Rugby sevens star Maddison Levi has moved to close down speculation of a guest stint in NRLW and says she would be keen play at the Women’s World Cup despite having never played a game of 15-a-side rugby.
Levi was at the centre of a tug-of-war between the rival codes this week with her manager – dual international Mat Rogers – seemingly pushing for her to spend the sevens offseason playing rugby league, with two clubs said to be interested in the guest stint.
Rugby Australia shut the talk down and Levi, who was named Australia’s women’s sevens player of the year at the Rugby Australia Awards, said she was sticking to rugby – despite suggesting she had future interest in NRLW.
“Right now, I’m obviously signed till 2026. We haven’t won a gold medal at the Olympics yet. So I’m definitely not stepping away from this sport,” she told reporters.
“I’m definitely open to other doors, obviously, having played AFLW and hopefully NRLW. But yeah, I really want to take home that medal and leave a legacy.
“I just think you can’t top this sport. You get to travel day in and day out, just seeing the world from that point of view and actually being able to hop on a plane and just, ‘Oh sorry, I’m going to Dubai next week.’
“It’s pretty insane that that’s my life and I get to do it with my sister and get to experience the world. Some people never leave Australia, but I get to see all these beautiful cultures and play the amazing game that I love.
“It’s so fast-paced and just the growth of the sport is getting bigger and better so I think that’s the exciting thing about sevens at the moment.”
Levi said she wanted to become one of sevens rugby’s greats.
Maddison Levi of Australia reacts after victory in the final against New Zealand during the HSBC SVNS rugby tournament on December 3, 2023 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Martin Dokoupil/Getty Images)
“I think ultimately, I want to go down one of the greatest wingers to play the game,” Levi said.
“[New Zealander] Portia Woodman just retired and she’s got this big legacy. So I’d like to follow in her footsteps and ultimately leave the game with having my name branded in the game, which would be pretty special.
“There are the little achievements that we haven’t quite yet got and a gold medal would be really nice with the girls.”
She said she had sevens coach Tim Walsh’s blessing to try to make the Wallaroos World Cup team.
“I think a dual international is something pretty special,” she said.
“I think I’ve only just recently had chats about us sevens girls (playing RWC), but I’ve also never played a game of fifteens in my life so who knows how I’d go. I might not even make the team with Maya Stewart out there carving up
“I’ve got to keep playing sevens at the moment with the series coming up and then maybe a dual international and the ride would be pretty awesome.
“They had an expression of interest last year for girls that would play fifteens and I put my name down straight away. I think just the beauty to play not just sevens but fifteens on an international level is something pretty special.
