Amy du Plessis of New Zealand. Canada v New Zealand Black Ferns, World Rugby Pacific Four Series women's rugby union match at The Trusts Arena, Auckland, New Zealand on Sunday 12 June 2022. Photo: Andrew Cornaga / www.photosport.nz
The World Cup winning Black Ferns will start their season against the Wallaroos in Australia in June before tests against Canada and the US in Canada in July, and a match against Australia in New Zealand in September.
Australia host the Black Ferns in the first of two O'Reilly Cup matches in June, with the test doubling as a Pacific Four Series match.
The second O'Reilly Cup match is set to take place in New Zealand in September.
The Pacific Four Series will see the Black Ferns travel to Canada for the final two rounds of the series for tests against Canada and thre US.
All four teams will compete over two weekends in early July, for the right to be crowned 2023 champions. Dates, venues and kick-off times for the will be announced in due course.
The World Rugby Pacific Four Series 2023 schedule optimises and complements the existing women's domestic and international competition calendars for 2023.
The cross-regional, international competition also acts as one of the principle annual qualification routes for the top two tiers of WXV with the top three placed teams qualifying for WXV 1 and the fourth-placed team securing a place in WXV 2.
The host locations for WXV will be announced next month.
Black Ferns Director of Rugby Allan Bunting said the Black Ferns are looking forward to returning to test match rugby.
"We are delighted to have an exciting test schedule ahead of us. To consistently be involved in fixtures both in New Zealand and abroad enables us to be able to build depth and challenge us as a team, while allowing our fans to continue on this journey with us."
New Zealand Rugby is having positive conversations with World Rugby to host the inaugural WXV 1 Tournament later in the year.
Bunting said it would be a fantastic opportunity to be able to host the six best women's teams in the world in New Zealand.
"It would be great for New Zealand as a country to continue to generate the excitement they showed for women's rugby during the Rugby World Cup, as we would like to see Aotearoa - New Zealand backing the Black Ferns when WXV kicks-off," said Bunting.
World Rugby Chief Executive Alan Gilpin said: "After a hugely successful and ground-breaking Rugby World Cup 2021 (played in 2022) in New Zealand, 2023 will be another exciting year for women's rugby with WXV set to make its debut in October. With qualification for WXV on the line, there is more at stake for competing teams in this year's Pacific Four Series and we look forward to watching all the drama unfold across each round of the competition."
World Rugby Head of Women's Competitions Alison Hughes said: "The Pacific Four Series continues to provide more consistent, annual international playing opportunities for Australia, USA, Canada and New Zealand.
"We have worked closely and collaboratively with competing nations and host unions to optimise the existing women's international and domestic calendar for this year's Pacific Four Series. With a significant number of USA and Canada players based in Europe, playing round one of the Pacific Four Series 2023 in April takes advantage of the extended break these players would have faced while the domestic competitions in England and France pause for the Women's Six Nations. We are delighted to be bringing the Pacific Four Series to new territories, including Spain in Madrid and hosting the final two rounds in Canada," said Hughes.