Black Ferns Beat France 81–12 in WXV Global Series Match

Updated October 17, 2026, after full time. New Zealand defeated France 81–12 at FMG Stadium Waikato in Hamilton, New Zealand, in a completed WXV Global Series 2026 match. New Zealand Rugby’s official match page records the final score and marks the fixture complete. The teams played on Saturday, October 17, after a 3:05 p.m. kickoff in Hamilton, New Zealand Daylight Time (NZDT, UTC+13:00), or 02:05 UTC on the same date.

Final result and series context

The 81–12 result gives the Black Ferns a 69-point winning margin and starts their three-Test home series against France with a victory. New Zealand Rugby described the Hamilton fixture as the first of three Tests against France in the home WXV Global Series. That makes the result an early series marker, rather than a knockout decision: the match did not decide a tournament final, and the remaining Tests were still to come after this opening fixture.

The teams had already met in Lyon earlier in September, where New Zealand also won, according to the official France squad announcement. The Hamilton match therefore continued a 2026 run of meetings between the sides and gave France its first opportunity in the home series to respond on New Zealand soil. The result is confirmed; the official result page reviewed for this update does not display a complete scoring breakdown in its text view, so this report does not attribute individual tries, conversions, or other points to players.

Match details

Official matchday squads

Each team named 15 starters and eight replacements, forming the matchday 23. The lists below retain the official selections announced before kickoff. A name on the replacement list indicates that the player was available to enter during the match; it does not, by itself, confirm that the player took the field.

New Zealand starting XV

1. Chryss Viliko
2. Georgia Ponsonby (co-captain)
3. Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu
4. Maiakawanakaulani Roos
5. Maama Mo’onia Vaipulu
6. Liana Mikaele-Tu’u
7. Elinor-Plum King
8. Kaipo Olsen-Baker
9. Maia Joseph
10. Hannah King
11. Ayesha Leti-I’iga
12. Logo-I-Pulotu Lemapu-Atai’i Sylvia Brunt
13. Amy Du Plessis
14. Shyrah Tuliau-Tua’a
15. Braxton Sorensen-McGee

New Zealand replacements

16. Vici-Rose Green
17. Ngano Tavake
18. Santo Taumata
19. Laura Bayfield
20. Layla Sae
21. Tara Turner
22. Ruahei Demant (co-captain)
23. Mererangi Paul

Ponsonby started as a co-captain, while fellow co-captain Ruahei Demant was named among the replacements. New Zealand Rugby’s announcement said seven changes had been made from the side that played England in September, and identified Shyrah Tuliau-Tua’a as the only change in the backline from that England starting lineup. Those are selection details, not claims about who scored or how the match unfolded.

France starting XV

1. Annaëlle Deshaye
2. Élisa Riffonneau
3. Assia Khalfaoui
4. Julia Grosz
5. Ylona Avril
6. Axelle Berthoumieu
7. Mouna Toure
8. Léa Champon
9. Alexandra Chambon (captain)
10. Elodie Fernandez
11. Léa Murie
12. Teani Feleu
13. Aubane Rousset
14. Marie Ibañez
15. Morgane Bourgeois

France replacements

16. Mathilde Lazarko
17. Amalia Bazola Allieres
18. Marion Latonnelle
19. Lou Roboam
20. Elsa Peyras
21. Lylou Pedussaud
22. Lina Queyroi
23. Charlie Gauyat

Alexandra Chambon captained France. The pre-match squad notice identified Ylona Avril, Marion Latonnelle, Lylou Pedussaud, and Charlie Gauyat as players in line for Test debuts, with Avril starting and the other three named among the replacements. That announcement describes the selections going into the match; the result listing does not establish whether each reserve entered or whether each prospective debut was earned on the field.

Kickoff, venue, and match officials

The game took place at FMG Stadium Waikato in Hamilton, the venue listed by New Zealand Rugby and World Rugby. New Zealand Rugby announced a 3:05 p.m. NZDT kickoff for October 17. New Zealand’s government records daylight saving as starting on September 27, 2026, so Hamilton was on NZDT (UTC+13:00) on match day. Converting the confirmed local kickoff gives 02:05 UTC on October 17; the date does not change during this conversion.

World Rugby lists Ella Goldsmith as referee, with Amber McLachlan and Jess Ling as assistant referees, Rachel Horton as television match official, and Damon Murphy as foul-play review officer. These officials and the venue are listed on the governing body’s match page. Together with the completed status on New Zealand Rugby’s result page, those records provide the verified event details for readers checking the fixture after full time.

How to read the team lists

In rugby union, the starting XV wear numbers 1 through 15, while the eight replacements are listed as 16 through 23. Numbers 1–8 are forwards, the group involved in set pieces such as scrums and lineouts. Numbers 9–15 are backs, who generally handle more of the passing, kicking, and open-field attacking work. A scrum restarts play with the forward packs bound together; a lineout restarts play after the ball goes out over the touchline.

The squad lists give a useful record of the players selected for this Hamilton Test, while the final score supplies the confirmed outcome. Readers looking for the official result should use New Zealand Rugby’s completed match page. World Rugby’s match center provides the fixture and officials, and the two New Zealand Rugby squad announcements preserve the original team selections for both countries.

Sources: New Zealand Rugby match result and live updates; World Rugby match center; New Zealand team announcement; France squad announcement; New Zealand daylight-saving dates.