New Zealand Women host France Women at One New Zealand Stadium in Christchurch on Saturday, October 31, 2026. Kickoff is set for 7:10 p.m. Christchurch time, New Zealand Daylight Time (NZDT, UTC+13:00), equivalent to 6:10 a.m. UTC on October 31. New Zealand Rugby has published the Black Ferns’ official match-day 23. World Rugby has also listed a French lineup, although that list had not been independently matched to a separate French Rugby Federation announcement at this update. This is a pre-match report: no October 31 result is available yet.
Updated October 30, 2026, ahead of kickoff. The event, lineups, and broadcaster details below can still be subject to late changes.
The date, venue, and match officials are identified by the World Rugby match center; the stadium operator’s event page separately confirms the venue and 7:10 p.m. Christchurch kickoff. The October 31 Christchurch Test is a different match from the October 24 meeting in Whangārei. The local date is in New Zealand daylight saving time, which accounts for the 13-hour difference from UTC.
The New Zealand Rugby team announcement names all 15 starters and eight reserves. Coach Whitney Hansen has changed nine starters and made 12 changes across the 23 compared with the previous France Test in Whangārei. Those figures are changes to the selection, not evidence of how the match will unfold.
Maiakawanakaulani Roos moves into the starting second row with Laura Bayfield, and the loose-forward combination features Mia Anderson, Elinor-Plum King, and Liana Mikaele-Tu’u at number eight. Maia Joseph starts at scrum-half alongside captain Ruahei Demant at fly-half. Ayesha Leti-I’iga starts on the left wing, Shyrah Tuliau-Tua’a shifts to the right, and Amy Du Plessis is named in the midfield.
New Zealand Rugby lists Atlanta Lolohea (ankle), Tara Turner (concussion), and Kaipo Olsen-Baker (ankle) as unavailable through injury. Ariana Bayler joined the squad as an injury replacement for Turner and takes a place among the reserves. The announcement is a named pre-match team sheet rather than a guarantee that every listed player will participate.
The New Zealand column below comes from the official Black Ferns release. The France column reproduces the starting roles identified in World Rugby’s October 29 squad report, not a separately authenticated French federation match-day sheet. The distinction matters because late updates and transcription differences are possible. Verify final participants using the match center immediately before kickoff.
| Jersey and position | New Zealand — official team sheet | France — World Rugby report |
|---|---|---|
| 1 — Loosehead prop | Chryss Viliko | Ambre Mwayembe |
| 2 — Hooker | Georgia Ponsonby | Maïlys Mailagi |
| 3 — Tighthead prop | Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu | Assia Khalfaoui |
| 4 — Lock | Maiakawanakaulani Roos | Lou Roboam |
| 5 — Lock | Laura Bayfield | Cloé Correa |
| 6 — Blindside flanker | Mia Anderson | Elsa Peyras |
| 7 — Openside flanker | Elinor-Plum King | Léa Champon |
| 8 — Number eight | Liana Mikaele-Tu’u | Marie Morland |
| 9 — Scrum-half | Maia Joseph | Alexandra Chambon (captain) |
| 10 — Fly-half | Ruahei Demant (captain) | Carla Arbez |
| 11 — Left wing | Ayesha Leti-I’iga | Léa Murie |
| 12 — Inside center | Logo-I-Pulotu Lemapu-Atai’i Sylvia Brunt | Élodie Fernandez |
| 13 — Outside center | Amy Du Plessis | Charlie Gauyat |
| 14 — Right wing | Shyrah Tuliau-Tua’a | Anaïs Grando |
| 15 — Fullback | Braxton Sorensen-McGee | Émilie Boulard |
New Zealand (jerseys 16–23, confirmed by New Zealand Rugby): Vici-Rose Green, Maddison Robinson, Santo Taumata, Maama Mo’onia Vaipulu, Amarante Sititi, Ariana Bayler, Hannah King, and Mererangi Paul.
France (reported by World Rugby; not independently cross-checked with a federation-issued October 31 team sheet): Élisa Riffonneau, Amalia Bazola Allières, Marion Latonnelle, Julia Grosz, Ylona Avril, Khoudedia Cissokho, Lylou Pédussaud, and Morgane Bourgeois.
Name clarification: World Rugby’s latest article prints the French captain as “Alexandre Chambon,” while French Rugby Federation player material identifies her as Alexandra Chambon. This article uses Alexandra and does not treat that spelling discrepancy as a selection change. The French lineup should still be checked against any later federation publication.
Joseph and Demant form New Zealand’s starting halfback pairing. The key question is whether the hosts can get clean possession away from the breakdown and vary their kicking and passing choices under pressure. France’s ability to contest the breakdown and prevent easy field position will influence how often New Zealand can bring its outside backs into the game.
World Rugby reports that injuries to French centers Teani Feleu and Gabrielle Vernier have led coach François Ratier to select Élodie Fernandez and Charlie Gauyat in midfield. They are due to face a New Zealand combination including Sylvia Brunt and Amy Du Plessis. Defensive communication, especially after quick phase changes, is an area to watch; the team announcement alone does not establish which side will have the advantage.
Roos and Bayfield give New Zealand a new starting lock pairing for this fixture, while Maama Mo’onia Vaipulu is listed among the replacements. World Rugby names Maïlys Mailagi at hooker and Marie Morland at number eight for France. Scrums, lineouts, penalty discipline, and the timing of substitutions could become decisive if the score remains close late in the match.
These teams have already met three times in the 2026 WXV sequence. The Black Ferns won 28–14 in Lyon on September 12, 81–12 in Hamilton on October 17, and 31–12 in Whangārei on October 24. The World Rugby Lyon match report and World Rugby October 24 report document the opening and most recent outcomes. All three are completed fixtures; none is the October 31 final score.
The October 24 scoreline also needs context: World Rugby described the Whangārei contest as competitive before New Zealand scored three tries in a short late spell. The previous results make the Black Ferns favorites on form, but they do not prove what will happen in Christchurch. France’s challenge is to turn more sustained periods of pressure into points while managing New Zealand’s attacking threats.
New Zealand Rugby says the Test will be broadcast live on Sky Sport in New Zealand, with highlights on Black Ferns YouTube 48 hours after the final whistle. Viewers elsewhere should consult local official rights holders; a New Zealand broadcast announcement does not establish international availability.
For ticketholders, the venue event information lists gates opening at 4:00 p.m. Christchurch, NZDT (UTC+13:00), or 3:00 a.m. UTC, followed by New Zealand U21 women versus Australia Next Gen at 4:30 p.m. NZDT (UTC+13:00), or 3:30 a.m. UTC. The main Test begins at 7:10 p.m. NZDT. All listed times are for Saturday, October 31, 2026.
One New Zealand Stadium is at 218 Madras Street in central Christchurch. The operator says there is no general on-site parking, while bus stops, pedestrian approaches, and bike racks serve the venue. Its event guidance recommends planning extra travel time. Fans should also check ticket terms and venue entry rules, particularly because this match falls on Halloween.
As of this October 30 pre-match update, the October 31 contest has not been played. After full time, use the official World Rugby match center for the result, timeline, and match statistics. Any score from Lyon, Hamilton, or Whangārei belongs to an earlier Test and should not be labeled as the Christchurch outcome. If a late lineup change is announced, the final match-day record takes precedence over pre-match team sheets.
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