Portia Woodman

Portia Woodman-Wickliffe (née Woodman) is a highly regarded New Zealand rugby union player who has secured multiple Olympic gold medals and Rugby World Cups. She has played for the New Zealand women’s national rugby union team since 2013. 

Woodman-Wickliffe was born on 12 July 1991. She played a number of sports during her youth. However, she ultimately decided to follow in her father’s and uncle’s footsteps. Both were also successful rugby players. 

In 2012, New Zealand hosted a ‘Go for Gold’ campaign with the aim to find talented athletes to participate in the 2016 Summer Olympics in the rugby sevens team. Woodman-Wickliffe was selected and made her debut for the Black Ferns the following year. 

A formidable force, she soon made her name as a world class player and in 2015, was named as World Rugby Women’s Sevens Player of the Year. In 2020, she was announced as the Women’s Sevens Player of the Decade. 

During the 2017 Rugby World Cup, in which the Black Ferns claimed victory, Woodman-Wickliffe scored more tries (13) and points (65) than any other player. Her stellar performances earned her recognition and she was named as the World Rugby Women’s 15s Player of the Year.

A few years later, Woodman-Wickliffe opened the 2021 Rugby World Cup with an explosive performance, scoring a hat-trick against Australia. She maintained her impressive form and became the tournament’s top try scorer as New Zealand won the competition.

Woodman-Wickliffe has amassed an enviable record in rugby sevens, winning two gold medals and one silver at the Olympic Games, a gold and bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games, and two Rugby World Cup Sevens gold medals and one silver medal. Following the conclusion of the 2024 Summer Olympics, she retired from rugby sevens.