Portia Woodman-Wickliffe’s league switch hindered by ambassador role in rugby

Friday, 21 February 2025

Portia Woodman-Wickliffe says she is 'pretty adamant' about her international retirement, despite signing on to play for the Blues in next year's Super Rugby Aupiki.

Portia Woodman-Wickliffe’s role as an ambassador for the Rugby World Cup is reportedly hindering a switch to rugby league.

The 33-year-old Black Ferns and sevens great has retired from the international game but will play for the Blues women’s team when Super Rugby Aupiki starts next weekend.

That competition finishes in mid-April and Woodman-Wickliffe would be available to join an NRLW club ahead of the new season, starting in July.

However, the NRL is holding off on approving a proposed move to Newcastle Knights, according to AAP, because of concerns about her position as an ambassador for the women’s Rugby World Cup.

That tournament will be played in England in August and September, at the same the NRLW is running.

Portia Woodman-Wickliffe won gold with the Black Ferns Sevens at last year’s Paris Olympics.

Woodman-Wickliffe and the Knights are keen to make the switch happen, AAP reported.

Her last appearance on the big stage was at last year’s Paris Olympics when the Black Ferns Sevens won their second gold medal.

She is regarded as one of the greatest women’s players in rugby’s history. The winger has won two World Cups and is the leading try scorer at either the men’s or women’s tournament, with 20.

Portia Woodman-Wickliffe is reportedly keen on joining Newcastle Knights.

Woodman-Wickliffe has also declared her interest in playing rugby league, something several of her team-mates have done, as players can hop between both codes throughout the year.

Newcastle are one of the most successful clubs since the NRL’s women’s competition was established in 2018, with two titles in 2022 and 2023.

Stacey Waaka and Tyla King, gold medallists in Paris, also featured last year for the Brisbane Broncos and St George Illawarra Dragons respectively.

Michaela Blyde is leaving sevens to join the Warriors’ women’s team making its comeback to the NRLW after last competing in 2020.

Woodman-Wickliffe went to Japan with her wife, Renee Woodman-Wickliffe, to continue with rugby after the Paris Olympics, joining the Mie Women's Rugby Club Pearls.

She began pre-season training with the Blues last month, who won Super Rugby Aupiki for the first time last year.