New Zealand sevens star Tyla Nathan-Wong has been called into the Black Ferns' squad for their upcoming O'Reilly Cup series against Australia.
Fresh from winning bronze at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, 28-year-old Nathan-Wong is one of three players called up for the first time, along with props Awhina Tangen-Wainohu and Santo Taumata.
Fellow sevens medallist Theresa Fitzpatrick also joins the Black Ferns, as director of rugby Wayne Smith named his squad of 33 for the two tests.
Nathan-Wong and Fitzpatrick have been released from Sevens duty, as New Zealand prepares to defend their World Cup gold in South Africa later this year.
"Clearly we're looking at the sevens players, to give them opportunities," Smith said. "We've got six of them coming to camp which is being held before the O'Reilly series.
"Tyla and Theresa Fitzpatrick are two of the sevens players that have been released to have a crack in that first test against Australa. That's exciting, we can see how they go.
"It'll be good seeing Theresa and Tyla have a go. I haven't seen a lot of them in 15s, so it's a new experience for me."
After leading the side to victory in June's Pacific Four series, Ruahei Demant will share the captaincy with loose forward Kennedy Simon, who returns from a knee injury after winning the Black Ferns' 2021 player of the year award.
World Cup winners Charmaine McMenamin and Victoria Subritzky-Nafatali are also back to add experience to the Black Ferns, as they build towards the 2022 edition of the tournament held later this year.
Director of rugby Smith hailed the difficulty in selecting a squad with such
"Selection is always difficult," Smith said.
"The game is the fastest it's ever been at the moment and while there are some experienced players who have missed out, they are working extremely hard to adapt to our game and we certainly aren't writing them off.
"These are test matches and they are called that for a reason - they test our ability to play under pressure against other world class players.
"These are incredibly important games from a historic perspective, an emotional one and as a selection tool for the World Cup."
The Black Ferns face Australia in Christchurch on August 20, before the return fixture in Adelaide on August 27.
Black Ferns squad: Ruahei Demant (co-captain), Kennedy Simon (co-captain), Luka Connor, Natalie Delamere, Georgia Ponsonby, Tanya Kalounivale, Pip Love, Krystal Murray, Amy Rule, Whine Tangen-Wainohu, Santo Taumata, Chelsea Bremner, Joanah Ngan Woo, Maiakawanakaulani Roos, Alana Bremner, Tafito Lafaele, Charmaine McMenamin, Kaipo Olsen-Baker, Kendra Reynolds, Ariana Bayler, Kendra Cocksedge, Arihana Marino-Tauhini, Sylvia Brunt, Amy du Plessis, Theresa Fitzpatrick, Chelsea Semple, Victoria Subritzy-Nafatali, Hazel Tubic, Renee Holmes, Ayesa Leti-I'iga, Tyla Nathan-Wong, Grace Steinmetz, Ruby Tui
