THE induction of Black Ferns star Portia Woodman-Wickliffe into the prestigious RugbyTown Walk of Fame turns another historic chapter for rugby in Fiji and the Pacific.
The Black Ferns 7s Olympic gold medallist who is regarded as the ‘undisputed queen of the rugby field’ is one of three ambassadors for the 2026 McDonald’s Coral Coast Fiji Sevens tournament.
What makes her inclusion unique is the fact that she becomes the first female to be inducted into the RugbyTown Walk of Fame, her name to be written among an array of rugby legends.
This piece of history according to Coral Coast Fiji 7s founding chairman Jay Whyte is a deeply significant moment not just for the tournament but for rugby in the Pacific.
“For our local female players, this sends a powerful message: there are no ceilings anymore.
“Portia’s journey shows what is possible through discipline, belief, and hard work, and placing her name alongside the greats of sevens rugby reinforces that excellence knows no gender.
“We hope young Fijian girls walking past the RugbyTown Walk of Fame in years to come will see her name and believe that one day their own story could be written there too. That belief is where futures are born,” he said.
There will also be an inaugural Portia Woodman-Wickliffe medal that will be awarded to the top try-scorer in the women’s division.
The 2026 Coral Coast Fiji Sevens tournament is scheduled to begin next Thursday and runs on until Saturday at Lawaqa Park in Sigatoka.
