Maddison Levi is widely considered the most exciting rugby player in the country. But this weekend the Gold Coast 24-year-old is a “vulnerable” rookie as she faces up to the biggest challenge of her career: finally making her hotly-anticipated debut in the 15-a-side game for Australia in a historic Test against New Zealand on Saturday.
“I’m really excited,” Levi says. “Representing Australia in two codes is a pretty special achievement and this is a new environment and a massive challenge. I know I’ll probably make mistakes out there and I’m feeling pretty vulnerable but I’ve always set myself high standards and this is about me becoming a better player.”
Levi will debut off the bench in the Wallaroos’ 100th Test as a women’s rugby nation in Auckland. The first of those internationals, in September 1994 at North Sydney Oval, was also against this weekend’s opposition, the Black Ferns, and resulted in a 37-0 loss. In the 30 Tests and 32 years since, Australia have never won.
If the Wallaroos ever needed a talisman to change their fortunes, it’s Maddison Levi. “But there are no expectations on me here,” she says. “I’m still in the development phase with a lot to learn. In 15s there’s more bodies on the field and a lot less space to move. But I’m a confidence player and I’ll find a way to adapt in the big moments.”
That confidence is evident in Levi’s explosive running. But it also comes from within. Despite being 2024 World Sevens player of the year and Australia’s reigning record tryscorer in the format, the 24-year-old has worked hard to better herself off the field.
“We had a psych with us during the 2024 Olympics who helped me understand the pressure I was feeling to perform,” she says. “I always had this feeling that my luck was about to run out. But now I know that the harder I work the ‘luckier’ I’ll get.
“Pressure is a privilege and I’ve learned anxiety and excitement are the same feeling interpreted a different way by the brain. So I’ve worked really hard on visualising what I want to achieve. And that’s allowed me to enjoy the errors and the vulnerability I’ve felt this week because I know they’re stepping stones to getting it right in the future.”
Modesty aside, when Levi runs onto the Mount Smart Stadium on Saturday, New Zealand will be on red alert. In June, she heroically defied a grade-two medial ligament injury to her knee to score twice in the final against the Kiwis in Bordeaux, helping Australia clinch the title of sevens world champions. It showed her teammates the Black Ferns can be beaten.
“Ultimately it was my decision to tell the coaches if I thought I was ready,” she says. “Yes, I’m still raw and need to be in 15s longer to get a true handle on the game. And yes, I’d have liked more games under my belt before debuting but I back myself and all the girls and the coaches have been great in getting around me to teach me.”
Levi is the brightest of the sevens stars to switch to 15s as Rugby Australia aligns its formats ahead of a home Women’s World Cup tilt in the 15s format in 2029 and a Brisbane Olympics sevens campaign in 2032. She joins fellow short-format converts Tia Hinds, Alysia Lefau-Fakaosilea and Bienne Terita in Saturday’s Test squad.
Levi attempted to make this leap ahead of 2025 World Cup but withdrew at the 11th hour. “It was the right call and I have no regrets. The World Cup is a big deal and I didn’t want to come in cold and take the position of someone who’d been working hard in that environment for a long time. I want to earn my spot, same as everyone else.”
She has now done that, although it took the backing of her coach Tim Walsh to do it. “Walshy has helped shape my career and he was the one who put me up to this. Deep down I didn’t think I’d transition as quickly as this. I kind of thought I’d be running around the field like a headless chicken. His push was essential. He believes in me.”
Also in her corner is Levi’s sister, Teagan, with whom she has shared many sevens glories but who is now on her own journey of growth via a NRLW sabbatical with the Gold Coast Titans. Yet both the Levi sisters are signed to remain in rugby until 2029.
Diverging from Teagan after five years together on the sevens circuit has been an important step, says Maddison. “I love doing everything with Teagan, but it’s been awesome to watch her grasp her chance in the NRLW. It’ll be a little bittersweet not to be lining up alongside her this weekend but that chance will come, I’m sure.
“She’ll still be kicking my head after the game, saying ‘why didn’t you do this, why’d you do that?’” laughs Levi. “But she’ll also give me the softer side, picking me up if I’m down. It’s good to have a sister like her. We know when to critique and comfort each other. She’s a source of truth and inspiration for me. I try to be the same for her.”
