Ferns

Football Ferns face tough task at Tokyo Olympics after Australia loss

Both Australia's goals came in the first half, with New Zealand scoring in injury time at the end of the second half through debutant Gabi Rennie, who headed the ball into the net just minutes after coming on as a replacement.

The Football Ferns were one of four teams, including the US, Sweden and Great Britain, that took a knee before their game as a part of the global call for greater racial equality.

New Zealand also have the world champion United States and Sweden in their group, with the World No.5 Swedes stunning the the US 3-0 in their match last night.

No test matches on the cards for Black Ferns in 2020 despite World Cup coming to NZ next year

The world champions were scheduled to play eight tests – including seven at home – ahead of next year’s World Cup in New Zealand, but Covid-19 has forced those matches to be cancelled.

Among the games announced in March this year were tests against the USA in Dunedin and two O’Reilly Cup clashes against the Wallaroos, with more test announcements promised before the pandemic forced the worldwide suspension of rugby.