All five One New Zealand Warriors players in the Kiwi Ferns’ squad have been named in the starting lineup for Sunday’s round two Rugby League World Cup match against France at One NZ Stadium in Christchurch on Sunday (4.00pm kick-off).
Apii Nicholls, Mele Hufanga, Stacey Waaka and Kaiyah Atai have been joined by Ivana Lauitiiti, who has been named at prop after being used off the interchange in last Sunday’s 18-12 win over Fiji.
Nicholls is again at fullback, Hufanga in the centres and Atai in the second row while Waaka has been moved into centre after scoring two tries on the left wing in her Test debut last week.
Coming in for their Kiwi Ferns debuts are Newcastle Knights winger Tenika Willison and Cronulla SSharks standoff Chantay Kiria-Ratu.
This will be Willison’s fourth black jersey after previously representing New Zealand in touch, rugby sevens and 15s. A gifted cross-code athlete, Willison now chases a rugby league World Cup title to add to her already illustrious sporting career, which includes an Olympic gold medal, Sevens World Cup and Commonwealth Games gold.
Kiria-Ratu has also built an impressive CV at only 21 years old, representing Queensland in this year's Origin, as well as under-19 Maroons in 2022 and 2023. During her time with the Gold Coast Titans, she ran out for the 2023 NRLW grand final and helped steer the Cook Islands Moana to their Pacific Bowl win in 2025. She lines up this week alongside Raecene McGregor in the halves.
