Black Ferns savour life on the road after lengthy hiatus

Life on the road is good.

The Black Ferns are back on tour and relishing the first weeks of their European adventure after 26 months without test rugby.

Yes, the Covid-19 pandemic – and tens of thousands of daily positive cases in the UK – means the squad and staff are effectively living in a bubble under strict protocols ahead of the tour opener against England in Exeter on Sunday (Monday NZ time).

But the Black Ferns have been craving a return to the international game, with two tests each against England and France to come, and matches against two heavyweights of women’s rugby are just what they’re after.

Outside the rugby, and regular tests for Covid-19, the team has tried to live the tour life as normally as possible, visiting historic sites such as Wembley and Stonehenge, while making the most of their new hotel in Halloween week.

‘‘It’s been quite interesting with Covid,’’ 11-test prop Pip Love said from Exeter yesterday.

‘‘I don’t feel like it’s been that much different from a normal tour. We’re not locked in our hotel rooms and have been playing cards, games, and lots of

‘‘Our new hotel is apparently haunted. That’s added more fun to the mix because it’s Halloween on Sunday night.’’

Black Ferns prop Pip Love

the girls sing and get together.

‘‘And our new hotel is apparently haunted. That’s added more

fun to the mix because it’s Halloween on Sunday night.’’

The four-test tour will be a big challenge for the reigning world champions ahead of next year’s World Cup defence on home soil, but it is ideal preparation for a

34-strong touring squad that has

12 uncapped players. England are world No 1 and the reigning Six Nations champions after knocking New Zealand out of top spot, albeit after playing 14 tests in the time the Black Ferns have played none.

‘‘We’ve got a lot of debutantes, and it’s going to be a battle,’’ Black Ferns assistant coach John Haggart said.

‘‘We admire what England do, but we believe we’ll be able to put a good team out there and take them on.’’

Haggart said the lack of rugby for some of their players after

Covid-19’s disruptive impact on the Farah Palmer Cup will be problematic when it comes to naming a team, but there ought to be chances for most of the squad in the coming weeks.

‘‘You have to play the best. We know they are,’’ Haggart said of England.

‘‘There’s also the bigger picture. Yes, we want to win every test and be the best we can, but we need test match rugby at the highest level to prepare our players to win another World Cup.’’

The Black Ferns beat England 28-13 in their last meeting in San Diego in July 2019 and won 41-32 against the English in the 2017 World Cup final in Belfast.