Portia Woodman-Wickliffe: The Face of Women's Rugby Bows Out

Portia Woodman-Wickliffe, one of the greatest players in women's rugby, reflects on her illustrious career after winning two Olympic golds and a silver. Her New Zealand team's recent 19-12 win over Canada at the Paris Games concluded her journey, marking a significant moment in rugby history.

Portia Woodman-Wickliffe, with two Olympic gold medals and a silver, walked away from the field at the Paris Games content with her rugby sevens career for New Zealand.

Widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the women's game, Woodman-Wickliffe helped New Zealand clinch back-to-back Olympic titles with a decisive 19-12 victory over Canada. She later announced her need for a change in direction.

“It's hard to explain — 12 years of work, passion, love, fear,” she reflected, reminiscing on an Olympic journey that began with a silver in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, followed by golds in Tokyo and Paris. Despite feeling she played poorly in her final tournament, she expressed gratitude for the support from her teammates.