Fresh off meeting France in the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup bronze final, the Black Ferns will welcome the French side back to Aotearoa New Zealand for a blockbuster three-Test home series in 2026, as part of the new WXV Global Series.
The series headlines a four-match home schedule that will take international rugby to fans nationwide, with Tests being played across the year in Auckland against Australia, and Hamilton, Whangārei and Christchurch against France.
Between August and the end of October fans from north to south will get to see their World Cup heroes, rising stars and a squad featuring players who will play in the upcoming Super Rugby Aupiki season to challenge for selection ahead of these Tests.
“We’re pleased to have four home Tests in Aotearoa next year,” said Chris Lendrum, GM Professional Rugby and Performance. “There’s a real rivalry between the Black Ferns and France, so hosting them as part of the WXV Global Series is exciting. The Black Ferns have won eight of the last thirteen Tests between these two nations and these teams faced off in the 2021 and 2025 RWC playoffs too, which adds significant intensity to the match-up. 2026 also marks 30 years since these two teams first played against one another, so there is new and old history here that we know fans will get behind and celebrate.”
The Black Ferns will also look to retain the O’Reilly Cup presented by Bupa, with a home Test in Auckland in August against Australia.
The Black Ferns four home Test matches in 2026:
Black Ferns v Australia, Saturday 22 August, Go Media Stadium, Auckland
Black Ferns v France, Saturday 17 October, FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton
Black Ferns v France, Saturday 24 October, Semenoff Stadium, Whangārei
Black Ferns v France, Saturday 31 October, One NZ Stadium, Christchurch
Black Ferns co-captain Kennedy Tukuafu says:
“We’ve got plenty to prove as we go into 2026, and we have a great mix of Tests here at home and overseas. We’ve always said we want to play as much rugby as possible, so with so many Tests overseas and at home next year we want to make the most of those. We look forward to playing in four different venues across the motu (country) to see as many of our incredible fans as possible. For me personally having a Test at home in Hamilton is going to be special, and when we take the field, it will have been two years since the Black Ferns last played there.”
Tickets for the O’Reilly Cup Test will go on sale in May, with tickets to the France Series on sale in July. Fans wanting to register for pre-sale tickets can sign up here.
Further details, including kick-off times and match-day activities, will be confirmed in the coming months.
The Black Ferns v France Series is a recipient of the Government’s Events Boost Fund, as part of the Government’s $70 million Major Events and Tourism package announced in September 2025.
With a high-profile series against France and matches spread across the country, 2026 is shaping up as an unforgettable year for Black Ferns fans in Aotearoa.
