A New Zealand rugby legend is set to retire. Portia Woodman-Wickliffe, one of the world’s most famous players, announced on Monday that she would retire from international rugby after the Olympic sevens tournament in Paris.
“After 12 incredible years representing New Zealand at sevens and 15s, the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris will be my last time playing in the black jersey,” she said in a statement from the New Zealand Rugby Union.
The 32-year-old winger, who comes from a family of international players – her father, Kawhena Woodman, and her uncle, Fred Woodman, played for the All Blacks – has one of the greatest achievements in world women’s rugby. She has won the Rugby World Cup Sevens in 2013 and 2018, and the World Cup 15s in 2017 and 2022 with the Black Ferns, as well as Olympic silver (in 2016 in Rio) and gold (in 2021 in Tokyo).
“Rugby has given me more than a career”
Twice named best player in the world (2015 for rugby sevens and 2017 for 15s), she holds the record for the number of tries scored in the World Cup (20) and in rugby sevens matches (256).
“Rugby has given me more than a career, it has given me a second whanau (extended family in Maori) with my sisters, opportunities to see the world and experience things I would never have had. There will be a last dance with my sisters in Paris,” she said.
In 2018, she ruptured her Achilles tendon and returned to her boots after a long recovery to help her country win Olympic gold in Tokyo. She later admitted that the injury still left her with weakness in her calf.
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