Manawatū Cyclones Layla Sae and Kaipo Olsen-Baker have been named in the Black Ferns contacted group for 2024.

Sae made her Black Ferns debut in 2023  after standout seasons during Sky Super Rugby Aupiki and the  Bunnings Warehouse Farah Palmer Cup for the Hurricanes Poua and Manawatū Cyclones. Sae went on to be a consistent performer during the Black Ferns WXV campaign. She was a star player again in this year's Super Rugby Aupiki, leading the compeitition in carries (79) and defenders beaten  (41 - first equal)).

Originally hailing from Gisborne, Kaipo Olsen-Baker has been touted for high honours for some time. A school-girl star in both sevens and XVs for Manukura School, Olsen-Baker is explosive, strong over the ball and has great footwork. Returning from injury, she was a stand-out performer in Sky Super Rugby Aupiki for Hurricanes Poua in 2022. Olsen-Baker debuted for the Black Ferns later that year against Australia in the Pacific Four Series in Tauranga. Having missed the Rugby World Cup through injury, Olsen-Baker returned with a strong Farah Palmer Cup campaign for Manawatū in 2023 and shifted south to Christchurch to kick-off her 2024 Sky Super Rugby Aupiki season with Matatū. The loose forward was awarded Matatū Player of the Year. 

Article added: Monday 22 April 2024