The Black Ferns beat France 36-7 in Christchurch on 31 October 2026, according to New Zealand Rugby's match report. The result completed a sweep of the home series and closed their WXV Global Series campaign.
New Zealand turn a narrow contest into a clear win
The hosts scored through Shyrah Tuliau Tua’a and Braxton Sorensen-McGee during the opening quarter. France stayed in the contest through Mailys Mailagi’s close-range try and Carla Arbez’s conversion before the interval. New Zealand Rugby's report describes a tighter first half than the final score suggests, with the visitors forcing turnovers deep in their own territory.
After the restart, Tuliau Tua’a finished a wide move for her second try. Replacement Maddi Robinson then went over from close range after the Black Ferns had pressed inside French territory. The two scores gave New Zealand room to control the remaining stages rather than protect a narrow lead.
Mererangi Paul added another try after Hannah King had helped open the French defence. Vici-Rose Green finished the scoring from a driving maul, and King added the conversion. France had a late attacking lineout but could not turn it into a second score. New Zealand Rugby reported that the hosts cleared the ball after France were penalised for obstruction at the final drive.
French pressure and the wider series
SportsRivo checked World Rugby's separate account of the match: it records France being held up over the New Zealand line early on and Anais Grando losing the ball near the line late in the game. Those chances help explain why periods of French pressure produced only Mailagi's try. World Rugby also confirms Tuliau Tua’a as a double try scorer, matching New Zealand Rugby's report.
The Christchurch game followed New Zealand victories in Hamilton and Whangārei. New Zealand Rugby describes the result as a clean sweep of the home series against France and the end of the Black Ferns' WXV Global Series campaign. The final Test therefore settled the series with no French win, while giving New Zealand one more completed international before the year ended.
What the result settles
- New Zealand completed the home-series sweep against France, as confirmed by New Zealand Rugby's final match report.
- France's only scoring move came through Mailagi and Arbez, despite the additional chances recorded by World Rugby.
- The Black Ferns ended their WXV Global Series campaign with a win built on a stronger second half, according to New Zealand Rugby.
Source: New Zealand Rugby