Just under 12 months after a recordbreaking Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, the best women's players in the game will return to be part of another history-making event.
New Zealand's been confirmed as the host of the inaugural WXV1 tournament that'll feature the top three teams from Europe and the top three from this year's Pacific Four series.
It means a mouth-watering World Cup final rematch against England is on the cards for the champion Black Ferns.
The fever pitch created by the Black Ferns' success was unprecedented and now NZ fans can get ready for more.
"It's almost like the World Cup all over again," Black Ferns great Les Elder. told Newshub. "I can't wait."
The WXV1 tournament will bring the cream of the crop back to New Zealand and is a major shot in the arm to the Black Ferns' test schedule.
"It's fantastic - straight after Rugby World Cup - to be able to bring the best three northern hemisphere nations together with the best three southern," said NZR general manager Chris Lendrum.
"We've been saying for a while that we're committed to growing the Black Ferns' programme and women's rugby generally.
"For fans to be able to touch that and engage with that first hand is tremendously exciting."
The three qualifiers from the Black Ferns, Australia, the United States, and Canada will be determined by the Pacific Four series.
They'll be joined by Wales, France, and - of course - last year's beaten finalists England, with the prospect of a blockbuster World Cup final replay.
While the expected rematch between the Black Ferns and England is likely to garner plenty of interest, the Six Nations champions are set to make the trip without their newly appointed head coach.
John Mitchell's been appointed in the role but won't start until after the men's Rugby World Cup in September and October, where he's involved with Japan.
"Not even just England-New Zealand but a New Zealand-France rematch, because the French ladies will be up for a rematch too after the semi-final last year," said
Elder says the announcement comes as a relief, showing women's rugby is still front of mind.
"We've all been waiting for the next move," Elder yold Newshub."It is a bit of a relief."
NZR hopes to match the level of interest that was garnered last year, but they admit the bar is high.
"It's an exciting product. our players are fantastic ambassadors for the game and I'd expect big crowds," Lendrum added.
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