Uncapped Arene Landon-Lane called up by Black Ferns to cover injured Ruahei Demant

Black Ferns head coach Whitney Hansen has called up uncapped fly-half Arene Landon-Lane for the WXV Global Series fixture against Scotland in Edinburgh this weekend, with co-captain Ruahei Demant still unavailable due to a calf injury.

Demant suffered the injury during New Zealand’s 52-20 win over the Springbok Women at FNB Stadium and was subsequently ruled out of the entire European leg of the tour. Georgia Ponsonby stepped up as captain in Lyon, where Hannah King started at fly-half in a 28-14 victory over France. Demant’s return-to-play timeline has not been confirmed, though the Black Ferns are hopeful the former World Rugby Women’s 15s Player of the Year will be fit for their three-Test series against France in October. She will remain with the squad in Europe in the meantime.

Landon-Lane, who turns 23 this season, is a versatile back whose primary position is first-five. She represents the Hurricanes Poua in Super Rugby Aupiki and the Wellington Pride in the Farah Palmer Cup, and earlier this year featured for the Black Ferns XV against the senior Black Ferns at Maidstone Park in August — the closest she has come to Test rugby until now.

During the Poua’s best-ever Super Rugby Aupiki campaign last season, Landon-Lane scored two tries and beat 12 defenders. She has carried that form into the current Farah Palmer Cup season, starting in wins over the Otago Spirit and North Harbour.

Scotland arrive at this weekend’s fixture having opened their WXV Global Series campaign with a heavy 64-26 defeat to Canada, making New Zealand firm favourites to extend their winning run. After the Scotland match, the Black Ferns are scheduled to face Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 champions England, a fixture for which more than 50,000 tickets have already been sold at Allianz Stadium.