The Black Ferns host France at Semenoff Stadium in Whangārei on Saturday, October 24, 2026. Kickoff is at 3:05 p.m. New Zealand Daylight Time (NZDT, UTC+13:00), or 02:05 UTC on October 24. New Zealand has named its match-day 23 for a landmark 150th Test; World Rugby’s match center now lists France’s 23 as well. The Whangārei match has not kicked off at the time of writing, so its final score is not yet available.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Competition | WXV Global Series 2026 |
| Date | Saturday, October 24, 2026 |
| Kickoff | 3:05 p.m. in Whangārei, NZDT (UTC+13:00); 02:05 UTC |
| Venue | Semenoff Stadium, Whangārei, New Zealand |
| Referee | Amber McLachlan |
| Milestone | New Zealand’s 150th Test |
New Zealand is hosting France for a three-Test home series, with Whangārei the second meeting in the 2026 WXV Global Series schedule. The local council lists the same 3:05 p.m. kickoff. New Zealand is on daylight time by October 24: the government’s 2026 calendar says clocks moved to NZDT on September 27. That makes the published 15:05 local start UTC+13, not the standard-time UTC+12 offset.
World Rugby’s match page names McLachlan as referee. The match center also lists assistant referees Ella Goldsmith and Natarsha Ganley, television match official Rachel Horton, and foul-play review officer Damon Murphy.
The following teams are listed in World Rugby’s match center. Numbers 1–15 are starters; 16–23 are replacements. New Zealand Rugby separately published the Black Ferns’ selection and confirmed that Mia Anderson is unavailable with concussion.
| No. | New Zealand | France |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chryss Viliko | Ambre Mwayembe |
| 2 | Georgia Ponsonby | Mathilde Lazarko |
| 3 | Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu | Assia Khalfaoui |
| 4 | Laura Bayfield | Lou Roboam |
| 5 | Maama Mo’onia Vaipulu | Cloe Correa |
| 6 | Liana Mikaele-Tu’u | Axelle Berthoumieu |
| 7 | Layla Sae | Mouna Toure |
| 8 | Kaipo Olsen-Baker | Lea Champon |
| 9 | Tara Turner | Alexandra Chambon |
| 10 | Ruahei Demant (captain) | Carla Arbez |
| 11 | Shyrah Tuliau-Tua’a | Anais Grando |
| 12 | Logo-I-Pulotu Lemapu-Atai’i Sylvia Brunt | Teani Feleu |
| 13 | Amy Du Plessis | Gaby Vernier |
| 14 | Mererangi Paul | Marie Ibanez |
| 15 | Braxton Sorensen-McGee | Emilie Boulard |
| 16 | Atlanta Lolohea | Elisa Riffonneau |
| 17 | Maddison Robinson | Amalia Bazola |
| 18 | Santo Taumata | Marion Latonnelle |
| 19 | Maiakawanakaulani Roos | Julia Grosz |
| 20 | Amarante Sititi | Elsa Peyras |
| 21 | Maia Joseph | Lylou Pedussaud |
| 22 | Hannah King | Lina Queyroi |
| 23 | Justine McGregor | Charlie Gauyat |
New Zealand has made 13 changes to the 23 that played France in Hamilton, including six changes to the starting lineup, according to New Zealand Rugby. That creates a real selection trade-off: a substantially refreshed group can bring different combinations and fresh legs, while the team has less continuity from the previous match. The team sheet still retains key organizers and recent finishers, including captain Ruahei Demant at No. 10 and Shyrah Tuliau-Tua’a on the wing.
The 9–10 pairing is a practical matchup to follow. Northland halfback Tara Turner starts in front of her home crowd, while Demant returns to captaincy duties at first-five-eighth. France has selected Alexandra Chambon at scrum-half and Carla Arbez at fly-half. The lineup names the players who will begin at those positions; it does not, by itself, reveal either side’s kicking or attacking plan.
The wings offer another clear point of comparison. Tuliau-Tua’a scored four tries in the previous Hamilton Test, and she now starts alongside Mererangi Paul, who also moves into the starting back three. France counters with Anais Grando and Marie Ibanez on the wings and Emilie Boulard at fullback. For viewers, the useful question is whether New Zealand can again turn possession into space outside, and how France manages those channels. That is a matchup to watch, not a prediction of the result.
New Zealand’s replacements include hooker Atlanta Lolohea, props Maddison Robinson and Santo Taumata, locks Maiakawanakaulani Roos and Amarante Sititi, and three backs. That gives the Black Ferns a five-forward, three-back split on the bench. France has named eight replacements too; the official match center lists them, but does not attach position labels to the reserve list. Compare the groups by the roles shown on the match sheet rather than assuming the benches are identical.
The most recent completed meeting was in Hamilton on October 17, 2026, where New Zealand beat France 81–12. World Rugby reported four tries from Tuliau-Tua’a, with Maia Joseph, Amy Du Plessis, and Ayesha Leti-I’iga also scoring twice each. That is the previous match’s final score, not a forecast for Whangārei.
At publication, the October 24 test is still scheduled for a future kickoff and has no final score. After the whistle, use the official World Rugby match center for the Whangārei result and match statistics. The three-test series means this result will also set the context for the teams’ final scheduled meeting in Christchurch on October 31.
See the Whangārei kickoff in NZDT and UTC, both official match-day 23s, selection changes, and New Zealand’s 81–12 result from Hamilton. The Whangārei final is pending.
Canada and England meet in Ottawa on October 23, 2026. Check the confirmed WXV team sheets, kickoff in EDT and UTC, Canadian broadcast details, and whether a final score is available.
Australia hosts Scotland Women in Canberra on October 23. Check official lineups, conflicting kickoff listings, viewing options and where to follow the result.
USA Women face Italy at GEODIS Park on October 24, 2026. Get the verified Nashville kickoff time, official lineup sources and where to check the result.
South Africa Women face Ireland in Cape Town on October 24. Find the confirmed WXV kickoff time, venue, squad updates, tickets and official live score.
Japan Women host Wales Women in Tokyo on October 24, 2026. Check the confirmed JST and UTC kickoff, squad news, viewing options, and where to find the result.
Find the confirmed Whangārei venue and kickoff time, where to check the official Black Ferns and France team sheets, and why the final score is still pending.
Canada hosts England at TD Place on October 23. Check the Ottawa kickoff in local time and UTC, official team-sheet status, the Toronto result, and coverage details.
USA and Italy meet Oct. 17 at 5 p.m. CDT (UTC−05:00; 22:00 UTC) in Mansfield. See the official lineups and what the result means for WXV.
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