Black Ferns vs Ireland: The Head-to-Head Record, Results and How to Watch

The meeting between New Zealand’s Black Ferns and Ireland has quickly become one of the most watched fixtures in women’s rugby union. For New Zealand supporters it is a fascinating clash of styles: the Black Ferns’ fast, offloading game against a physical, well-drilled Irish side that has grown into a genuine top-eight nation. Unlike the long-running men’s rivalries, this is a young match-up — the two teams have played only a handful of Tests — which makes each result feel significant.

This guide sets out exactly what has happened between the sides so far: the full head-to-head record, the correct scores and venues, how the balance of power has shifted, how the teams match up on the field, and how fans in Aotearoa New Zealand can follow the fixture. Every figure below has been checked against official rugby sources rather than repeated from memory.

A rivalry that only began in 2014

It is easy to assume New Zealand and Ireland have a deep women’s rugby history, but the record is short and recent. The two nations did not play a full Test against each other until the 2014 Women’s Rugby World Cup. Before that, their paths simply had not crossed at senior fifteen-a-side level, so there is no long era of one-sided results — the entire rivalry fits inside the past decade.

That first meeting was also the most dramatic. Ireland beat the Black Ferns 17–14 in the pool stage in Marcoussis, near Paris, on 5 August 2014. It was a genuine shock: New Zealand went into the tournament as multiple-time champions, and the defeat ended a long World Cup unbeaten run and knocked them out of the semi-finals for the first time. You can read more background on the national team’s history on Wikipedia.

Because the fixture is so new, the head-to-head is finely balanced. After four Tests the sides are level at two wins each — a record that reflects how much Irish women’s rugby has improved rather than any historic parity.

Every Black Ferns vs Ireland Test result

The four Tests played to date have been spread across the Rugby World Cup, an end-of-year tour and the global WXV competition. Notably, every one of them has been played away from New Zealand — in France, Ireland, Canada and England — so New Zealand fans have never yet seen the fixture at home.

2014: Ireland’s historic first win

The 17–14 result in France remains Ireland’s landmark women’s rugby moment. Tries in each half, combined with disciplined defence, were enough to topple a New Zealand side that had rarely been challenged at a World Cup. It reshaped expectations of what Irish women’s rugby could achieve and is still referenced whenever the two teams meet.

2016: New Zealand answer back in Dublin

The sides did not meet again until New Zealand’s end-of-year tour in November 2016. At the UCD Bowl in Dublin, the Black Ferns led just 5–3 at half-time before pulling clear to win 38–8, with wing Portia Woodman scoring a hat-trick. The result restored the expected order and showed the gap that still existed in attacking firepower at the time.

2024: the Vancouver upset

After an eight-year gap, the teams were reunited in the opening round of WXV 1 at BC Place in Vancouver in September 2024. Ireland won a thriller 29–27, with fly-half Dannah O’Brien holding her nerve to kick a late conversion after replacement Erin King’s second try had levelled the scores. It was Ireland’s first win over New Zealand since 2014 and confirmed they could beat the very best. The tournament and the wider Canadian rugby scene are covered in more detail in our look at the Black Ferns in Canada.

2025: New Zealand’s emphatic response

The most recent meeting came at the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup in England. In their Pool C match at Brighton & Hove Albion Stadium on 7 September 2025, the Black Ferns produced their most complete performance against Ireland, winning 40–0 with six tries, including a hat-trick from Braxton Sorensen-McGee. It was the first time in more than two years that Ireland had been kept scoreless, and it sent New Zealand through as pool winners.

How the balance of power has shifted

The scorelines tell a clear story. In the early years New Zealand’s athleticism and finishing were decisive once the sides settled into a Test. More recently, Ireland’s central contracting programme and set-piece strength have narrowed the gap to the point where they can win on the day, as Vancouver proved. The 2025 result then showed the Black Ferns can still deliver a heavy defeat when their attack clicks.

It is also worth being precise about status, because it changed in 2025. New Zealand were world champions after winning the 2022 tournament, but they are not the reigning champions now. At the 2025 World Cup the Black Ferns lost their semi-final to Canada 34–19 and finished third by beating France 42–26, while England won the title with a 33–13 victory over Canada at a record crowd in London. Any description of the current Black Ferns should reflect that they are a leading side rather than the holders.

How the two teams match up on the field

Stylistically, this is a contrast fixture. Ireland build around a strong, patient forward pack, a reliable lineout and a driving maul, aiming to control territory and squeeze penalties. New Zealand prefer width, quick ruck ball and offloading, looking to move opponents around and score from broken play. That difference is why the set-piece battle so often decides the game.

The contest at the ruck is just as important. Ireland use committed jacklers to slow New Zealand’s ball and disrupt their rhythm, while the Black Ferns rely on fast, legal clean-outs to keep their attack on the front foot. The finer points of that exchange are explained in our guide to breakdown tactics. In short: if Ireland win the collision and the maul, they can grind out a result; if New Zealand secure quick ball, they usually pull away.

Selecting a Black Ferns side to face Ireland

Because Ireland are forward-oriented, New Zealand selectors tend to prioritise a strong, mobile tight five and experienced decision-makers in the halves when they name a side. The aim is to match Ireland’s physicality at scrum, lineout and maul while retaining the speed out wide that is New Zealand’s biggest weapon. Understanding the roles involved is easier with our explainer on rugby positions.

Selection is not simply picking the most talented individuals. Coaches balance form, fitness and the specific threats Ireland pose — particularly the maul and the aerial game — with the need to develop depth for future World Cup cycles. Many modern squads also use a six-two bench split, loading the replacements with forwards to keep the pack fresh in the final quarter, which is often where tight Tests against Ireland are won or lost.

Where the teams have played

The four Tests so far have been staged at neutral or Irish and English venues rather than in New Zealand:

• Stade Jean-Bouin / Marcoussis area, France (2014): the World Cup pool game where Ireland recorded their famous first win.
• UCD Bowl, Dublin (2016): a compact Irish home ground where New Zealand ran out clear winners.
• BC Place, Vancouver (2024): the indoor WXV 1 venue that hosted Ireland’s 29–27 upset.
• Brighton & Hove Albion Stadium, England (2025): the World Cup pool venue for New Zealand’s 40–0 win.

For New Zealand audiences this matters practically: because the fixture has always been played overseas, following it has meant watching on television or streaming rather than attending in person.

How to watch Black Ferns vs Ireland in New Zealand

Sky Sport is the long-term home of All Blacks and Black Ferns coverage in New Zealand, with rights secured through to 2030. Live matches are shown on Sky Sport channels and via the Sky Sport Now streaming service, which offers weekly, monthly and annual passes as well as day passes for one-off games.

For major events there is also free-to-air access. During the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup, for example, the Black Ferns’ pool matches — including the game against Ireland — were broadcast free-to-air on Sky Open, with Te Reo Māori commentary offered alongside the main feed. Knockout matches were not always part of the free-to-air package, so fans should check the specific broadcast plan for each tournament.

A few practical points for New Zealand viewers:

• Time zones: matches in Europe or North America usually kick off in the early hours of the morning NZ time, so on-demand replays are useful.
• Streaming: Sky Sport Now works on phones, tablets, computers and smart TVs, and does not require a satellite subscription.
• Highlights: condensed highlights and news coverage are widely available after big fixtures, including on official rugby channels.

The pathway behind the Black Ferns

New Zealand’s ability to bounce back — as they did in 2025 — rests on a deep domestic system. Super Rugby Aupiki, the country’s professional women’s competition featuring the Blues, Chiefs Manawa, Hurricanes Poua and Matātū, sits directly beneath the Test arena and exposes emerging players to high-level rugby each season.

Below that, the Farah Palmer Cup provinces, secondary-school rugby and junior clubs feed talent upward. This structure, explained in our guide to the New Zealand player pathway, is why New Zealand can absorb the occasional loss and reload. Ireland, meanwhile, have closed the gap by professionalising their own programme — which is exactly why this fixture has become so competitive.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many times have the Black Ferns played Ireland?

The two nations have met four times in women’s Test rugby, and the head-to-head is level at two wins each. Their first meeting was at the 2014 World Cup and the most recent was at the 2025 World Cup.

What was the score when Ireland first beat New Zealand?

Ireland’s first win over the Black Ferns was 17–14 at the 2014 Women’s Rugby World Cup in France. It was the two nations’ first-ever Test and ended New Zealand’s long unbeaten run at the tournament.

Are the Black Ferns the current world champions?

No. New Zealand won the 2022 title but did not retain it in 2025, finishing third after losing to Canada in the semi-finals. England won the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup, beating Canada 33–13 in the final.

Where can I watch Black Ferns vs Ireland in New Zealand?

Sky Sport shows the Black Ferns live on its channels and on the Sky Sport Now streaming service. For major tournaments, key Black Ferns matches have also been available free-to-air on Sky Open, though this can vary by event.

Have the Black Ferns and Ireland ever played in New Zealand?

Not yet. All four Tests to date have been staged overseas — in France, Ireland, Canada and England — so the fixture has never been hosted on New Zealand soil.