Eloise Blackwell (Auckland)
Rawinia Everitt (Counties Manukau)
Fiao'o Faamausili (c, Auckland)
Sarah Goss (Manawatu)
Aldora Itunu (Auckland)
Linda Itunu (Auckland)
Lesley Ketu (Waikato)
Justine Lavea (Counties Manukau)
Pip Love (Canterbury)
Charmaine McMenamin (Auckland)
Toka Natua (Waikato)
Aleisha Nelson (Auckland)
Te Kura Ngata-Aerengamate (Counties Manukau)
Aroha Savage (Counties Manukau)
Angelene Sisifa (Otago)
Charmaine Smith (North Harbour)
Sosoli Talawadua (Waikato)
Rebecca Wood* (North Harbour)

BACKS
Chelsea Alley (Waikato)
Kelly Brazier (Bay of Plenty)
Kendra Cocksedge (Canterbury)
Theresa Fitzpatrick* (Auckland)
Honey Hireme (Waikato)
Victoria Subritzky-Nafatali (Counties Manukau)
Kristina Sue (Manawatu)
Hazel Tubic (Counties Manukau)
Janna Vaughan (Manawatu)
Stacey Waaka (Waikato)
Renee Wickliffe (Counties Manukau)
Selica Winiata (Manawatu)
Portia Woodman (Counties Manukau)

2017 International Women's Rugby Series

Friday, 9 June - Wellington
Black Ferns v Canada, Westpac Stadium (followed by Hurricanes v Chiefs) and Australia v England, Porirua Park

Tuesday, 13 June - Christchurch
Black Ferns v Australia, Rugby Park and Canada v England, Rugby Park

Saturday, 17 June - Rotorua
Black Ferns v England, Rotorua International Stadium (followed by Maori All Blacks v British and Irish Lions) and Australia v Canada, Smallbone Park