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'The greatest teammate of all time' - Demant praises Woodman-Wickliffe impact
By Joe Harvey reporting from Twickenham
“It’s hard to put into words isn’t it?”
Ruahei Demant knows Portia Woodman-Wickliffe better than most. But even she struggled to sum up the impact of the 34-year-old on the Black Ferns over the years.
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After New Zealand claimed third-place at the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup with a 42-26 win over France at Allianz Stadium in the curtain raiser to England’s tournament win.
At full-time Woodman-Wickliffe was coy about her future held and told reporters that it was “potentially” the final time she would wear her country’s famous black jersey.
It has already been a year of surprise for Woodman-Wickliffe, who had preciously retired from all forms of international rugby after she helped her country to gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics, but after a title winning Super Rugby Aupiki season with the Blues Women decided to try and become a world champion in the 15-a-side game for a third time.
Over the years the wing’s exploits have been legendary. From breaking down the door of try-scoring records and a stacked trophy cabinet, she truly has done it all.
A teammate at the Blues and at Test level for several years now, Demant knows the impact of her former teammate, who has inspired players the world over to pick up a rugby ball.
“What Portia has done, not just for our game globally, but our game at home – a lot of our whys are to inspire the next generation of upcoming Black Ferns,” Demant said.
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“Portia is the only player in our team who has inspired teammates to pursue the Black Jersey. There are girls playing on out time that looked up to Portia and now play alongside Portia.”
Already Woodman-Wickliffe’s legacy is clear to see. At this World Cup she played alongside her successor elect, Braxton Sorensen-McGee, who not only scored a mammoth 11 tries across the tournament, but scooped World Rugby’s Women’s 15s Breakthrough Player of the Year award too.
There is also an unseen element to Woodman-Wickliffe’s time in a black jersey too. For so much of it just the confines of an 80 minute window on a rugby pitch have defined a great career.
For those that get a glimpse behind the curtain, that is where the true notion of greatness is defined.
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“I think the term GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) is throw around a lot now and there’s a lot to unpack when you really discuss what is a GOAT,” Demant said.
“I think Portia’s on-field steps speak to that, but what a lot of people won’t know is the person that Portia is, the humility that she has no matter where she goes.
“She always stays true to who she is and where she comes from. Regardless of all the accolades that she receives, she’s the greatest teammate of all time.”
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