New Zealand’s leading try-scorer Portia Woodman-Wickliffe has announced her retirement from international rugby for a second time.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
She returned for last year’s World Cup<\/a> in England, but her bid for a third-straight title was halted in the semi-finals<\/a> by Canada – before New Zealand beat France to finish third.<\/p>\n Woodman-Wickliffe was already the record try-scorer in World Cup history and stretched her tally to 22 with two tries in England.<\/p>\n Her score in the pool win over Japan<\/a> was her 50th international try and meant she surpassed Doug Howlett to become New Zealand’s outright record try-scorer.<\/p>\n The two-time World Rugby women’s player of the year will retire from both international sevens and XVs rugby.<\/p>\n “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<\/a>.<\/p>\n “As I step into this next chapter of my life, I feel both excited and a little nervous, but I’m ready.”<\/p>\n