February 26, 2026 • 8 mins
It was recently announced that Black Ferns legend Portia Woodman-Wickliffe would be hanging up the boots and stepping away from the black jersey again, for good this time.
She joined D'Arcy to discuss the decision and what her future looks like.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Dancy Wildergrave
from News Talk zedb More.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Rugby and one of my favorites. Her name is Portia
Woman Whitcliffe black fans legend, holds the record for the
most international tries for New Zealand man or woman today
she and that's to retirement from rugby again. Porch joins us. Now, Hey,
welcome to the show. So this time it's done right,
You're definitely not coming back here?
Speaker 3 (00:34):
Yes, no, I've definitely finished. I'm finished with the black jersey.
I'm ready to have babies and experience the next part
of my journey. Right.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
So it was I suppose and it she just needed
to scratch when you came back last time around, and
it was just too hard to say no to that offer.
You don't regret that, do you?
Speaker 3 (00:53):
No, not at all? I think to be asked and
to be offered the opportunity to even get that close
to the World Cup was amazing. And then to experience
history right like at World Cup was the biggest World
Cup for women's rugby ever and I got to be
a part of it, and what an amazing journey and
moment it was. Obviously it wasn't a result that we wanted,
but extremely grateful I got to experience it.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
So you don't look back with any form of anguish
around what could have been but never was.
Speaker 3 (01:21):
Nah, Nah, I have absolutely nothing but love, appreciation, joy.
I look back and I got to play alongside some
of the future rugby players, play alongside some teammates again, like,
it was just an incredible journey.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
What the future? You mentioned that there are some outstandingna
playing the game right now, so the future had suggested
is in good hands. I mean you've had a first
hand look at the ethics, the training and the playing
of a couple of superstars. The ghost Runner Braxton is
quite something else. And I don't say anything about Georgia Miller,
(01:57):
but are there more of their ilk around And what
did you see in them as players when you're playing
with them?
Speaker 3 (02:02):
Oh, just the freedom. You know, there's no pressure on
the putting any pressure on themselves. They know what they have,
they know this skill set, they know the strengths and
they just play and then off the field, they're just
really awesome people like Braxton is such a humble, you know, connected,
well rounded player, both amazing family and skill set and
(02:22):
in Georgia. She's so cheeky but just worked really really
hard off the field, so when she gets on the field,
Chicken just thrive.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
SOEs it changed much since you debuted and when you
started around. I'm not talking about the playing of the
success about the attitude of the athletes themselves. How much
is that adjusted, if any I don't.
Speaker 3 (02:41):
Know if it really does change. I think ultimately, when
you make the team and when you start to, like,
you know, continuously make the team, you're already a special being.
And I think those players have been around for a
really long time. Obviously, there's different resources and different opportunities
nowadays compared to what it started, well where I started anyways,
and even before that. But I think ultimately the girls
(03:02):
have the same mindset where they just want to be
the greatest player they can be, and however that comes about,
however they play their their time in the Black Boozy.
It's incredible and I think that's what I'm really grateful for,
is I get to witness some great players right in
the early starts of my career, from a media ruled
Kelly Brazier, Fiattle Pharmaceili to them finishing and playing alongside
(03:26):
Georgia Miller, Caitlin Varhercolor, Renee Holmes, Bras and Sions and McGee. Like,
these players are fully professional athletes. They take it as
their job and they do. They work really, really hard.
But then really great people as well. And I think
that's probably the part that people kind of I guess
you assume, but I know who I know wholeheartedly. These
(03:47):
these girls are really great humans.
Speaker 2 (03:50):
That's a super important part of it. Steve Hansen and
Graham Henry say that good people make good all blacks.
Are you completely lost to rugby in a playing capacity? Sure,
when you become mummy and you're to be preg play
rugby playing me, but are you gonna done in an
advisory role? You're going to try and deliver or contribute
(04:11):
back to the game again.
Speaker 3 (04:12):
Oh definitely, I'm the rugby is not it's not out
of my world. I want to have a dabble with commentary.
You know, opak is coming up and it's a new
part of it, it's a new time of the year.
I'd love to have a crack at the seven series.
Like there's so many opportunities now, like following in KT's
put footsteps, Rockies Froe now even Mel Robinson like these
(04:33):
people have created pathways within commentary which I'd love to
be a part of, some opportunities through Sky and Super
Rugby Pacific Ah. Rugby is still going to be a
part of my life without without a doubt, I'd love
to give back to the community that has given me
so much. Right, It's given me a family, a lifestyle,
given me opportunities that I never would have dreamed of.
(04:54):
So I will definitely be an around rugby. And what
aspect or what concept I have no idea yet, but yeah,
I'm going to be around and look, I still want
to play, like in between having babies. I'm sure I
can check in a couple of cub games or if
PC games or even open games if they want me.
In terms of the black jersey, I'm finished with it.
I've done my dash and I've experienced where I can.
(05:15):
I'm still going to be in and around rugby.
Speaker 2 (05:17):
I've got to ask with the ball where you scored
your fiftieth and became the leading try scorer in New
Zealand test at rugby, have you still got it to
let you keep it?
Speaker 3 (05:28):
Yeah? Yeah they do. They sent it to me, they
gave it to me.
Speaker 2 (05:33):
Where is it.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
Oh, I've just moved to I've just moved houses, so
it's currently in storage boxes along with all my albitrary
nice today.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
You you mentioned commentary, and I mean you mentioned some
great names here, but please don't get hair like Katie,
please for the good of everybody.
Speaker 3 (05:51):
That's exactly what I was going to do. You.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
Are you going to wear a flat cap and those
huge glasses as well?
Speaker 3 (05:57):
Are you totally?
Speaker 2 (06:00):
I do too? Love talking to them and you've named
checked a couple of brilliant mel Robinson and Ricky James Thaw.
Now it's just a wonderful, wonderful comtou or colleague of mine. Actually,
as it goes, I'm looking forward to you getting into
that space and you're gonna be You're going to be
a mummy. Is how is that those plans going along
(06:21):
for is imminent?
Speaker 1 (06:22):
Is it soon?
Speaker 2 (06:23):
You want to get it done and dust it? Or
and tell if I'm being too nosy, just tell me
to shut up. No.
Speaker 3 (06:28):
I think that's the coolest part is people don't often
get to hear about this part. Is I'm in the
same sex relationship. It's a process, right, It's not just
going to happen willy nilly, like everyone else that can
make it happen. You know, my friends are all pregnant, Sarah, Mikayla,
if a few other girls, or Sara's had her baby.
So unfortunately, it's not just going to happen for us
in that way. So I think if I can talk
(06:49):
about the process that we have to go through, then
I think it might make it a bit more easier
for other people. And I think, I guess for us,
we have to do a bit more, you know, jump
through a bit more red tape. We have to do
warmon testing, genetic testing, make sure that we're actually running
functionally well so that when we go and do this
process that you know, costs a little bit, that we're
actually in the best place possible. So we have a
(07:12):
personal donor. They currently have to go through testing and
hormone testing, genetic testing and all that as well. But
we're currently in a process and who knows. I ideally
I would have been pregnant now, but not quite yet.
Speaker 2 (07:25):
Well, we'll watch this with keen interest, and thank you
for being so frank, And you make a really good point.
A lot of people don't understand that relationship with the
same sex relationship at how that operates becoming a parent.
So thanks for shedding some light on that, and more importantly,
thanks so much for providing all of us rugby fans
with so much joy in the Black Jumper over the years.
(07:46):
You will not be forgotten and I'm looking forward to
you wandering up here to news talks AB and maybe
doing a bit of commentary for us. Mate, We've got
plenty of roles to fill up.
Speaker 3 (07:55):
Oh, I'll hold you to it. I'll hold you to
you that one, that's for sure. Thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (08:01):
For more from sports Talk, listen live to News Talks
there'd be from seven pm weekdays. Follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Dancy Wildergrave
from News Talk zedb More.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Rugby and one of my favorites. Her name is Portia
Woman Whitcliffe black fans legend, holds the record for the
most international tries for New Zealand man or woman today
she and that's to retirement from rugby again. Porch joins us. Now, Hey,
welcome to the show. So this time it's done right,
You're definitely not coming back here?
Speaker 3 (00:34):
Yes, no, I've definitely finished. I'm finished with the black jersey.
I'm ready to have babies and experience the next part
of my journey. Right.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
So it was I suppose and it she just needed
to scratch when you came back last time around, and
it was just too hard to say no to that offer.
You don't regret that, do you?
Speaker 3 (00:53):
No, not at all? I think to be asked and
to be offered the opportunity to even get that close
to the World Cup was amazing. And then to experience
history right like at World Cup was the biggest World
Cup for women's rugby ever and I got to be
a part of it, and what an amazing journey and
moment it was. Obviously it wasn't a result that we wanted,
but extremely grateful I got to experience it.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
So you don't look back with any form of anguish
around what could have been but never was.
Speaker 3 (01:21):
Nah, Nah, I have absolutely nothing but love, appreciation, joy.
I look back and I got to play alongside some
of the future rugby players, play alongside some teammates again, like,
it was just an incredible journey.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
What the future? You mentioned that there are some outstandingna
playing the game right now, so the future had suggested
is in good hands. I mean you've had a first
hand look at the ethics, the training and the playing
of a couple of superstars. The ghost Runner Braxton is
quite something else. And I don't say anything about Georgia Miller,
(01:57):
but are there more of their ilk around And what
did you see in them as players when you're playing
with them?
Speaker 3 (02:02):
Oh, just the freedom. You know, there's no pressure on
the putting any pressure on themselves. They know what they have,
they know this skill set, they know the strengths and
they just play and then off the field, they're just
really awesome people like Braxton is such a humble, you know, connected,
well rounded player, both amazing family and skill set and
(02:22):
in Georgia. She's so cheeky but just worked really really
hard off the field, so when she gets on the field,
Chicken just thrive.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
SOEs it changed much since you debuted and when you
started around. I'm not talking about the playing of the
success about the attitude of the athletes themselves. How much
is that adjusted, if any I don't.
Speaker 3 (02:41):
Know if it really does change. I think ultimately, when
you make the team and when you start to, like,
you know, continuously make the team, you're already a special being.
And I think those players have been around for a
really long time. Obviously, there's different resources and different opportunities
nowadays compared to what it started, well where I started anyways,
and even before that. But I think ultimately the girls
(03:02):
have the same mindset where they just want to be
the greatest player they can be, and however that comes about,
however they play their their time in the Black Boozy.
It's incredible and I think that's what I'm really grateful for,
is I get to witness some great players right in
the early starts of my career, from a media ruled
Kelly Brazier, Fiattle Pharmaceili to them finishing and playing alongside
(03:26):
Georgia Miller, Caitlin Varhercolor, Renee Holmes, Bras and Sions and McGee. Like,
these players are fully professional athletes. They take it as
their job and they do. They work really, really hard.
But then really great people as well. And I think
that's probably the part that people kind of I guess
you assume, but I know who I know wholeheartedly. These
(03:47):
these girls are really great humans.
Speaker 2 (03:50):
That's a super important part of it. Steve Hansen and
Graham Henry say that good people make good all blacks.
Are you completely lost to rugby in a playing capacity? Sure,
when you become mummy and you're to be preg play
rugby playing me, but are you gonna done in an
advisory role? You're going to try and deliver or contribute
(04:11):
back to the game again.
Speaker 3 (04:12):
Oh definitely, I'm the rugby is not it's not out
of my world. I want to have a dabble with commentary.
You know, opak is coming up and it's a new
part of it, it's a new time of the year.
I'd love to have a crack at the seven series.
Like there's so many opportunities now, like following in KT's
put footsteps, Rockies Froe now even Mel Robinson like these
(04:33):
people have created pathways within commentary which I'd love to
be a part of, some opportunities through Sky and Super
Rugby Pacific Ah. Rugby is still going to be a
part of my life without without a doubt, I'd love
to give back to the community that has given me
so much. Right, It's given me a family, a lifestyle,
given me opportunities that I never would have dreamed of.
(04:54):
So I will definitely be an around rugby. And what
aspect or what concept I have no idea yet, but yeah,
I'm going to be around and look, I still want
to play, like in between having babies. I'm sure I
can check in a couple of cub games or if
PC games or even open games if they want me.
In terms of the black jersey, I'm finished with it.
I've done my dash and I've experienced where I can.
(05:15):
I'm still going to be in and around rugby.
Speaker 2 (05:17):
I've got to ask with the ball where you scored
your fiftieth and became the leading try scorer in New
Zealand test at rugby, have you still got it to
let you keep it?
Speaker 3 (05:28):
Yeah? Yeah they do. They sent it to me, they
gave it to me.
Speaker 2 (05:33):
Where is it.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
Oh, I've just moved to I've just moved houses, so
it's currently in storage boxes along with all my albitrary
nice today.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
You you mentioned commentary, and I mean you mentioned some
great names here, but please don't get hair like Katie,
please for the good of everybody.
Speaker 3 (05:51):
That's exactly what I was going to do. You.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
Are you going to wear a flat cap and those
huge glasses as well?
Speaker 3 (05:57):
Are you totally?
Speaker 2 (06:00):
I do too? Love talking to them and you've named
checked a couple of brilliant mel Robinson and Ricky James Thaw.
Now it's just a wonderful, wonderful comtou or colleague of mine. Actually,
as it goes, I'm looking forward to you getting into
that space and you're gonna be You're going to be
a mummy. Is how is that those plans going along
(06:21):
for is imminent?
Speaker 1 (06:22):
Is it soon?
Speaker 2 (06:23):
You want to get it done and dust it? Or
and tell if I'm being too nosy, just tell me
to shut up. No.
Speaker 3 (06:28):
I think that's the coolest part is people don't often
get to hear about this part. Is I'm in the
same sex relationship. It's a process, right, It's not just
going to happen willy nilly, like everyone else that can
make it happen. You know, my friends are all pregnant, Sarah, Mikayla,
if a few other girls, or Sara's had her baby.
So unfortunately, it's not just going to happen for us
in that way. So I think if I can talk
(06:49):
about the process that we have to go through, then
I think it might make it a bit more easier
for other people. And I think, I guess for us,
we have to do a bit more, you know, jump
through a bit more red tape. We have to do
warmon testing, genetic testing, make sure that we're actually running
functionally well so that when we go and do this
process that you know, costs a little bit, that we're
actually in the best place possible. So we have a
(07:12):
personal donor. They currently have to go through testing and
hormone testing, genetic testing and all that as well. But
we're currently in a process and who knows. I ideally
I would have been pregnant now, but not quite yet.
Speaker 2 (07:25):
Well, we'll watch this with keen interest, and thank you
for being so frank, And you make a really good point.
A lot of people don't understand that relationship with the
same sex relationship at how that operates becoming a parent.
So thanks for shedding some light on that, and more importantly,
thanks so much for providing all of us rugby fans
with so much joy in the Black Jumper over the years.
(07:46):
You will not be forgotten and I'm looking forward to
you wandering up here to news talks AB and maybe
doing a bit of commentary for us. Mate, We've got
plenty of roles to fill up.
Speaker 3 (07:55):
Oh, I'll hold you to it. I'll hold you to
you that one, that's for sure. Thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (08:01):
For more from sports Talk, listen live to News Talks
there'd be from seven pm weekdays. Follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
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