Seven Auckland rugby players have been selected to attend the first Black Ferns camp of the year in Christchurch.

Ruahei Demant, Patricia Maliepo, Eloise Blackwell, Liana Mikaele-Tu’u, Maiakawanakaulani Roos, Aldora Itunu and Tafito Lafaele will all attend the camp in early April as the Black Ferns begin their preparations for the Rugby World Cup later this year in New Zealand.

The First Black Ferns squad of the year will be announced in early May.

See full New Zealand Rugby release below:

44 players have been chosen to take part in the Black Ferns camp which will take place in Christchurch in early April.

25 of the selected players are currently contracted (Aleisha-Pearl Nelson, Charmaine McMenamin, Kelsie Wills and Grace Brooker are still returning from injury), with the remaining 19 having been picked off the back of Sky Super Rugby Aupiki form.

Nine players out of the champion Chiefs Manawa side will attend the camp, with Black Ferns Sevens playmaker Ruby Tui included. She’s joined by Luka Connor, Pia Tapsell, Angel Mulu, Harono Te Iringa, Grace Houpapa-Barrett, Tanya Kalounivale, Awhina Tangen-Wainohu and Santo Taumata.

Hurricanes Poua pivot Carys Dallinger has been selected alongside teammates Monica Tagoai, Iritana Hohaia, Kaipo Olsen-Baker and Joanah Ngan-Woo.

From the Blues, Aldora Itunu and Tafito Lafaele are included, and Lucy Anderson, Kendra Reynolds and Olivia McGoverne will attend out of Matatū.

Dallinger was impressive in her two appearances for the Hurricanes Poua, kicking 11 points and making the most offloads in the competition with seven. Her teammate, loose forward Olsen-Baker also had a solid couple of outings winning four turnovers and making 105 metres. Matatū midfielder Liv McGoverne made the third most carries with 22.

After gaining valuable game time in Sky Super Rugby Aupiki, Black Ferns Sevens stars Sarah Hirini, Kelly Brazier, Theresa Fitzgerald, Stacey Fluhler, Portia Woodman, and Tyla Nathan-Wong return to Tauranga ahead of the World Series tournament in Langford next month.

The first Black Ferns squad of the year will be announced in early May, with a Test schedule for 2022 to be released in the coming weeks.

APRIL CAMP SQUAD

Ruahei Demant – Auckland

Patricia Maliepo – Auckland

Eloise Blackwell – Auckland

Liana Mikaele-Tu’u – Auckland

Maiakawanakaulani Roos – Auckland

Aldora Itunu – Auckland

Tafito Lafaele – Auckland

Renee Wickliffe – Bay of Plenty

Les Elder – Bay of Plenty

Kendra Reynolds – Bay of Plenty

Pia Tapsell – Bay of Plenty

Luka Connor – Bay of Plenty

Santo Taumata – Bay of Plenty

Angel Mulu – Bay of Plenty

Kendra Cocksedge – Canterbury

Amy du Plessis – Canterbury

Grace Steinmetz – Canterbury

Olivia McGoverne – Canterbury

Alana Bremner – Canterbury

Chelsea Bremner – Canterbury

Pip Love – Canterbury

Georgia Ponsonby – Canterbury

Amy Rule – Canterbury

Lucy Anderson – Canterbury

Hazel Tubic – Counties Manukau

Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu – Counties Manukau

Ruby Tui – Counties Manukau

Harono Te Iringa – Counties Manukau

Carys Dallinger – Manawatū

Kaipo Olsen-Baker – Manawatū

Krystal Murray – Northland

Iritana Hohaia – Taranaki

Chelsea Semple – Waikato

Ariana Bayler – Waikato

Cheyelle Robins-Reti – Waikato

Renee Holmes – Waikato

Carla Hohepa – Waikato

Kennedy Simon – Waikato

Awhina Tangen-Wainohu – Waikato

Tanya Kalounivale – Waikato

Grace Houpapa-Barrett – Waikato

Ayesha Leti-I’iga – Wellington

Monica Tagoai – Wellington

Joanah Ngan-Woo – Wellington