Sevens: Portia Woodman selected for Commonwealth Games

Kaikohe's Portia Woodman will be heading to the Commonwealth Games with the New Zealand sevens team. Photo / Getty Images

Portia Woodman will be part of New Zealand's inaugural Commonwealth Games women's sevens campaign on the Gold Coast next month.

The Kaikohe flyer, who plies her domestic trade for Counties Manukau, will be one to watch as New Zealand look to go one better than they did at the Rio Olympics.

They grabbed the silver medal in Brazil, where they lost to Commonwealth Games hosts Australia 24-17 in the gold medal match.

The side will be led by 2017 NZ Women's Player of the Year Sarah Goss, IRB Women's Player of the Year Woodman and IRB Women's Sevens Player of the Year Michaela Blyde.

The team will head to the Gold Coast as strong contenders, when women's rugby makes its debut at the event.

It would be a surprise to many if both New Zealand and Australia didn't make the final, though Canada have been in handy form during the 2017-18 World Rugby Women's Sevens Series.

Through two tournaments Australia and New Zealand sit one and two, with Australia winning both the Dubai and Sydney legs. Canada are third.

Woodman has been in imperious form over the opening legs, scoring 22 tries to comfortably lead both the try scoring and point scoring leaderboards.

New Zealand women's rugby sevens coach Allan Bunting said the team is an experienced group, featuring nine players who won silver medals at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

"You can't beat experience when it comes to a pinnacle event and that was part of what we looked at when selecting the squad; players that understand how exciting and busy an event like this is.

"The Commonwealth Games is second only to the Olympics for us as an opportunity to inspire young women rugby players.

"We are looking forward to stamping our mark as a rugby team and expressing ourselves on the world stage."

The women's team is in Pool A alongside Canada, South Africa and Kenya at the Games. Pool B sees tournament favourites Australia take on Fiji, England and Wales.

The top two placed teams from pool play advance to the semifinals.

Pool play kicks off on Friday, April 13.

New Zealand squad: Sarah Goss, Portia Woodman, Stacey Waaka, Shakira Baker, Ruby Tui, Theresa Fitzpatrick, Tyla Nathan-Wong, Kat Whata-Simpkins, Kelly Brazier, Gayle Broughton, Niall Williams, Michaela Blyde, Tenika Willison (travelling reserve)