New Zealand’s rugby sensation, Portia Woodman-Wickliffe, has made a stunning announcement to reverse her retirement and set her sights on the 2025 Rugby World Cup. This decision follows her triumphant gold medal win in rugby sevens at the 2024 Paris Olympics, marking a high point in her illustrious career.

At 33, Woodman-Wickliffe, a pivotal winger for the Blues Women, has signed an eight-month contract, spurred by her recent success in the Sky Super Rugby Aupiki. Her return is not just a personal victory but a beacon of hope for her team and fans worldwide.

A Legacy of Excellence Woodman-Wickliffe is not just any player; she is the record try-scorer in World Cup history, instrumental in New Zealand’s victories in 2017 and 2022. Her accolades include being named World Rugby’s Sevens Player of the Year in 2015, Women’s Player of the Year (XVs) in 2017, and the top women’s sevens Player of the Decade in 2020.

Motivation and Future Goals Reflecting on her decision, Woodman-Wickliffe shared, "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 whanau [family]. I needed time to process everything and making myself available for this team is where I've landed."

Her return is not just about personal accolades but about contributing to her team’s success and inspiring the next generation of rugby players. As the 2025 World Cup approaches, all eyes will be on Woodman-Wickliffe to see if she can lead New Zealand to another historic victory.

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