New Zealand rugby icon Portia Woodman-Wickliffe, who initially retired after securing a gold medal in rugby sevens at the Paris 2024 Olympics, has announced her return to international rugby.
The 33-year-old winger’s change of heart comes after contributing to Blues women’s victory in the Sky Super Rugby Aupiki, leading her to sign an eight-month contract.
“Each week in the match I thought about the possibility of how I could potentially go to the World Cup more and more,” Woodman said on Instagram.
Woodman Wickliffe explained the possibility of competing in this year’s World Cup increasingly occupied her thoughts during the campaign, and after considering what it meant to her and her family, she agreed to be available for the national team.
“ I thought most importantly, what it would mean for me and my family. I needed time to process before I could make myself available,” Woodman said on Instagram.
In 2024 she was a member of the team that won the gold medal, defeating Canada 19-12 in the Paris Olympics. After the win, she announced she would be retiring from international sevens.
In 2016, Woodman was the top try scorer of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games when New Zealand fell short of Australia 24-17; she scored 10 tries across the three-day tournament.
The record holder for the most tries in World Cup history, having played a key role in New Zealand’s victories in 2017 and 2022, has now set her sights on further success on the global stage.
Her illustrious career also includes accolades such as World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year in 2015, Women’s Player of the Year XVs in 2017, and the Top Women’s Sevens Player of the Decade in 2020.
New Zealand rugby icon Portia Woodman-Wickliffe, who initially retired after securing a gold medal in rugby sevens at the Paris 2024 Olympics, has announced her return to international rugby.
The 33-year-old winger’s change of heart comes after contributing to Blues women’s victory in the Sky Super Rugby Aupiki, leading her to sign an eight-month contract.
“Each week in the match I thought about the possibility of how I could potentially go to the World Cup more and more,” Woodman said on Instagram.
Woodman Wickliffe explained the possibility of competing in this year’s World Cup increasingly occupied her thoughts during the campaign, and after considering what it meant to her and her family, she agreed to be available for the national team.
“ I thought most importantly, what it would mean for me and my family. I needed time to process before I could make myself available,” Woodman said on Instagram.
In 2024 she was a member of the team that won the gold medal, defeating Canada 19-12 in the Paris Olympics. After the win, she announced she would be retiring from international sevens.
In 2016, Woodman was the top try scorer of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games when New Zealand fell short of Australia 24-17; she scored 10 tries across the three-day tournament.
The record holder for the most tries in World Cup history, having played a key role in New Zealand’s victories in 2017 and 2022, has now set her sights on further success on the global stage.
Her illustrious career also includes accolades such as World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year in 2015, Women’s Player of the Year XVs in 2017, and the Top Women’s Sevens Player of the Decade in 2020.
