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Black Ferns ‘weapon’ Kennedy Simon named Chiefs Manawa captain for 2024

By Finn Morton

287 days ago

Kennedy Simon of New Zealand celebrates with the Rugby World Cup trophy after winning the Rugby World Cup 2021 Final match between New Zealand and England at Eden Park on November 12, 2022 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Hagen Hopkins - World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images)

Rugby World Cup-winning Black Fern Kennedy Simon will lead the Chiefs Manawa in 2024 as the team sets their sights on possibly winning their second Super Rugby Aupiki crown in three seasons.

Simon, 27, shared the captaincy duties along with playmaker Ruahei Demant as New Zealand charged towards a once unlikely World Cup title on home soil a couple of years ago.

The loose forward is renowned as one of New Zealand’s premier women’s rugby players, and fans will get to see why that is once again during the upcoming Aupiki season.

Tyla King talks to RugbyPass about the new name, NRLW and returning to the Black Ferns | Perth SVNS

Harbouring title ambitions, and after losing last year’s final to Matatu, the Chiefs Manawa confirmed this week that Simon will captain the team again in 2024.

“Kennedy drives the standards and lives the values,” head coach Crystal Kaua said in a statement. “She cares deeply for her teammates and is always looking inward at how she can be better.

“She’s a weapon on the field and a fabulous role model off it.”

In the inaugural season, the Manawa were crowned champions after finishing the regular season with a perfect record of three wins from as many starts.

Their dominance in Aupiki carried into the second season, too, with the Chiefs topping the ladder with another perfect regular season record. But Matatu fullback Renee Holmes put on a masterclass in the final to upset the then-reigning champions.

But this team will be full of confidence and belief ahead of the new campaign. Black Ferns Renee Holmes, Grace Steinmetz, Chelsea Semple and Ruby Tui have all signed on.

With Simon leading the way, the Chiefs Manawa are primed for another big Super Rugby Aupiki season.

“I love the legacy of this franchise, the strong group of men and women who have allowed us to thrive in this space, and most of all the relentless supporters we have,” Kennedy discussed.

“We fell short where it mattered last season so (we) are motivated to go one better this year.

“I love this team and this game and ultimately want to continue to forge a path for our future wahine to aim for the stars.”

The new season gets underway on March 2^nd with Chiefs Manawa set to take on Hurricanes Poua in the opener at FMG Stadium Waikato.

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Comments on RugbyPass

Cantab 11 minutes ago

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This is not an under strength selection and should be far too strong for the 6th ranked ( Northern) Italians

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Bull Shark 13 minutes ago

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Fabulous News. He can swan about here for a while until the England job opens up.

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Bull Shark 19 minutes ago

'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

You're outta here!

289 Go to comments

Bull Shark 19 minutes ago

'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Yellow for you. Timeout.

Low risk of danger, so there won't be a bunker review.

289 Go to comments

Bull Shark 24 minutes ago

Sadness pervades as Gatland stands on the brink of Welsh exit

LOL. Tinfoil meet head.

17 Go to comments

Bull Shark 32 minutes ago

Sadness pervades as Gatland stands on the brink of Welsh exit

Not true. I'm a South African and I absolutely loved seeing the Wallabies beating England. And miss the Wallabies of old who were a devastating force with some of the greatest players of all time.

I hear quite regularly that Australians prefer Aussie rules, league, and cricket over rugby.

So again, seems like Australians are to blame for the state of the game in Australia?

17 Go to comments

Bull Shark 40 minutes ago

Let's be real about these All Blacks

I find Ben Smith to be an emotionally driven hysteric. So I question everything he writes.

He launched into the year about the ABs being back this year. For a "journalist" his opinions are based on the flavour of the month.

He's at least gone quiet about how sh1t the boks actually are. Although I suspect he's working on an outrageous article to that effect as we speak, to drive engagement after the end of the Autumn series, as we'll all be taking a break until the 6N. Reading his drivel in between extended periods of alcohol and mince pie consumption, and low grade depression related to the lack of international rugby. Leading to more alcohol and mince pies.

22 Go to comments

Chesterfield 43 minutes ago

Michael Hooper reacts to Scott Barrett’s controversial late-game call

The dominant pack should be enforcing their superiority with maximum points and the psychological advantage of taking the lead.

You don’t get that by saying we’ll settle for three and try again you get it by scoring seven and trying again. Doesn’t come off every time?

No.

But if you’ve asserted dominance letting the opposition off and not trying to build a double score difference is wrong minded.

All blacks have traditionally played to build the unassailable lead not meekly win a single point victory.

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Arnold 45 minutes ago

Let's be real about these All Blacks

Aaah. Ben Smith. Ever the unbiased, objective rugby scribe......NOT.

Unable to give credit where it's due, other than for the ABs, especially when it comes to the Boks. His contempt for them is tangible. If you want to " Get Real" about these ABs Ben, consider when they last beat the Boks??? For us Bok fans, beating the ABs is the only true measure.

22 Go to comments

Reader76 1 hour ago

Let's be real about these All Blacks

"they [All Blacks] are nuggety and resourceful and don’t wilt. They are prepared to win the hard way, accumulating points by any means necessary."

Sounds like you're describing your arch-nemesis Ben 😁

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CM 1 hour ago

'Steve Borthwick hung his troops out to dry - he should take some blame'

This article only shows a part of SBs failings as England Coach. Firstly his reputation st Leicester was false, his SA and Welsh players won the matches not his coaching prowess. He has Wigglesworth as attack coach, someone who rarely attacked when playing. His player selection is awful, ignoring form players and sticking with failed internationals. He picks players that he knows and will be easy to manage for him. What on earth is Slade doing when even for Exeter he does not make line breaks with steppping, pace or guile, why on earth are Cole,George,Steward,Ford,Iseweke and a few other anywhere near the Team. Borthwick is awful as Head Coach of England.

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Mzilikazi 1 hour ago

Key Wallabies trio running hot a year after being left in cold

Good to be writing about a WB team that has beaten two 6 N sides in successive weeks, Brett.

Lolesio indeed is looking very comfortable under Schmidt coaching. He must feel as confident now as he was feeling in his spell at Toulon last year. It will be interesting to see how he does against Finn Russell.

30 Go to comments

J Marc 1 hour ago

'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Your unterstanding of the relation FFR LNR, is far better than the one in the article. For Meafou, there is an article on Skelton saying he is totally indispensable in the australian game.

In France they are often compared, and french game is often, but not always ,based on this kind of number 5. But , there are a lot of kind of play in France and in the world, and it's a blessing, because otherwise, the game would be boring.

On my other post ,which you replied, my intention was to explain with some historics facts the main importance, in France, of the championship.

But ,once again, I would prefer 3 games in NZ , with the better french players.

289 Go to comments

Ninjin 1 hour ago

Let's be real about these All Blacks

I said before the November tests that the AB's should go smash some Nh teams to find their feet and it seems that is just what they did bar France. Could have should have always sucks. Better to look to the future.

22 Go to comments