Since their official international debut in 1990, the Black Ferns have lost to only five of the sixteen nations they have played against — Canada, England, France, Ireland and the United States.

[5][6] On 22 July that year, New Zealand fielded their first women's rugby union team against a touring United States side, the California Grizzlies.

The Black Ferns have participated in most Rugby World Cup events since its inauguration in 1991, only missing the 1994 championship in Scotland.

In January 2010, the Women's Provincial Championship (WPC) came under severe threat after the NZRU announced that it would be shut down due to budget cuts.

As the championship was a prime builder of training, skill and competition for New Zealand women's rugby, the decision was a shock for players and supporters, including former captain Farah Palmer – especially since it was a World Cup year.

[10] While NZRU said women's domestic rugby was one of many victims of the tight financial times, they faced widespread criticism for their decision.

The Black Ferns successfully defended their title and claimed their sixth World Championship after beating England in the final.

[24][25] A title-decider with England saw a rematch of the 2022 World Cup final, the Red Roses overpowered the Black Ferns and went on to claim the inaugural WXV 1 title.

The Black Ferns traditionally perform the haka Ko Uhia Mai, specially composed by the Māori rugby leader Te Whetū Tipiwai.

They lost to eventual winners the United States in the semi-final of the inaugural competition held in Wales in 1991, but were absent from the following tournament in 1994, due to the late cancellation of the event.

This saw them miss out on the semi-finals by a single table point, before going on to heavily defeat Wales and the United States to finish the tournament in fifth.

Updated to: 12 October 2024 Four former Black Ferns have been inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame: Farah Palmer, Anna Richards, Huriana Manuel-Carpenter and Fiao'o Fa'amausili.