The new dates have been confirmed for the 2021 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand which was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Black Ferns will attempt to defend their 2017 title next year with the tournament now taking place from October 8 to November 12.
The tournament window will be extended from 35 to 43 days resulting in all teams having a minimum of five rest days between matches. This aligns with the approach recently approved for the men's competition.
The extension of the tournament window, also allows for a revamped tournament format that will see all matches take place on Saturdays and Sundays, with no overlap, meaning fans will not miss a moment of the first women's edition of a Rugby World Cup to be hosted in the southern hemisphere.
![Black Ferns perform the haka. Photo / Photosport](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/TTWBDXWR5H76TCUNP7TPNC7URE.jpg?auth=08b5f25ca5051a82ba5f607b617536bf271c4ceed7ebbe63a623e758037d1a59&width=16&height=11&quality=70&smart=true)