# List of New Zealand women's national rugby union team player records

The New Zealand women's national rugby union team have officially competed since 1991, this is a list of individual records achieved since then. The team is also known as the Black Ferns, and have competed in Test rugby since their first officially recognised match against Canada at the 1991 Women's Rugby World Cup in Wales. The Black Ferns record for Test appearances is held by Kendra Cocksedge, who played 68 Test matches for the team between 2007 and 2022. She also holds the record for most Test points with 388. The record for the number of Test tries is held by Vanessa Cootes, who scored 43 tries in 16 matches between 1995 and 2002.

## Most caps

| # | Player | Pos | Span | Mat | Start | Sub | Won | Draw | Lost | Win % |
| 1 | Kendra Cocksedge | Scrum-half | 2007–2022 | 68 | 51 | 17 | 54 | 1 | 14 | 79.41% |
| 2 | Fiao'o Fa'amausili | Hooker | 2002–2018 | 58 | 49 | 9 | 50 | 0 | 8 | 86.20% |
| 3 | Emma Jensen | Half-back | 2002–2015 | 49 | 32 | 17 | 41 | 1 | 7 | 83.67% |
| 3 | Anna Richards | First five-eighth | 1990–2010 | 49 | 47 | 2 | 47 | 0 | 2 | 95.91% |
| 5 | Eloise Blackwell | Lock | 2011–2021 | 46 | 39 | 7 | 33 | 1 | 12 | 71.73% |
| 5 | Renee Wickliffe | Wing | 2009–2022 | 46 | 41 | 5 | 36 | 1 | 9 | 78.26% |
| 7 | Kelly Brazier | Utility Back | 2009–2021 | 41 | 37 | 4 | 30 | 1 | 11 | 73.17% |
| 7 | Ruahei Demant | Fly-half | 2018–Present | 41 | 38 | 3 | 29 | 0 | 12 | 70.73% |
| 9 | Selica Winiata | Fullback | 2008–2019 | 40 | 37 | 3 | 33 | 0 | 7 | 82.5% |
| 10 | Linda Itunu | Number 8 | 2003–2018 | 38 | 25 | 13 | 34 | 0 | 4 | 89.47% |
| 10 | Aleisha-Pearl Nelson | Prop | 2012–2021 | 38 | 24 | 14 | 28 | 0 | 10 | 73.68% |
| 10 | Casey Robertson | Prop | 2002–2014 | 38 | 35 | 3 | 30 | 1 | 7 | 78.94% |
Current as of France vs New Zealand, 12 October 2024. Statistics include officially capped matches only. Current Black Ferns are indicated in bold type.

## Most tries

| # | Player | Position | Career span | Mat | Start | Sub | Pts | Tries | Tries/ Match |
| 1 | Vanessa Cootes | Wing | 1995–2002 | 16 | 15 | 1 | 215 | 43 | 2.69 |
| 2 | Selica Winiata | Fullback | 2008–2019 | 40 | 37 | 3 | 195 | 39 | 0.98 |
| 3 | Portia Woodman | Wing | 2013–2022 | 24 | 24 | 0 | 170 | 34 | 1.42 |
| 4 | Anna Richards | Fly-half | 1990–2010 | 49 | 47 | 2 | 140 | 29 | 0.59 |
| 5 | Renee Wickliffe | Wing | 2009–2022 | 46 | 41 | 5 | 120 | 24 | 0.52 |
| 6 | Tammi Wilson | Fullback | 1998–2002 | 16 | 16 | 0 | 193 | 21 | 1.31 |
| 7 | Louisa Wall | Wing | 1994–1999 | 15 | 13 | 2 | 95 | 19 | 1.27 |
| 7 | Carla Hohepa | Wing | 2007–2021 | 28 | 19 | 9 | 95 | 19 | 0.68 |
| 7 | Kendra Cocksedge | Scrum-half | 2007–2022 | 68 | 51 | 17 | 388 | 19 | 0.28 |
| 7 | Dianne Kahura | Wing | 1998–2002 | 12 | 10 | 2 | 95 | 19 | 1.58 |
| 7 | Katelyn Vaha'akolo | Wing | 2023–Present | 14 | 12 | 2 | 95 | 19 | 1.36 |
Current as of France vs New Zealand, 12 October 2024. Statistics include officially capped matches only. Current Black Ferns are indicated in bold type.

## Most points

| # | Player | Career span | Pts | Caps | Tries | Conv | Pens | Drop | Avg |
| 1 | Kendra Cocksedge | 2007–2022 | 388 | 68 | 19 | 102 | 33 | 0 | 5.71 |
| 2 | Vanessa Cootes | 1995–2002 | 215 | 16 | 43 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13.44 |
| 3 | Selica Winiata | 2008–2020 | 195 | 40 | 39 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4.88 |
| 4 | Tammi Wilson | 1998–2002 | 193 | 16 | 21 | 29 | 11 | 0 | 12.06 |
| 5 | Kelly Brazier | 2009–2021 | 180 | 41 | 11 | 38 | 13 | 0 | 4.39 |
| 6 | Portia Woodman | 2013–2022 | 170 | 24 | 34 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7.08 |
| 7 | Hannah Porter | 2000–2008 | 166 | 22 | 5 | 42 | 20 | 0 | 7.55 |
| 8 | Annaleah Rush | 1996–2002 | 152 | 20 | 14 | 32 | 6 | 0 | 7.6 |
| 9 | Renee Holmes | 2021–Present | 150 | 21 | 5 | 55 | 5 | 0 | 7.14 |
| 10 | Anna Richards | 1990–2010 | 140 | 49 | 29 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2.86 |
Current as of France vs New Zealand, 12 October 2024. Statistics include officially capped matches only. Current Black Ferns are indicated in bold type.

## Most points in a match

| # | Player | Position | Pts | Tries | Conv | Pens | Drop | Result | Opposition | Date |
| 1 | Vanessa Cootes | Wing | 45 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 109–0 | France | 1996 |
| 2 | Portia Woodman | Wing | 40 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 121–0 | Hong Kong | 2017 |
| 3 | Tammi Wilson | Fullback | 36 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 65–5 | United States | 1999 |
| 4 | Christine Ross | Fullback | 34 | 2 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 109–0 | France | 1996 |
| 5 | Kendra Cocksedge | Scrum-half | 31 | 1 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 121–0 | Hong Kong | 2017 |
| 6 | Selica Winiata | Fullback | 25 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 90–12 | Samoa | 2014 |
| 7 | Annaleah Rush | Centre | 24 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 44–11 | England | 1998 |
| 8 | Renee Holmes | Fullback | 22 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 57–0 | Scotland | 2022 |
| 9 | Heidi Reader | Fullback | 21 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 86–8 | United States | 1996 |
| 10 | Louisa Wall | Wing | 20 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 88–3 | Canada | 1996 |
| 10 | Dianne Kahura | Wing | 20 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 134–6 | Germany | 1998 |
| 10 | Exia Shelford | Centre | 20 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 73–0 | Canada | 1999 |
| 10 | Kelly Brazier | Fly-half | 20 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 79–5 | Kazakhstan | 2014 |
| 10 | Honey Hireme | Wing | 20 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 55–5 | United States | 2014 |
| 10 | Ruby Tui | Wing | 20 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 70–7 | Wales | 2023 |
| 10 | Katelyn Vaha'akolo | Wing | 20 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 62–0 | Australia | 2024 |
Current as of France vs New Zealand, 12 October 2024. Statistics include officially capped matches only. Current Black Ferns are indicated in bold type.

## Most tries in a match

| # | Player | Position | Tries | Result | Opposition | Date |
| 1 | Vanessa Cootes | Wing | 9 | 109–0 | France | 1996 |
| 2 | Portia Woodman | Wing | 8 | 121–0 | Hong Kong | 2017 |
| 3 | Tammi Wilson | Fullback | 6 | 65–5 | United States | 1999 |
| 4 | Selica Winiata | Fullback | 5 | 90–12 | Samoa | 2014 |
| 5 | Dianne Kahura | Wing | 4 | 134–6 | Germany | 1998 |
| 5 | Exia Shelford | Centre | 4 | 73–0 | Canada | 1999 |
| 5 | Louisa Wall | Wing | 4 | 88–3 | Canada | 1996 |
| 5 | Honey Hireme | Wing | 4 | 55–5 | United States | 2014 |
| 5 | Ruby Tui | Wing | 4 | 70–7 | Wales | 2023 |
| 5 | Katelyn Vaha'akolo | Wing | 4 | 62–0 | Australia | 2024 |
| 11 | Lesley Brett | Wing | 3 | 24–6 | Wales | 1991 |
| 11 | Monique Hirovanaa | Scrum-half | 3 | 67–0 | England | 1997 |
| 11 | Claire Richardson | Wing | 3 | 66–7 | Canada | 2006 |
| 11 | Amiria Marsh | Fullback | 3 | 50–0 | Samoa | 2006 |
| 11 | Carla Hohepa | Wing | 3 | 29–12 | Australia | 2007 |
| 11 | Kelly Brazier | Fullback | 3 | 41–8 | Wales | 2010 |
| 11 | Aldora Itunu | Prop | 3 | 48–5 | Canada | 2017 |
| 11 | Toka Natua | Prop | 3 | 41–32 | England | 2017 |
| 11 | Fiao'o Fa'amausili | Hooker | 3 | 31–11 | Australia | 2018 |
| 11 | Renee Wickliffe | Wing | 3 | 28–13 | England | 2019 |
| 11 | Ayesha Leti-I'iga | Wing | 3 | 50–6 | United States | 2022 |
| 11 | Mererangi Paul | Wing | 3 | 70–7 | Wales | 2023 |
Current as of France vs New Zealand, 12 October 2024. Statistics include officially capped matches only. Current Black Ferns are indicated in bold type.

## Most matches as captain

| # | Player | Span | Caps | Won | Draw | Loss | Total caps | Win % |
| 1 | Fiao'o Fa'amausili | 2002–2018 | 33 | 27 | 0 | 6 | 58 | 81.81% |
| 2 | Farah Palmer | 1996–2006 | 30 | 29 | 0 | 1 | 35 | 96.66% |
| 3 | Ruahei Demant | 2018–Present | 24 | 19 | 0 | 5 | 41 | 79.16% |
| 4 | Kennedy Simon | 2019–Present | 15 | 9 | 0 | 6 | 27 | 60% |
| 5 | Les Elder | 2015–2021 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 22 | 55.55% |
| 6 | Melissa Ruscoe | 2004–2010 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 100% |
| 7 | Lenadeen Simpson | 1994–1997 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 100% |
| 8 | Helen Littleworth | 1991–1996 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 66.66% |
| 8 | Victoria Blackledge | 2006–2013 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 17 | 33.33% |
| 10 | Rochelle Martin | 1994–2006 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 100% |
| 10 | Victoria Heighway | 2000–2010 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 32 | 50% |
Current as of France vs New Zealand, 12 October 2024. Statistics include officially capped matches only. Current Black Ferns are indicated in bold type.

## Youngest players

| # | Player | Age | DOB | Debut | Opposition |
| 1 | Amiria Marsh | 17 years, 129 days | 17 May 1983 | 23 September 2000 | Canada |
| 2 | Onjeurlina Leiataua | 17 years, 231 days | 1 December 1995 | 20 July 2013 | England |
| 3 | Olivia Coady | 18 years, 66 days | 9 August 1990 | 14 October 2008 | Australia |
| 4 | Sylvia Brunt | 18 years, 162 days | 1 January 2004 | 12 June 2022 | Canada |
| 5 | Amy Williams | 18 years, 196 days | 15 December 1986 | 29 June 2005 | Scotland |
| 6 | Fa'anati Aniseko | 18 years, 199 days | 31 March 1989 | 16 October 2007 | Australia |
| 7 | Patricia Maliepo | 18 years, 232 days | 13 March 2003 | 31 October 2021 | England |
| 8 | Kiritapu Demant | 18 years, 262 days | 8 October 1996 | 27 June 2015 | Canada |
| 9 | Linda Itunu | 18 years, 317 days | 21 November 1984 | 4 October 2003 | World XV |
| 10 | Huriana Manuel | 18 years, 325 days | 8 August 1986 | 29 June 2005 | Scotland |
Current as of France vs New Zealand, 12 October 2024. Statistics include officially capped matches only. Current Black Ferns are indicated in bold type.

## Oldest players

| # | Player | Age | DOB | Last Match | Opposition |
| 1 | Anna Richards | 45 years, 306 days | 3 December 1964 | 5 October 2010 | England |
| 2 | Emma Thomas | 39 years, 296 days | 6 November 1958 | 29 August 1998 | Australia |
| 3 | Fiao'o Fa'amausili | 38 years, 48 days | 30 September 1980 | 17 November 2018 | France |
| 4 | Tia Paasi | 38 years, 21 days | 29 September 1969 | 20 October 2007 | Australia |
| 5 | Emma Jensen | 37 years, 222 days | 25 November 1977 | 5 July 2015 | United States |
| 6 | Melodie Ngatai | 37 years, 24 days | 26 June 1976 | 20 July 2013 | England |
| 7 | Vicky Cunningham | 36 years, 198 days | 30 January 1961 | 16 August 1997 | Australia |
| 8 | Carla Hohepa | 36 years, 116 days | 27 July 1985 | 20 November 2021 | France |
| 9 | Honey Hireme | 36 years, 45 days | 3 May 1981 | 17 June 2017 | England |
| 10 | Monique Hirovanaa | 36 years, 0 days | 25 May 1966 | 25 May 2002 | England |
Current as of France vs New Zealand, 12 October 2024. Statistics include officially capped matches only. Current Black Ferns are indicated in bold type.