About

The New Zealand women's rugby union team, called the Black Ferns (Māori: Rarauhe Pango), represents New Zealand in women's international rugby union, which is regarded as the country's national sport. The team has won six out of nine Women's Rugby World Cup tournaments. They have an 82 percent winning record in Test Match rugby, (updated 12 July 2025). Since their official international debut in 1990, the Black Ferns have lost to only five of the sixteen nations they have played against — Canada, England, France, Ireland and the United States. The team performs a haka before every match; this is a Māori challenge or posture dance. Traditionally the Black Ferns use the haka Ko Uhia Mai.