Rugby great Woodman-Wickliffe comes out of retirement for the Women’s World Cup

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) - Rugby great Portia Woodman-Wickliffe has announced she will come out of international retirement in the hope of playing for New Zealand at the Women's World Cup in Britain later this year.

Woodman-Wickliffe, who is the top try-scorer in Women's World Cup history with 20, has signed a new eight-month contract with New Zealand Rugby which will carry her through the global tournament in August and September.

The 33-year-old winger already has two World Cup winner's medals from 2017 and 2021 and two Olympic gold medals in rugby sevens from Tokyo and Paris. She is the top try-scorer on the World Sevens Series with 256.

Woodman-Wickliffe retired from international rugby after the Olympics in Paris last year but has reconsidered that decision in a bid to help a New Zealand women's team which struggled in 2024.

"By week three of ( women's Super Rugby ) I was at 50% of my decision," Woodman-Wickliffe said. "Each week in the 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."