New Zealand: Portia Woodman-Wickliffe retires from international rugby for second time


New Zealand’s leading try-scorer Portia Woodman-Wickliffe has announced her retirement from international rugby for a second time.

The 34-year-old winger helped the Black Ferns win the Women’s World Cup in 2017 and 2022, and initially retired after claiming a second rugby sevens gold at the 2024 Olympics.

She returned for last year’s World Cup in England, but her bid for a third-straight title was halted in the semi-finals by Canada – before New Zealand beat France to finish third.

Woodman-Wickliffe was already the record try-scorer in World Cup history and stretched her tally to 22 with two tries in England.

Her score in the pool win over Japan was her 50th international try and meant she surpassed Doug Howlett to become New Zealand’s outright record try-scorer.

The two-time World Rugby women’s player of the year will retire from both international sevens and XVs rugby.

“I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to represent my country, my [people], one last time on the World Cup stage, a moment I will cherish forever,” she said in a message on social media, external.

“As I step into this next chapter of my life, I feel both excited and a little nervous, but I’m ready.”





Source link

  • Related Posts

    World Cup 2026: Which teams have travelled the furthest?

    England are not alone in covering vast distances. Spain have logged more than 12,000 miles, while Switzerland exceeded 10,000 thanks to what the Swiss Football Association described as “venue hopping”…

    ‘Ted Lasso’ actor Cristo Fernández makes USL debut for El Paso Locomotive

    Two months after signing for El Paso Locomotive, Cristo Fernández — best known for playing fictional soccer star Dani Rojas in the television series “Ted Lasso” — has made his…

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    You Missed

    How Trump Failed to Secure the Strait of Hormuz in His Iran Deal

    How Trump Failed to Secure the Strait of Hormuz in His Iran Deal

    ‘We should be dead’: Perth’s Indigenous community felt ignored after alleged Invasion Day bombing attempt, inquiry told | Indigenous Australians

    ‘We should be dead’: Perth’s Indigenous community felt ignored after alleged Invasion Day bombing attempt, inquiry told | Indigenous Australians

    Regulated iGaming market goes live in Alberta, government aims to box out grey market

    Regulated iGaming market goes live in Alberta, government aims to box out grey market

    UK starts first vaccine trial, eight weeks into Ebola emergency

    UK starts first vaccine trial, eight weeks into Ebola emergency

    Letting BC charge pipeline toll sets bad provincial precedent: critics

    Lufthansa Is Sunsetting Its A340-600s

    Lufthansa Is Sunsetting Its A340-600s