Six players, an assistant coach and a manager have been added to the Kiwi Ferns programme, as the national women’s team prepares to defend their Downer NRL Auckland Nines title in February.
Open trials earlier this month have produced a handful of additional candidates, including dual rugby/league international Charlotte Scanlan, and past nines exponents Chanel Huddleston and Alex Cook.
Huddleston was a member of the successful 2015 team, while Cook turned out for this year’s winners.
Bunty Kuruwaka-Crowe of Canterbury, Louisa Gago of Akarana and Makaia Riki-Te Kauna of Upper Central are also
The Kiwi Ferns will again face the Australian Jillarroos in a three-game series, competing on the same stage as the 16 NRL men’s teams. The two previous instalments have seen New Zealand emerge 2-1 winners.
Meanwhile, Dan Keepa of Counties Manukau will join the existing Ferns staff to assist head coach Alan Jackson, while Elizabeth Richards of Akarana takes up the manager’s role.
The wider Kiwi Ferns squad is: