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Australia qualify for Paris 2024: The teenager with 'the world ahead of me'
Two more nations have booked their tickets to Paris 2024 after securing their spot in the women’s quarter-finals at an historic Cathy/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens.
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Reigning World Series champions Australia secured their spot at a third-consecutive Olympic Games after beating Ireland 19-12 at Hong Kong Stadium.
The United States are also off to Paris after opening day wins over Spain and Japan; joining New Zealand and France as the only other teams to have qualified out of the women’s series.
As the full-time whistle sounded at Hong Kong Stadium, the Australians didn’t celebrate out in the middle – they saved that for the tunnel.
After walking down the north-west tunnel at the famous sevens venue, the team gathered in a huddle along with head coach Tim Walsh.
But amongst the seriousness of the moment were a few laughs – and they had every right to celebrate.
The Australian women’s team had officially qualified for next year’s Games, but as teenager Teagan Levi said, “The hard work doesn’t stop now.”
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“We are lucky enough to qualify for Paris so we were pretty excited, that was one of our goals this year.
“It’s a squad at the moment so you’ve still got to get picked but the hard work doesn’t stop now.
“It’s only a dream come true and to go to the Olympics would also be a dream come true, alongside some of my best friends and my sister.”
Like her sister Maddison Levi, who has proved herself to be one of the best players on this year’s circuit, Teagan has a background in Australian Rules Football.
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Teagan was drafted sixth overall by the Gold Coast Suns in the AFLW Draft a couple of years ago, and was reportedly among the favourites to go first.
Maddison Levi played Aussie Rules with the Gold Coast Suns, before deciding to pursue Sevens full-time.
– Levi spoke with @FinnMorton5 ✍️ #WorldSevensSeries #Australia #Rugby #WomensRugby https://t.co/CYU52RhPZz
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 16, 2023
But along with her sister, the now 19-year-old decided to pursue a rugby sevens career.
“It definitely wasn’t an easy decision, it was hard, lots of tears, but you couldn’t put up travelling the world with my sister,” she added.
“We’ve been to so many different countries and there’s still a lot to go.
“I’m only a teenager so I’ve got the world ahead of me.”
Playing in the No. 5 jersey, Levi has started both matches for Australia in Hong Kong so far – along with her sister Maddison.
After crossing for a try in their opening pool match against Brazil, Levi added another score to her Hong Kong tally against Ireland.
In front of the roaring fans in the famous south stand, the teenager scored a crucial try in the fifth minute.
“It was awesome to score in front of that south stand (who are) cheering pretty loud.
“The girls got me in the right spot at the right time.
“It’s really exciting (to play in Hong Kong). It’s been a long time coming but for us to finally play in front of the crowd at Hong Kong Sevens, we’ve got told it was amazing and they’re proving it right.”
The Australians have one more match in Pool B, and it’s a blockbuster against an undefeated Fiji side on Saturday.
Comments on RugbyPass
Not sure exactly what went wrong for him at Glasgow but it’s pretty clear he ain’t Franco’s cup of tea. Suspect he would have been better served heading out of Scotland around the same time as Finn, Hoggy and Jonny!
1 Go to commentsBulls disrespected the Northampton supporters and the competition. Decide quickly, fully in or out.
24 Go to commentsI wonder if Parling was ever on England’s radar as a coach? Obviously Borthwick is a great lineout coach, but I do worry he might be taking on too much as both head coach and forwards coach.
1 Go to commentsJason Jenkins has one cap. When Etzebeth was his age he had over 80 caps. Experience matters. He will never amount to what Etzebeth has because he hasn’t been developed as an international player.
2 Go to commentsSays much about the player picking this gig over the easier and bigger rewards offered to him in Japan. Also says a lot about the state sanctioned tax benefits the Irish Revenue offers pro rugby players, with their ten highest earning years subject to an additional 40% tax relief and paid as a lump sum, in cash, at retirement. Certainly helps Leinster line up the financial ducks in a row to fund marquee signings like this!!! No other union anywhere in world rugby benefits from this kind of lucrative financial sponsorship from their government…
5 Go to commentsTrue Jordie could earn a lot more in Japan. But by choosing Leinster he’ll be playing with 1 of the best clubs in the world and can win a champions cup and URC…..
6 Go to commentsThanks for that Marshy, noticed you didn't say who is gonna win it. We know who ain't gonna win it - your Crusaders outfit. They've gone from having arguably the best Super Rugby first five ever, to having a clutch of rookies. Hurricanes all the way!
1 Go to commentsGeez you really have to question the NRLs ability to produce players of quality. Its pathetic. Dont the 25mil in Aus produce enough quality womens players. Sad.
1 Go to commentsBulls fan here, and agree 100% with the conclusion (and little else) of this article. SA sides should absolutely f-off from the champs cup until we get fair scheduling, equal support for travel arrangements and home semis. You know, like all the european teams get.
24 Go to commentsI’m yet to see why Grace would be an ABs contender. He’s pedestrian and lacks the dominance required of a top flight 8.
11 Go to commentsGee my Highlanders were terrible. They have gone backwards since the start of the season. The trouble began when we left Millar behind to prep as the 10 against the Brumbies and he was disconnected from the team that came back from Aussie. We rested Patchell for that game and we blew an avalanche of ball in good attacking positions in the 1st half. Against the Rebels we seem to of gone into a pod system with forwards hanging off from the breakdown leaving Fakatava to secure our ball!
80 Go to commentsPot Kettle, the English and French teams have done it for years.
24 Go to commentsHas virtually played every minute of previous games. Back row of Li Lo Willie , Grace and Blackadder would be the 1. Crusaders issue is a very average 1st 5 who cannot run. Kicking in general play is also below par They need to put Yong Kemara in. He must have so.e talent for them to bring him down from Waikato. Hoehepa would struggle to play in so.e club sided
11 Go to commentsI hope this a good thing making all these changes!
3 Go to commentsThe Hurricanes are good, especially with a decent coach now. However, let’s be real, the Crusaders and Chiefs are clearly a good degree weaker without the players they’ve lost overseas now. The Canes lost one player. It’s also why the aussie teams ‘seem’ to be stronger.
9 Go to commentsOr you could develop your own players instead of constantly taking from the SH competition and weakening it in the process? With all the player and financial resources these unions have compared to SH countries you’d think they could manage that, or is weakening the SH comps and their national sides an added bonus? Probably.
3 Go to commentsNot so fast Aaron, we might need you in black yet lol. God knows he’d be a lot less nerve-racking than hot and (very) cold players like Perofeta. It’s really a shame Reuben Love isn’t playing 10, we’ve got enough 15 options.
4 Go to commentsAnd those from the NH still seem to be puzzled (and delighted) why NZ’s depth isn’t what it once was. Over 600 NZ players overseas, that’s insane. This sort of deal is why Super Rugby coaches have admitted they struggle now to find enough quality to fill out their squads.
6 Go to commentsArticle intéressant ! La question devrait régulièrement se poser pour les jeunes français originaires de Nouvelle-Calédonie, Wallis-et-Futuna et de Polynésie entre la Nouvelle-Zélande et la Métropole… Difficile pour la fédération française de rugby de se positionner : soit le choix est fait de dénicher les jeunes talents et de les faire venir très tôt en Métropole, au risque de les déraciner, soit on prend le risque de se les faire “piller” par les All Blacks qui, telle une araignée, essaye de récupérer tous les talents des îles du Pacifique… À la France de se défendre en développant l’aura du XV de France et des clubs français dans ses collectivités d’Outre-mer !
4 Go to commentsWrong bay. He needs to come to the REAL BAY which is Bay Of Plenty and have a crack at making the Chiefs.
4 Go to comments