Overview
- Tapsell has been recalled to the Wallaroos squad and could make her debut against the Black Ferns at Mount Smart Stadium on Saturday.
- She qualifies to change nations because she was born in Melbourne and meets World Rugby’s 2022 rule that allows one‑time switches after a three‑year stand‑down.
- Tapsell earned six Test caps for the Black Ferns between 2019 and 2020 before injuries and time away from the game stalled her international career.
- She rebuilt form with the Western Force across the 2024 and 2025 Super W seasons and called the recall a “fresh start,” but actual game selection is up to the current transitional coaching staff.
- Switches like this remain rare in women’s rugby, and Tapsell’s move highlights how the 2022 eligibility change can reopen international careers and alter trans‑Tasman selection dynamics.