Black Ferns to face England in big season
- Jun 24
- 2 min read
The Black Ferns are set to play England for the first time in a couple of years as part of the WXV Global Series.
New Zealand did not face the Red Roses at last year’s Women’s Rugby World Cup after losing to Canada in the semifinals.
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The remaining 2026 fixtures have been released, with an England match scheduled for the end of September.
It will be played at Twickenham, rounding off a run of home fixtures against Australia and Canada for the world champions.
The Black Ferns will play two other matches in Europe first as part of the WXV Global Series. They’ll take on France in Lyon, then Scotland in Edinburgh.
The final game to be confirmed is a fixture against the Black Ferns XV at Maidstone Park in Upper Hutt, which will be free for fans and streamed on the Black Ferns website and YouTube channel.
The Black Ferns are scheduled to play 11 tests in 2026, the most the team have ever played in a calendar year. They began with a 48-15 win against the United States on April 12 in California.
They then beat Canada on April 18 in Missouri before going to the Sunshine Coast for a 40-5 win against Australia on April 25.
Other test matches confirmed for this year include a home game against the Wallaroos in August, a fixture against South Africa in Johannesburg in September, and a three-match home series against France in October.
The Black Ferns have struggled against England in recent fixtures, losing 49-31 at a neutral venue in October 2024 and 24-12 at Twickenham about a month before.
The team’s last victory over the Red Roses came in the final of the delayed 2021 World Cup, where New Zealand won 34-31 to lift the trophy for the sixth time.
Black Ferns v Black Ferns XV
Black Ferns v Black Ferns XV, Friday August 14, Maidstone Park, Upper Hutt, 3.30pm NZT.
O’Reilly Cup
Black Ferns v Australia, Saturday August 22, Go Media Stadium, Auckland, 3.05pm NZT (as previously announced).
South Africa double-header
Black Ferns v South Africa, Saturday September 5, FNB Stadium, Johannesburg, 1.30pm SAST (Saturday September 5, 11.30pm NZT).
WXV Global Series (Away)
Black Ferns v France, Saturday September 12, Matmut Stadium Gerland, Lyon, 5.45pm CEST (Sunday September 13, 3.45am NZT).
Black Ferns v Scotland, Saturday September 19, Hive Stadium, Edinburgh, 5.10pm BST (Sunday September 20, 4.10am NZT).
Black Ferns v England, Saturday September 26, Allianz Stadium, London, 3.00pm BST (Sunday September 27, 2.00am NZT).
WXV Global Series (Home)
Black Ferns v France, Saturday October 17, FMG Stadium, Hamilton, 3.05pm NZT.
Black Ferns v France, Saturday October 24, Semenoff Stadium, Whang?rei, 3.05pm NZT.
Black Ferns v France, October 31, One NZ Stadium, Christchurch, 7.10pm NZT.
