Melbourne-born Tapsell switches from Black Ferns to Wallaroos ahead of trans-Tasman Test

Pia Tapsell is set to face the Black Ferns as a Wallaroo after switching international allegiances ahead of Australia’s Test against New Zealand in Auckland on Saturday — a move made possible by the 28-year-old’s Melbourne birthplace, despite spending most of her life playing rugby in New Zealand.

Tapsell represented the Black Ferns six times between 2019 and 2020, including a 47-10 victory over the Wallaroos, before a series of injuries disrupted her international career. Her path back to Test rugby opened after she signed with the Western Force ahead of the 2024 Super W season and teammates began noting, half-jokingly, that she had been born in Australia.

“In the past couple of years over in the Force, when everyone found out I was born in Australia, everyone kind of made it a bit of a joke,” Tapsell said. “Being approached was definitely not something I was expecting, but obviously being born in Australia it was probably bound to be raised at some point.”

World Rugby’s eligibility framework requires a three-year stand-down period before any switch, a direct birthright connection, and permits the change only once — conditions Tapsell satisfies. She becomes one of the few women’s international players to move between tier-one nations, following a path similar to that of prop Alex Hodgman, who switched from the All Blacks to the Wallabies in 2024.

“It was always something that I really wanted to get back to. I probably never thought I’d have that chance again, so when the opportunity came up, it was not really something you can say no to,” Tapsell said. “Lots of people come over to Australia, new opportunities, fresh starts — that’s ultimately what I wanted to allow myself to at least try once.”

Tapsell credited her time at the Force with restoring both her physical and mental wellbeing after the injury-hit years that followed her Black Ferns career. “My first priority was getting my physical and mental wellbeing right and enjoying playing rugby again, playing without any expectations … that’s ultimately what allowed me to play more freely and just enjoy myself,” she said.

Whether she actually takes the field against her former side depends on selection by the Wallaroos’ transitional coaching staff, who are managing the programme ahead of former Scotland head coach Sione Fukofuka’s arrival in 2027. Tapsell declined to comment on whether Fukofuka had been in contact with Australian rugby since he sought an early release from Scotland for compassionate reasons before announcing the move.

For now, Tapsell’s focus is on helping the Wallaroos achieve something they have never managed before: a victory over New Zealand.