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Black Ferns suffer major injury blow before France Test INJURY UPDATE: The Black Ferns have been dealt a major injury setback ahead of their WXV Global Series opener against France, with co-captain Ruahei Demant ruled out with a calf injury. Demant, the most experienced player in the New Zealand squad with 56 Test caps, will miss this weekend’s clash, while experienced hooker Georgia Ponsonby will take over as sole captain for the remainder of the tour. The 2022 World Rugby Player of the Year featured off the bench in Saturday’s 52-20 victory over the Springbok Women at FNB Stadium, playing the final 10 minutes of the historic Greatest Rivalry double-header in Soweto. *Continues below… #SPOTLIGHT: Stars to watch during the @WXVRugby https://t.co/3P0rKDj6Fi — Rugby365 (@rugby365com) September 9, 2026 However, New Zealand have now confirmed the playmaker sustained a calf injury and will not be available for the opening WXV fixture against France. A timeline for her return has not yet been confirmed. The Black Ferns said an announcement on Demant’s replacement in the squad will be made in the coming days. Ponsonby, who had been sharing the captaincy duties with Demant, will now lead the side on her own as the defending world champions begin their WXV campaign against France. Your home for rugby. Download the RugbyPass app on the App Store (iOS) and Google Play (Android) now! Follow your favourite teams, tournaments and players, and get personalised news and Match Centre notifications direct to your device. From live rugby streams and upcoming fixtures to breaking news, in-depth analysis and live scores, RugbyPass has everything you need to stay connected to the game.