New Zealand rugby bosses have been slammed for scheduling an All Blacks Test to clash with the Black Ferns' quarter-final against Wales in their home World Cup.
New Zealand's women's team are reigning Women's Rugby World Cup champions and their emergence from their group, also containing Wales, Australia and Scotland, was always something of a guarantee, while they are the favourites to face England in the final. Being coached by World Cup winner Wayne Smith and ex-All Blacks coach Sir Graham Henry, the Black Ferns will now face Ioan Cunningham's Wales side this Saturday in a rematch of their group fixture which the women in red lost 56-12 earlier this month.
But, given the Rugby World Cup draw was locked in last May to confirm what New Zealand's quarter-final slot would be should they progress, New Zealand Rugby has come under fire for scheduling an All Blacks men's Test match — which was announced in August, when a kick-off time was yet to be confirmed — to overlap with their own women's team at a home World Cup. The All Blacks’ opening game of their northern tour against Japan kicks off at 6.50pm local time on Saturday, 40 minutes before the Black Ferns play Wales in Whangarei at 7.30pm.
