From AFLW draftee to Olympics hopeful: Teagan Levi’s rise to SVNS stardom
Teagan and Maddison Levi would’ve been two of the most in-demand athletes in sporting-mad Australia before they made the decision to re-sign with the Australian sevens program this month.
Both Levi sisters have found a home in sevens, and that’s a breath of fresh air for the code following a shambolic few months for rugby union in Australia.
While both sisters were drafted by the Gold Coast Suns in AFLW, the star duo will continue to don Aussie gold for the foreseeable future after penning a deal beyond the Paris Games.
Coach Tim Walsh revealed last week that they had “daily and weekly” offers from rival codes, and it must’ve been temping. Speaking with RugbyPass last year, Maddison said she couldn’t “go a whole day without crying” after leaving the Suns.
Young sister Teagan made the same call to leave AFLW behind, without even playing a game of professional Aussie Rules – although the talent had taken photos in a Suns jersey.
But as the now 20-year-old put it: “We both had that dream to chase and rugby sevens offered that a little bit more.” That decision changed their lives forever.
Both sisters played in Australia’s gold medal-winning sevens side at the 2022 Birmingham Games, they won the 2022 Rugby Sevens World Cup in South Africa, and are World Series champions too.
But there’s a bigger prize on the horizon. Greatness awaits on the world’s biggest sporting stage with nations set to come together at the Paris Olympics next July.
“I got drafted and then obviously rugby approached our manager saying that they wanted us as well,” Tegan Levi told RugbyPass in Brisbane earlier this month.
“It was such a hard decision because growing up I loved both sports and I still love it to this day but you have to look at the future and I think rugby sevens offers more… getting to travel the world and I (with it) being an Olympic year this year it’s pretty exciting.
“We always say the door is not shut to AFLW, we could always go back, but right now my eyes are set on that Olympic medal.
“We’re definitely our own person, 100 per cent, but I think we both had that dream to chase and rugby sevens offered that a little bit more than AFLW.
“That opportunity, once you put your foot in the door, obviously only 13 get to travel to each tournament and 12 people get to play so… once you’re in the door you have to keep your foot there.
“AFL is always there to come back to but as I said, at the moment the priority is rugby sevens.”
In the second half of last season’s World Sevens Series, the Levi sisters showcased their attacking flair and bone-crunching defence as they formed a formidable partnership in Aussie gold.
Maddison went on to break the record for tries scored in a single season with 57, and the 21-year-old was rewarded for her form with a nomination for World Rugby’s Sevens Player of the Year.
While Maddison didn’t win, it just goes to show that the Levi’s are the real deal. Teagan even joked – half serious, half not – that she wants to “be up there with the best but I’ll let her shine for a bit.”
“The Sydney Sevens, I was going on off the bench… then I think (coach Tim) Walshy just had some trust in me and finally got to have a kick and show that I can actually kick,” Teagan added.
“I think it’s good that he believes in me. Hopefully, I can keep starting now as starting kicker and be a young leader for those coming up and coming into the program, but also to guide the team.
“Everyone on the field needs a voice and we always say that it’s a team sport so not one person can do the job, you need effort, support no matter what. I think if we’re all helping each other out, not just one person speaking up for all of us then hopefully we’ll get that job done.”
Following a breakout campaign on the world sevens stage, Teagan is hoping to contribute even more to the successes of the Australian sevens program moving forward.
With the new-look SVNS series getting underway in Dubai this weekend, preseason is in the books. Now is the time for players to make their mark when it counts.
Australia have been globetrotting as they ramped up their preparation for the season. The Aussies flew to Italy, Ireland and Fiji for various small-scale sevens competitions and training runs.
They even get the better of a New Zealand development side – which included World Cup winner Theresa Fitpatrick and rising star Jorja Miller – at Brisbane’s Ballymore Stadium at the Oceania Sevens.
But that’s all in the past. The new-look SVNS series awaits, and the Olympics are not too far behind.
“We always say that if it was easy, everyone would do it.
“When times get hard and tough we always say, ‘You’ve got to support that person next to you because they’re going to help you win that gold medal.’
“When you’re dying out on that field you’ve got to take that next step and push yourself so I think we’re really working hard on supporting each other and hopefully we get that gold medal in the end.
“I’d like to obviously win as many of the World Series as we can as a team. Personally, I want to play my best footy. I’m probably the fittest I’ve ever been.
“Obviously being a kicker, restarts are a big thing so giving my girls the best chance to get the ball back.
“Obviously not talking about the gold medal but that’s the big end result.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Surprised that Ramos isn't starting at 15. But what a squad of galacticos!
2 Go to commentsWhy is it a snub? What journalistic garbage is that? Sure the guy is a great player, but there are plenty of loose forwards and not all of them can be Springboks. Also, I know of no-one who doubts Rassie’s judgment. South Africa has a conveyor belt of loose forwards that just keeps producing, so the competition is intense. I certainly wish him well, but there is no entitlement and there is no snub.
17 Go to commentsSkelton may be brought back for the Wallabies so that would be the only reason that may hinder Wilson. Easily the form, most skilful and game IQ of any Oz 8. Valentini’s best and favourite position is 6, but lineouts may be an issue with Skelton, Valentini and Wilson. Will be interesting what Schmidt goes for but for me Wilson should be picked on form. Schmidt rewards work rate, skill and consistency. All that glitters every so often won’t be in contention. Greely is one of those players that has a knack of making the right decision. A coach is going to love him because he knows week in week out he’s going to get the job done. The second try Greely wasn’t the guy who made the initial break it was Flook, Greely was at the bottom of the ruck when Flook was off along the sideline. Greely got up and made the effort to catch up with play but also read the play nicely and hit the pass from Campbell at pace and then held the pass beautifully to Ryan.
6 Go to commentsSpot on Ben. Dead right. Havili looked great at 10. Easily the highest rugby IQ of any NZ player these days. Getting a kick charged down is a result of getting used to adjusting your depth to the line at 10, which he will sort out with time. But other than that it was an outstanding first effort in that position this year. I think the NZ media has misunderstood this directive from Razor. Havili might rank behind B Barrett this year, but Beuden is 33 this month and won't last much longer. DMaC is great but flaky and not really a test match animal (his efforts in Dunedin versus Aus last year for example). If Razor can't have Mounga, DMaC is too unstructured for Razor (and is just too small for test rugby). Havili will end up our first choice first five, and in partnership with Jodie will be excellent. Two triple threat operators in tandem, and big bodies and tough tacklers to boot. Jordoe will be the ABs goal kicker. I am an Aucklander and Blues (and Warriors) fan, but Havili at 10 is going to be sensational in time… he can be the best first five in the world by the end of this year. No question.
6 Go to commentsSharks deserved to be far further back by the last quarter. Their tackling was awful, their set pieces were disappointing, their defensive organization was poor (especially on the Kok side of the D line), they kept making unnecessary errors, and they never looked like cracking the Clermont defense during those first 60m. Masuku kept them in touch, with some help from the Clermont generosity on penalty opportunities. Agree with the writer of this article. It was belligerence, and ability to raise their pressure game just enough, that turned the last quarter into a Bok-style shutout. Clermont have a reputation of not playing the full 80m, and there was a bit of that for sure. But, quite often when the intensity of a team drops off in the last quarter credit is due to the opponent for tiring them out. At 60m, with the Kok try, you thought that just maybe the game was on. At 70m, with the Mapimpi contribution, one felt that Clermont were fading, while facing a team that would maintain the pressure game through the final whistle. Good win in the end, but the Sharks are still playing way below their potential. And with their resources, and a coach that has had enough time to figure things out, they are running out of excuses.
6 Go to commentsGood riddance
1 Go to commentswel the crusaders were beaten by a queensland reds side that hadnt beaten them at home since 1999 and queensland reds partied like it was 1999
6 Go to commentsHard to disagree with the 5 points - with the exception that Wilson should be a squad member but, depending on the other loose forward selections, is not yet a shoo-in. McReight is. Aussie is looking a lot better this year and JS has some selection options. Also, Havili’s tendency to get caught, charged down is also a liability at times but he seemed focused (mostly) and is definitely a consideration for utility back-up. Still feel Reihana is a better prospect at 1st five for Saders.
6 Go to commentsYeah nah, still not sure on Havili tbh. Even though I’m a Crusaders fan through and through I’d be stunned if Razor considers him after seeing some of the stunning talent coming through up North.
6 Go to commentsThink it was a great defensive performance by Northampton. They didn't have stage fright in the first half, the Nienaber defense smothered them. They limited Leinster to 15-3 in the first half. It could have been over by then. A great try from Leinster in the start of the second half looked to have sealed it. But Byrne missed another conversion. Northampton started trying little kicks behind the Leinster wingers. Leinster messed one and Smith brilliantly made the conversion. Leinster decided to tighten the game after Byrne missed a straight forward penalty. A few errors got NH into the 22 and they scored and converted with a few minutes left. Another brilliant steal from Lawes saw NH have a final attack which was turned over by Conan. A classic semi final. World record attendance of 82,300. Leinsters 3 week preparation warranted for this one.
1 Go to commentsJust came back from the game and the atmosphere was amazing. Players stayed afterwards for more than a hour to sign stuff and take photos with fans. Great day out.
6 Go to commentsA great game. The Sharks without Etsebeth are a shadow of the team compared to when he plays. The limitations of Some of the expensive Sharks players are being exposed. Credit to Clermont for some exhilaration play at times.
6 Go to comments100% Mr Owens. But who would want to be a referee.? It must be the most difficult job on earth.
1 Go to commentsStarts to be overdone and oversold this systematic SA narrative…which nevertheless has the merit in this case to recognise blatant refereeing mistakes in their favor
6 Go to commentsNice article. Shades of Steinbeck. They can win the final if they take the game seriously; but only if they take it seriously.
6 Go to commentsWhat a sad way to end a glittering career. Somebody should tell him to delete his social media accounts and face the consequences of what he's done. Then he should slip away quietly into obscurity. This isn't likely to happen, something tells me he'll be back in The Sun / Daily Mail sooner rather than later.
5 Go to commentsguys its fine! he understands why he did what he did and has taken accountability for it; why should he have to be accountable to a court? after all he did was abuse people in person - its not as if he was engaging in _online_ abuse!
5 Go to commentsChiefs flanker Kaylum Boshier yellow-carded for collapsing the scrum as it rolled towards the line. It was a maul….
1 Go to commentsyou know, i’m a leinster fan so I want Northampton to lose and it is gonna be tuff with Cortney lawes, Alex michell and the other guys🏉 lets go leinster🏉
1 Go to commentsWelcome to the Pro ranks. Those hard teams of old do hit the sole better though. its a dog fight at the top.
6 Go to comments