Black Ferns star Portia Woodman-Wickliffe comes out of retirement, sets sights on Rugby World Cup
Tuesday, 22 April 2025
Black Ferns star Portia Woodman-Wickliffe has come out of retirement and has set her sights on playing at a third Rugby World Cup.
The two-time World Cup winner has signed an eight-month contract with New Zealand Rugby and is set to join the Black Ferns in their first camp of the year this weekend.
Woodman-Wickliffe announced her international retirement last year, but had dropped hints in recent weeks that she was reconsidering her position, after she was blocked from signing with the Newcastle Knights NRLW team.
The 33-year-old said in a statement she thought about potentially playing at the World Cup in England later this year “more and more” as her recent Super Rugby Aupiki campaign with the Blues unfolded.
The Blues beat Matatū in the final earlier this month then beat the Waratahs in the first women’s trans-Tasman Super Rugby match.
“By week three of Aupiki I was at 50% of my decision,” Woodman-Wickliffe said.
“Each week in campaign I thought about the possibility of how I could potentially go to the World Cup more and more.
“I thought about what it would mean to me but most importantly my whānau.
“I needed time to process everything and making myself available for this team is where I’ve landed.”
Woodman-Wickliffe was a member of the Black Ferns teams that won the 2017 and 2022 world Cups.
She was knocked out and forced off early in the final at Eden Park in Auckland three years ago, where the Black Ferns beat England with a late lineout steal.
She has also won two sevens World Cups, in 2013 and 2018, two Olympic gold medals, in 2021 and 2024, and a Commonwealth Games gold medal, in 2018.
Woodman-Wickliffe was crowned as World Rugby’s sevens player of the year in 2015, their XVs player of the year in 2017, and their sevens player of the previous decade in 2020.
“Portia is an exceptional human and I know she will enhance our Black Ferns environment,” Black Ferns coach Allan Bunting said.
“On the field, she is someone who knows what it takes to win pinnacle events.
“The game has shifted, and I know Portia is excited about the growth she still has and the contribution she can give.
“Her natural ability to inspire others, her amazing athleticism, knowledge of the game and skill-set will have a huge influence on all those around here.
“I’m really looking forward to seeing her contribution to the team.”
The Black Ferns go into camp for the first time this year this weekend, with their first match of the year coming on May 10 against the Wallaroos in Newcastle.
The Rugby World Cup begins on August 22, with the Black Ferns drawn against Ireland, Japan and Spain in pool D.
Black Ferns – 2025 fixtures (NZ time)
Pacific Four
May 10, 5pm: v Wallaroos, Newcastle
May 17, 3.35pm: v Canada, Christchurch
May 24, 3.35pm: v United States, Albany
O’Reilly Cup
July 12, 4.30pm: v Wallaroos, Wellington
Rugby World Cup
August 25, 4.30am: v Spain, York
September 1, 1am: v Japan, Exeter
September 8, 1.45am: v Ireland, Brighton and Hove