Black Ferns lose Turner and Lolohea to injury ahead of series-clinching France decider

The Black Ferns will be without halfback Tara Turner and hooker Atalanta Lolohea for the final Test of their 2026 series against France at One New Zealand Stadium in Christchurch, after both players were sidelined by injury following the second Test in Whangarei.

Turner, who marked a homecoming of sorts by representing the Black Ferns in her home region of Northland, sustained a concussion in the second half of Saturday’s match and will miss the decider. She will be replaced by capped halfback Ariana Bayler, who last featured for Whitney Hansen’s side against Australia at Mt Smart Stadium in August. The nine-Test halfback made her international debut against England in 2021 and had to wait nearly three years between that August appearance and her previous cap in 2023.

Lolohea’s absence was confirmed earlier — the hooker suffered an ankle injury during training in Whangarei ahead of the second Test, ruling her out of that match. Replacement hooker Holly Wratt-Groeneweg, who was called into the squad as cover at that point, will remain with the group for the Christchurch fixture.

A third injury concern surrounds Kaipo Olsen-Baker, who was carried from the field with an ankle injury at halftime in Whangarei. Her availability for the weekend has not been confirmed, though she will be racing to be fit in time.

Despite the disruptions, the Black Ferns have already secured the series. Hansen’s side made a late surge in the second Test to overcome a resilient French team that had bounced back strongly after a heavy defeat in the first Test in Hamilton. The impact of Maiakawanakaulani Roos, Hannah King, and Ayesha Leti-I’iga off the bench proved decisive in shifting momentum in the second half.

The injury news arrived alongside a positive development for the squad, with both Olsen-Baker and Elinor Plum-King receiving World Rugby award nominations. Olsen-Baker has been nominated for Women’s 15s Player of the Year, while Plum-King is in contention for Women’s 15s Breakthrough Player of the Year.