New Zealander · Rotorua, New Zealand · Born 25 March 1991New Zealand's most prolific try-scorer in women's rugby sevens and fifteens — the most electric attacking player in women's rugby, whose pace and finishing ability have made her the sport's most feared attacker.
Portia Woodman is New Zealand's most prolific try-scorer across both women's rugby sevens and fifteens, an electric attacking player whose blend of pace and finishing has made her one of the most feared wings in the world game. She won Olympic gold in rugby sevens at Rio 2016 and was named World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year in both 2016 and 2017, before switching focus to fifteens and helping New Zealand win the 2017 Rugby World Cup. Her ability to dominate in both formats of the game marks her as one of the most versatile try-scoring threats women's rugby has produced.
She was a key player in New Zealand's Olympic gold medal victory in women's rugby sevens at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
How They Played
Woodman is renowned for her exceptional pace and acceleration, making her devastating on the wing in both sevens and fifteens formats. Her finishing ability in the corner and capacity to beat defenders in tight spaces made her one of the most clinical try-scorers in women's rugby. She combined raw speed with good rugby intelligence and positioning to exploit gaps in opposition defenses.
Lasting Impact
Woodman helped elevate the profile of women's rugby sevens globally and was instrumental in New Zealand's dominance of the format during her career.
Career Honours
- Olympic Gold 2016 (Sevens)
- World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year 2016, 2017
- Rugby World Cup 2017 (Fifteens)
| Club | Period | Apps |
|---|---|---|
| Auckland | — | — |
| Northland | — | — |
 New Zealand | — | 50 |
New Zealander Athletes