Northern Edition
Select Edition
Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Portia Woodman-Wickliffe keeps fans guessing about post-Olympics plans

(Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

Black Ferns Sevens legend Portia Woodman-Wickliffe will retire from international rugby after the upcoming Paris Olympics, but what the New Zealander does after the Games is a question that remains unanswered.

ADVERTISEMENT

Woodman-Wickliffe is unanimously considered one of the greatest players in the history of women’s rugby. With try-scoring records in 15s and sevens, an Olympic gold and two Rugby World Cup titles, it’s hard to argue with the Kiwi’s stacked CV.

New Zealand’s bulldozing winger was crowned the Sevens Player of the Year in 2015, received the Sevens Player of the Decade honour in 2020, and was twice named the 15s Player of the Year by World Rugby in 2017 and 2020.

Video Spacer

Chasing the Sun on RugbyPass TV | RPTV

Video Player is loading.
Current Time 0:00
Duration 0:00
Loaded: 0%
Stream Type LIVE
Remaining Time 0:00
 
1x
    • Chapters
    • descriptions off, selected
    • captions off, selected
      Video Spacer

      Chasing the Sun on RugbyPass TV | RPTV

      Chasing the Sun, the extraordinary documentary that traces the Springboks’ road to victory at the 2019 Rugby World Cup, is coming to RugbyPass TV.

      Watch now

      But in a bombshell announcement by New Zealand Rugby on Tuesday morning, it was revealed that Woodman-Wickliffe would wear the black jersey one last time at Stade de France later this month. One of the sport’s greatest careers is almost at an end.

      “I’m so happy to walk away right now that I don’t see it as I need to stay around, or I’m not fighting to find something else that I need to achieve, I’ve achieved as much as I can and I want to see what else is out there,” Woodman-Wickliffe said, as reported by stuff.

      “Rugby has been a dream come true.”

      Teammate Sarah Hirini was almost brought to tears in an interview with RugbyPass on Tuesday morning when asked about the legacy Woodman-Wickliffe will lead behind. The fellow Tokyo Olympic gold medallist described Woodman-Wickliffe as an “absolute legend.”

      Newstalk ZB’s Nathan Limm reported on Twitter/X that Woodman-Wickliffe will stay on as a professional athlete but suggested that a move to the New Zealand Warriors in the soon-to-be-expanded NRLW competition is on the cards.

      ADVERTISEMENT

      Sevens teammates Stacey Waaka and Tyla King have already signed on with the Brisbane Broncos and St. George Illawarra Dragons respectively in 2025 and it stay remains to be seen as to whether the retiring rugby great will join them.

      “There’s a lot of opportunities out there and it’s something you can’t hide from, you can’t deny it,” Woodman-Wickliffe commented.

      “Ultimately I just want to fit as many as I can in before this peak performance runs out.

      “My whanau aren’t really league players,” she explained when asked about NRLW.

      Related

      “I asked Dad if I could play league at primary school and he said, ‘No, we don’t do league in our family, we only play rugby’ so right from then it was never really an option.

      ADVERTISEMENT

      “But now I guess coming to the end of my rugby career, still in a fit and fighting condition, where that leads, who knows? I’m really looking forward to whatever comes next.

      “I’m playing club, I’m going to play NPC, who knows… maybe Super Rugby as well but just the pressures of international rugby, the black jersey all of that stuff that comes with that, I’m grateful to have a break from that,” she added.

      Woodman-Wickliffe has been picked in New Zealand’s women’s rugby sevens squad for the Paris Games. The 32-year-old joins the likes of Jorja Miller, Michaela Blyde and Jazmin Felix-Hotham in the group.

      New tickets for Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 are now available, with prices starting at £10 for adults and £5 for children. Buy now!

      ADVERTISEMENT

      Classic Wallabies vs British & Irish Legends | First Match | Full Match Replay

      Did the Lions loosies get away with murder? And revisiting the Springboks lift | Whistle Watch

      The First Test, Visiting The Great Barrier Reef & Poetry with Pierre | Ep 6: The Ultimate Test

      KOKO Show | July 22nd | Full Throttle with Brisbane Test Review and Melbourne Preview

      New Zealand v South Africa | World Rugby U20 Championship | Extended Highlights

      USA vs England | Men's International | Full Match Replay

      France v Argentina | World Rugby U20 Championship | Extended Highlights

      Lions Share | Episode 4

      Trending on RugbyPass

      Comments

      0 Comments
      Be the first to comment...

      Join free and tell us what you really think!

      Sign up for free
      ADVERTISEMENT

      Latest Features

      Comments on RugbyPass

      TRENDING
      TRENDING Ruby Tui's response to World Cup omission earns praise of teammates Ruby Tui's reaction to World Cup omission