Two Hurricanes Poua players have been added to the list of 2024/25 contracted Black Ferns, after Head Coach, Alan Bunting announced the latest players to join the national programme full time.
Following strong seasons in Sky Super Rugby Aupiki, 20-year-old first-five Hannah King and 25-year-old midfielder, Monica Tagoai have been rewarded with full-time contracts leading into the 2025 Rugby World Cup in England.
It caps off a remarkable rise for King, the former Darfield High School student, who after making her first-class debut for Canterbury in 2022, then became the 47th Hurricanes Poua representative, when she made her debut against Chiefs Manawa in round 1 this year.
Tagoai returns to the national set up after five years absence. The powerful midfielder made her Black Ferns debut aged just 19, before a run of injuries kept her on the sidelines for an extended period.
A member of the inaugural Poua team in 2022, Tagoai has been playing in the Farah Palmer Cup for Wellington since high school and has been rewarded with her first full-time deal.
Speaking of the two players - Hurricanes Women’s High-Performance Manager, Toni Young said “It’s a great to see the recognition for Hannah and Monica being promoted to the Black Ferns set-up. Both led the team well in 2024 and were an integral part of our side. It’s great to see Monica return to the fold after an extended time out of the environment and for Hannah, at just 20, to move into the Black Ferns with our other Poua players.”
The duo - join current Poua players, Iritana Hohaia, Layla Sae, Joanah Ngan-Woo and Ayesha Leti-i’iga in the squad. With former Poua players, Kahlia Awa and Kaipo Olsen-Baker joining the national set up.
Leti-i’iga and Ngan-Woo, missed the 2024 Aupiki campaign due to injury, but are on track to return later in the year.
The Black Ferns assemble at NZCIS to prepare for the 2024 Pacific Four Series this week.
Hurricanes Poua - Black Ferns Contracted Players for 2024/25
Iritana Hohaia (Taranaki)
Joanah Ngan-Woo (Wellington)
Ayesha Leti-i’iga (Wellington)
Layla Sae (Manawatu)
Hannah King (Canterbury)*
Monica Tagoai (Wellington)*
*Denotes newly contracted player.