The Far North has erupted in celebration following the homecoming of their much-loved, newly-crowned Women’s Rugby World Cup champion, Krystal Murray.

Whanganui rugby leaders are expecting the buzz around the Black Ferns to inspire a new generation of players.

Jordie Barrett has been given another chance to lay claim to the All Blacks' No 12 jersey after earning a starting spot in the team to face Wales in Cardiff.

The timing of the Women's Rugby World Cup has been a bonus for international backpackers who are returning to New Zealand now the borders are fully open.

One match into the Wallabies’ end-of-season tour of the northern hemisphere and already it’s going better than last year’s trip to Europe.

Captain Sarah Hunter became the most-capped female player in test history, winning her 138th cap in England’s 41-5 quarter-final win over Australia at the Rugby World Cup.

Canada were rocked by an early try but rallied with four tries of their own to beat the United States 32-11 and advance to a semifinal against England at the Rugby World Cup.

All Blacks 38
Japan 31

The All Blacks have barely avoided yet more unwanted history, but on tonight's evidence Japan won't have to wait long for a breakthrough victory.

Winger Joanna Grisez scored a try in the first two minutes and added two more late for a hat-trick which lifted France to a 39-3 win over Italy in the first quarter-final at the Rugby World Cup.

Black Ferns 55
Wales 3

The Black Ferns have punched their ticket to the World Cup semifinals in style.

LockerRoom
By Suzanne McFadden

A warfare officer in the NZ Navy, Kate Williams has been called into the Welsh rugby side who'll face the Black Ferns in the RWC quarter-final this weekend. She tells Suzanne McFadden she knows some of the Black Ferns well.

Blues duo Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Stephen Perofeta have been handed their first starts for the All Blacks in Saturday’s clash against Japan in Tokyo.

All Blacks coach Ian Foster is disappointed by his side's fixture clash with the Black Ferns but says critics of the scheduling error need to move on.

Carlos Spencer is widely regarded as one of the best, and most exciting, rugby players of his generation.

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