Black Ferns icon Portia Woodman-Wickliffe re-retires from international rugby

New Zealand’s all-time leading try-scorer, Portia Woodman-Wickliffe, has announced her international retirement for the second time.

With her first attempt at international retirement ultimately a short-lived endeavour due to a Rugby World Cup itch that demanded scratching last year, the 34-year-old’s announcement on Thursday was an expected curtain call.

Woodman-Wickliffe owns nearly every try-scoring record under the sun in the women’s game and beyond, and her trophy cabinet includes two Rugby World Cup titles, two Sevens World Cup gold medals and one silver, Olympic gold (x2) and silver medals, Commonwealth gold and bronze medals, and two Super Rugby Aupiki titles.

The Kawakawa icon’s time in the black jersey is sure to be remembered in the halls of rugby immortality.

“I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to represent my country, my iwi (tribe), my hapu (community) and my whanau (family) one last time on the World Cup stage, a moment I will cherish forever. As I step into this next chapter of my life, I feel both excited and a little nervous, but I’m ready,” Woodman-Wickliffe said in a statement released on Black Ferns’ social media.

 

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The winger has been named World Rugby Women’s Player of the Year twice and World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year once. Ahead of the 2025 Rugby World Cup, Woodman-Wickliffe was named the No.1 player in the world on RugbyPass’ Top 50 list.

Fans were quick to congratulate the former professional netballer on social media, with hundreds of comments crowning her the greatest to ever lace up a pair of rugby boots.