2015 Semi-Final vs England

Lore & Background

The Black Ferns have participated in every Rugby World Cup except for one since its inauguration in 1991, only missing the 1994 World Cup in Scotland. Starting with the inaugural International Rugby Board (IRB)-sponsored tournament in 1998, which was won by New Zealand, the Black Ferns have gone on to win five more titles — including the 2002, 2006, 2010, 2017, and the 2021 tournament which was hosted in New Zealand.

In Their Own Story

The rain slicked the Twickenham turf as the clock ticked under the red lights. The roar of eighty thousand voices threatened to shake the foundations of the stadium, a wall of sound that seemed to push against every New Zealand advance. Kieran Read stood at the scrum, his face set in stone, knowing one mistake would send them home. As England surged forward for the final time, the All Blacks held their line, absorbing the impact before bursting through with a collective gasp from the black-clad faithful.

Reader's Guide

The Black Ferns perform a haka (a Māori challenge) before every international match. The Black Ferns traditionally perform the haka Ko Uhia Mai, specially composed by the Māori rugby leader Te Whetū Tipiwai.

Did You Know?

• The team's name refers to the mamaku, the black tree fern, which is a taonga (treasure) of New Zealand.
• As of 27 September 2025, the Black Ferns have an 82 percent winning record in test match rugby.
• Since their official international debut in 1991, 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 NZRU started funding the Black Ferns in 1995.