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Portia Woodman-Wickliffe signs with surprise club after second Olympic gold
By Finn Morton
Two-time Olympic gold medallist Portia Woodman-Wickliffe will head overseas to continue her decorated rugby union career after signing a deal to return to 15s with Mie Pearls in Japan’s National Women’s Rugby Championship.
Woodman-Wickliffe has committed to the Yokkaichi-based club for the season that runs from November through to February 2025. It’ll also be a bit of a family affair with Woodman-Wickliffe’s wife, Renee, joining as the club’s new assistant coach.
The New Zealander is widely considered one of the greatest international rugby players of all time, with a CV that includes an unrivalled list of accolades. Woodman-Wickliffe has won two Rugby World Cup titles in 15s and she’s also collected numerous individual honours.
World Rugby recognised the bulldozing winger as the Sevens Player of the Year in 2015, and later the Sevens Player of the Decade in 2020. The 33-year-old was twice named the 15s Player of the Year in 2017 and 2020 as well.
But all good things must come to an end. Woodman-Wickliffe announced before the Paris Olympics that those Games would be her final time playing in the famed black jersey as a sevens player, but it remained unclear as to what was next for the rugby legend.
Woodman-Wickliffe had been linked with a move to the New Zealand Warriors in NRLW as rumours began to swirl about what was next for the superstar athlete. But those rumours have since been squashed with the Kiwi set to move to Japan with her family.
“I’ve been fortune to visit and play in Japan many times with sevens and I’ve always loved the country, the culture and the people,” Woodman-Wickliffe said.
“Having the opportunity to play for the Pearls, alongside a special group of women in an exciting 15s competition is something I’m really looking forward to. I can’t wait to join the Pearls and for our whanau to experience living abroad together, with our daughter Kaia joining us.”
Woodman-Wickliffe bowed out of international rugby sevens with an Olympic gold medal draped around her neck. Team New Zealand took their place on the Olympic podium at Stade de France as worthy champions after beating Canada in a thrilling final.
New Zealand flew through pool play with three dominant victories before booking their place in the final four with a commanding 55-5 win over China – a side who had shocked Fiji earlier in the tournament during the pool stage.
The Kiwis overcame Ilona Maher’s USA 24-12 in the semi-finals, which booked their date with destiny in the gold medal match against Canada. The Canadians had stunned Australia 21-12 in their semi, with the Aussies going on to lose the battle for bronze in another tense clash.
2023 World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year, Tyla King, also left the sport as a champion after announcing her retirement from sevens before the Games as well. Woodman-Wickliffe and co. were worthy champions of gold in front of a record-breaking women’s sevens crowd.
But another chapter in Woodman-Wickliffe’s storied career is yet to be written. Woodman-Wickliffe will begin training with Mie Pearls in late October before the season gets underway the following month.
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Latest Comments
Well I didnt see Aus bossing the Wales team around in the forwards let alone SA or Arg. Ill bet NZ dominates the scrums.
Go to commentsOkay, fair points in here. Agree Razor isn't transparent. How quickly the climate changes from one regime to another. I'm sorry but when I refer to "human values" I'm alluding to Razor prancing around like a peacock at the 2023 RWC, knowing he had had the job but going there to smirk while Fozz went about his business. What need was there of that when Razor had already got the nod?
Besides, that's why caring employers don't put their employees through that spin-dry cycle following redundancy, although Fozz would have relished the opportunity to ride the waves to redemption. He had come within a whisker. I'm guessing Fozz's contract wouldn't have allowed him to terminate employment, glory of RWC aside. Now, I'm not saying fora second that Fozz was a fine head coach because he had erred like Razor is with selections across the board.
The captaincy debacle is just that, so agree with that. More significantly for me, Barrett has the unenviable record of collecting two red cards in test rugger — the most anyone has. His 2nd test against the Boks was questionable, considering the lock hadn't carried the ball until after the 60th minute. In both Boks affairs, he was hardly visible as a leader.
DMac is a Hobson's choice. You can have a "unique" kicking game but if the others are not on the same page, is it worth anything? Player, selection, and/or head coaching issue? For me it's all 3. I've not religiously watched Super Rugby Pacific matches but I did see how the Fijian Drua had homed in on DMac at The Tron. He was rattled and even started complaining to the ref. That's where we part ways with "aggression". All pooches are ferocious behind their owner's fenced property. DMac enjoys that when he has the comfort of protection from the engine room. The pooch is only tested when it wanders outside the confines of the yard on to the street to face other mongrels. Boks were going to be the litmus test, although no home fan saw the Pumas coming. At best, a bench-minutes player.
Leon MacDonald. Well, besides debating the merits of his prowess as "attacking guru", it doesn't override one simple fact — Razor chose his stable of support coaches. Its starts and ends there. If MacD didn't slot into the equation, Razor is accountable.
Why appoint a specialist when you're not going to listen to him, especially if you have an engine-room background? Having fired him, Razor looks even more clueless now than ever with his backline, never mind attacking. Which raises the pertinent question? Which of his other favoured coaches have assumed the mantle of backline/attacking coach? (Hansen/Ellison?) If so, why is Razor not dangling them over burning coals?
"His [MacD's] way might be great for some team, maybe in another country, and with the right people." Intriguing because he has led his team in his own country's premier competition to victory against a number of franchise players who are in the ABs squad that had failed to make the cut after a rash of losses and Razor's "home". You see, it's such anomalies that make the prudent question the process. All it does is make Razor look just like another member of the old boys' network. Appreciate the engagement.
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