Rugby: Six new caps in Black Ferns

New Zealand women's rugby team coach Jed Rowlands today named six new caps in a 24-strong squad for next month's Churchill Cup tournament in Canada.

Waikato's Lauren Englebretsen, Manawatu's Rebecca Hull, Canterbury's Melissa Ruscoe and Auckland trio Justine Lavea, Aroha Moore and Mel Ngatai are the newcomers.

Manawatu's Farah Palmer has retained the captaincy.

Auckland's Rochelle Martin returns to the squad after recovering from two knee operations. She last played for the Black Ferns at the World Cup in 2002.

A squad of 31 attended a coaching clinic in Auckland last week from which the touring squad were selected.

"It was a successful camp. I was particularly impressed with the fitness levels of all the players who attended," Rowlands said.

"There was strong competition for places but I feel the new players in the squad deserve their places and the Churchill Cup will be a good for their development."

"We thought it was important to select versatile players and I think it's reflected in the squad."

The Black Ferns play Canada in a warm-up match in Vancouver on June 8 before travelling to Calgary for the tournament opener against the United States on June 13 (NZ time).

If they win, the Black Ferns will then play the winners of the match between Canada and England in Edmonton a week later.

Black Ferns: Monalisa Codling (Auckland), Lauren Englebretsen (Waikato), Victoria Heighway (Auckland), Rebecca Hull (Manawatu), Linda Itunu (Auckland), Emma Jensen (Waikato), Mere Kingi (Auckland), Justine Lavea (Auckland), Vaniya Lavea (Auckland), Stacey Lene (Canterbury), Adrianne Lilii (Auckland), Rochelle Martin (Auckland), Aroha Moore (Auckland), Stephanie Mortimer (Canterbury), Hannah Myers (Auckland), Mel Ngatai (Auckland), Farah Palmer (Manawatu, captain), Anna Richards (Auckland), Claire Richardson (Otago), Casey Robinson (Canterbury), Melissa Ruscoe (Canterbury), Regina Sheck (Waikato), Exia Shelford (Bay of Plenty) and Cheryl Waaka (Auckland).

- NZPA