1
Superstar Levi sisters re-sign as Australia women's sevens squad named
In a major boost to the Australian women’s sevens side moving forward, superstar sisters Maddison and Teagan Levi have recommitted to the program until at least the 2025/26 season.
ADVERTISEMENT
Maddison was nominated as one of three finalists for World Rugby’s Player of the Year award after an incredible season in green and gold. The AFLW convert was also named in the Dream Team after setting the all-time record of 57 tries in a single season.
As for younger sister Teagan, who was also drafted by the Gold Coast Suns, the 20-year-old enjoyed a breakout season on the World Series circuit.
Teagan started the season outside of the starting side but was goal-kicking and starting as one of the primary playmakers by the time the Cup final at the prestigious Hong Kong Sevens kicked off.
The Levi sisters have formed a formidable partnership that will continue to benefit the Australian Sevens program for an additional two years before the Paris Olympics.
“The Aussie Rugby Sevens program is probably the highest level elite, full-time women’s sports program in the country,” Maddison Levi said in a statement.”
“The level of the coaching and training, the S&C, the medical side, the player development, and the standards and expectations within the group are as good as it gets.“Plus, we have experienced so much over the last two seasons – travelling the world with this group, winning major tournaments – that it just made it such an easy decision to continue on with the squad beyond the Olympics next year.“There is so much to look forward to for this program – and I will get to do it with my sister, as well as with this extended family that is our team.”
Teagan added: “I feel like I am just getting started in Rugby Sevens. It has only been two years – we have had great success, but I feel like my contribution is growing every tournament.“We work hard every day to keep improving, and it’s really satisfying when you see the results together as a team. It is such a supportive and hard-working group, and you can see the quality of the program when legends like Charlotte Caslick and Sharni Smale keep re-signing and wanting to stay and play here.“We’ve got a strong core group that has been together for a few years, and we keep regenerating it with exciting talent every year. Bring on the next three seasons!”
ADVERTISEMENT
This news comes as a major boost with coach Tim Walsh naming the Australian Women’s sevens squad ahead of the new-look SVNS season in 2023/24.
Captain Charlotte Caslick will lead the squad which boasts plenty of experience. World Series veterans Sharni Smale and Dominique Du Toit have also been named.
Other returning members of the World Series winning squad of 2022 include the Levi sisters, Faith Natha, Madson Ashby, Demi Hayes, Bienne Terita, Alysia Lefau-Fakosilea, Tia Hinds, Sariah Paki and Lily Dick.
Rising star Bella Nasser returns after a debut season in a green and gold, while Kaitlin Shave, Sidney Taylor and Heidi Dennis have all been picked for the first time.
ADVERTISEMENT
“This is a huge season for the Sevens program, obviously with an exciting new format for the HSBC SVNS and culminating with the Olympics in Paris, which is the absolute pinnacle for our program,” coach Tim Walsh said.
“Our squad still has a huge amount of talent from the dominant 2022 team, not to mention a couple of gold medallists in Charlotte and Sharni.“We have a number of players that can be considered among the best players in the Sevens world and we have added to that this year with some exciting stars of the future in Kaitlin, Sidney and Heidi.“Maddison and Teagan are genuine competitive culture drivers in our squad, which is quite remarkable when you consider how inexperienced they are.“They have quickly gone from rookies to elite players on the world circuit. Maddi has become one of the best players in the world and someone that all oppositions fear.“Teagan’s improvement over the last 12 months is a testament to her toughness, resilience, and desire to be better. We are thrilled to keep such outstanding players – and people – in the Rugby Sevens program.”
The Australian women’s and men’s teams get their seasons underway in just a couple of weeks’ time on December 2-3 in Dubai, before visiting Cape Town a week later.
Perth, Vancouver, Los Angeles, Hong Kong, Singapore and Madrid are the other stops on the road to the Paris Games in 2024.
AUSTRALIA WOMEN’S SEVENS SQUAD – 2023/24 SEASON1. Lily Dick2. Sharni Smale3. Faith Nathan4. Dominique Du Toit5. Teagan Levi6. Madison Ashby7. Charlotte Caslick ©8. Kaitlin Shave9. Tia Hinds10. Bella Nasser11. Demi Hayes12. Maddison Levi13. Heidi Dennis22. Bienne Terita44. Sidney Taylor55. Alysia Lefau-Fakaosilea65. Sariah Paki
Comments on RugbyPass
“upon leaving said establishment I tripped over a stool knocking some bottles into the air and as I fell I accidently dislodged a police officer’s teaser who was passing by on an unrelated matter there by landing on said taser which caused it to discharge 50,000 watts into me. Out of shock I shouted Ireland are going to win the world cup. Upon waking up I apologised for the distress caused by my Ireland comment. The matter is closed. If you wish to pursue this matter may I remind you what I told Wayne Barnes when he sent me off. I AM A BIG ASS MAN”. Or was it “I AM A BIG ASS, MAN” or was it “I AM A BIG ASSMAN”?
1 Go to commentsThe only championship the Boks hold are: Great value for the incompetence of referees during the RWC Moaning endlessly and champions of spewing utterly ignorant 💩 at all times. Displaying the dangers of a third world education End of.
28 Go to commentsSouth Africa and Rassie do a phenomenal job of treating the 4 years in between World Cups as nothing more than a training exercise to build squad depth. The Six Nations money that keeps Irish rugby afloat is unfortunately too important to allow the same approach, and basic population size means we'll never get close to matching the depth of South Africa, England and France. That being said, Irish rugby is in a relatively good place and slowly improving inch by inch. If the other three provinces can pull the finger out and actually develop some players it'd be even better.
28 Go to commentsGood on Clarke for taking on the criticism and addressing his deficiencies, principally his laziness.
2 Go to comments“It is the people’s favourite against the actual favourite. It is the people’s champions against the actual champions. I’m joking, but it’s going to be a fantastic series.” Why did Darcy make that joke knowing it would be used as click bait? Why did RP headline it as a serious comment? Anyway, the tired comment isn’t very astute. SA players may have played more games etc. Darcy over estimated as a pundit.
28 Go to commentsNot sure Frisch will ever make the French team with Depoortère and Costes waiting in the wings to take over from Danty and Fickou.
1 Go to commentsThe Irish are tired and the Boks are old. The test series won't confirm who is best in the world, it will confirm which team needs to pursue the task of rebuilding with the most urgency.
28 Go to commentsGrant, the first time I have seen an article written by you. Maybe I have missed your previous stuff. These days all professional players effectively play a common season so all top players are equally tired, or rested. That is the job of the coaching ticket to build squad depth and juggle resources so players are ‘ fresh’ when the big games come. Possibly Ireland are less inclined to juggle squad compared to Rassie, who is prepared to take the risk to rest players as well as build depth throughout the year so come WC he has a full squad, experienced and rested enough to win 7 games. After all, to win WC you need to get through the tournament and then win the final big 3 games. Ireland should try and build a bit so come final 3 they are ready. So far only played final 1(QF). I am so looking forward to the Irish tour. Hopefully Rassie has enough time to align his guys, as he draws them from across the globe, and not from 2 sides locally( eg Leinster, Munster). No excuses, going to be exciting.
28 Go to commentsIn football, teams get fined and sometimes docked points for deliberately fielding weakened teams yet Leinster can pretty much do as they please with no comebacks. Could it be because Ireland run the URC? Could it be that Ireland run the ERC? Whichever it is, it stinks!!
6 Go to commentsIreland are only the People’s Champions in Irish eyes. The rest of the world do not care for them very much because of attitudes of people like Gordon, Ferris, Best, Jackman…I could go on!!
28 Go to commentsNot sure how Karl Dickson can ever ref a Quins game, he played for the club for 8 years as understudy to Care and is still close friends with half the team
3 Go to commentsAre bookies taking bets on how many times Vunipola's eventual statement will use the term “elders"? My money is on at least 4 times.
4 Go to commentsSo Ireland will be tired, despite having the most rested test squad in the world. They only play tests, champions cup and urc play off games ffs! Case in point; Leinster sent a B squad to SA for their last two games while their first xv rested up and trained at their leisure for the sf vs Saints at the so called ‘neutral venue’ of Croke Park. So tired? Do me a favour… And as for “people’s champions”? Seriously??? Outside of Ireland they are respected for their ability to win 6N. And of course plenty of inconsequential test friendlies without any real pressure. WC ko games when the pressure is white hot? Not so much…
28 Go to commentsSurprising how standing down or benching a player can do wonders for their motivation. Several players this week in that category.
2 Go to commentsHaha lads lads lads, that’s how you have a holiday In Majorca
4 Go to commentshit on Lynagh was defo late and card-worthy. The other 2 are bang on OK. Hurts you at Test level if youre timing is off and the nostrils are flared. Jerry C knew when to lean in on one, Finau just needs to keep his discipline and head straight.
7 Go to commentsSlade was exceptional against Gloucester. Not only was he doing the classic Slade stuff of running amazing lines and timing passes to perfection to put his wingers into space, he was kicking goals, flying off the line smashing people and crashing into rucks like a flanker… his hair even looked on point. 😍
1 Go to commentsThat’s really sad, hope everyone involved is ok. At least he had pants on.
4 Go to commentsTo be fair it was nowhere bear the Leinster first team (for which, btw, Leinster copped nothing like the outrage that Jake White did for sending a rotated team to the UK). But it’s fun to watch the Stormers doing their thing. They are attracting big, diverse crowds of young fans, and deservedly so. Great to see.
1 Go to commentsIt might be legal but he’s sailing pretty close to the wind. Not a lot needs to go wrong for Finau to end up in the bin. Was it late? Not quite, but borderline. High? A couple of CM within the laws, no room for error with that one. Did he wrap the arms? There was a token effort to wrap one arm, the intent was clearly to hit with the shoulder. So yeah, it’s legal, just. But as we all know, a very slight change in the dynamics could easily have him seeing red. Hopefully not when it really matters.
7 Go to comments