Portia Woodman-Wickliffe signs Super Rugby Aupiki deal

Portia Woodman-Wickliffe will get the opportunity to play alongside her niece Kerri Johnson having signed a deal with Blues Women for the 2025 Super Rugby Aupiki season.

Two-time Women’s Rugby World Cup winner Woodman-Wickliffe is one of the most recognisable names in the history of the women’s game.

Having helped New Zealand to a second successive Olympic sevens gold medal in Paris in July, the World Rugby Sevens Player of the Decade will head to Auckland next February following a stint with Mie Pearls in Japan.

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Woodman-Wickliffe previously represented the Chiefs Manawa but admitted the lure of playing alongside Johnson for the reigning champions was too good to turn down.

“Kerri played for the nib Blues last season and loved every moment, it was inspiring to see what the team achieved, and it was something I wanted to be a part of,” Woodman-Wickliffe said.

“The chance to play with my niece is something pretty special for me and my whanau, and to be honest I need to get in and play with her now before she’s off playing in a black jersey in the coming years!”

Woodman-Wickliffe already has an insight into life at the Blues, given her wife Renee came out of retirement to play for the club last year, helping them to the Aupiki title.

“Renee only had good things to say about the culture and vibe of the Blues, after speaking with her, I knew I wanted to come and play,” she said.

However, she was keen to stress that her decision to sign on for next year’s tournament did not mean she was open to reversing her retirement from international rugby.

The Black Ferns lost to Ireland and England to finish fourth in the WXV 1 standings in Canada earlier this month.

A year out from Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025, it would only be natural for fans to get excited about the thought of Woodman-Wickliffe back on a Test pitch. But the winger insisted those days are behind her.

“I understand that and I think that’s going to be the tricky part because I am pretty adamant that I’m not playing for New Zealand. Purely because I want to play with freedom,” she said.

“I want to play social netball, I want to play social touch. Those are the things that I’m really looking forward to.

“Being here with the Blues, I’m going to give them my absolute all and if I’m stepping into another area of performance I’m going to be sticking with Super Rugby, club, FPC [Farah Palmer Cup].

“I’m not looking for the black jersey. I’ve done that, I’ve achieved what I wanted to achieve but this is where I want to be.”

Blues head coach Willie Walker is delighted to welcome Woodman-Wickliffe into his squad.

“Her skills on the park speak for themselves, she’s world class,” Walker said.

“Having Portia with us is also going be hugely beneficial for the team off the field. Her experience around all aspects of physical preparation, recovery and mental skills is going to be a huge asset for those around her.”