Kiwi Ferns to meet Samoa in women's Test

The New Zealand Kiwi Ferns will take on Fetu Samoa as part of an international double-header featuring the Kiwis and Mate Ma'a Tonga men's teams in Auckland on June 22.

The match will see the two nations meet in a women's match for just the second time - the Kiwi Ferns won the previous match 26-4 at the 2008 Women's Rugby League World Cup.

Kiwi Ferns representatives Louisa Gago and Sui Tauaua-Pauaraisa are both set to switch allegiance and represent Samoa in the game, while a host of other Holden Women's Premiership players including Oneata Schwalger (St George Illawarra Dragons) and Maitua Feterika (Brisbane Broncos) are also eligible for the island nation.

Tauaua-Pauaraisa, who plays for the New Zealand Warriors and also captains the Samoa women's rugby union team, told NRL.com it would be a watershed moment for women's league in the country.

"This is a massive step for the Samoa women and it's a good pathway that we need to set for the younger ones coming through," Tauaua-Pauaraisa said.

"It will be the first time I have been involved with Samoa women's league. It's really exciting and with having the Test in New Zealand, it will be cool to represent our country in front of our people.

"We have talked to some of our Samoan girls involved with the Kiwi Ferns and some of them are keen to play for Samoa, so hopefully they come through."

This is a massive step for the Samoa women ... it's a good pathway

Sui Tauaua-Pauaraisa

The game will be the Kiwi Ferns' first under new head coach Justin Morgan, and follows a 26-24 loss to the Australian Jillaroos in Auckland last year.

Experienced New Zealand dummy-half Krystal Rota told NRL.com she has no issues with Samoa-eligible Kiwi Ferns who choose to defect.  

"I'm very excited for them. For myself when I played for the Maori Ferns in that Women's All Stars game it was extremely special to represent my people, it was the pinnacle for me, so I know what it means for those girls to represent their mother nation," Rota said.

"I wish them all the best and it's definitely exciting that they have got the game in place and it's going to be great for women's league off the back of the Indigenous v Maori game."