Maddison Levi marks Wallaroos debut with two turnovers in 67-19 loss to Black Ferns

Maddison Levi made her long-awaited Wallaroos debut off the bench during a 67-19 defeat to the Black Ferns in Auckland, finishing the match with an equal game-leading two turnovers and more than 25 carry metres in just 30 minutes of action.

The 24-year-old, who is the all-time leading try-scorer for the Australia Women’s Sevens side and the 2024 World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year, was a headline inclusion in the matchday squad despite having not yet played a minute in Super Rugby Women’s. Her selection came for a landmark occasion — the 100th Test in Wallaroos history.

Levi entered the field moments after Black Ferns winger Ayesha Leti-I’iga had scored a try, with both sides setting up for the restart. Her first act on debut was to chase a kick-off from Tia Hinds — a combination the two have used to great effect on the SVNS Series — and while she could not get a hand to the ball, she made the tackle and immediately secured a turnover.

“It was obviously super special. I said all week, just to be involved in the 100th Test match is something that I was so happy to be a part of,” Levi said after the game. “By the end of the game I was like, ‘Oh, is that it?’ I wanted to keep playing.”

Her impact appeared to give the Wallaroos a genuine lift, with Australia wrestling back a share of possession during her time on the field. “When I got out there I just wanted to be able to lift the energy and inject myself how I could,” Levi said. “Getting that ball back and being able to regain possession is something that was super crucial in that moment to try and shift the momentum.”

Despite Levi’s contribution and a second-half try from Waiaria Ellis, the result was never seriously in doubt. The Black Ferns fell just one point short of their record points tally against the Wallaroos in a single match, continuing their dominant run under coach Whitney Hansen following three big wins in the Pacific Four Series earlier this year.

For Levi, the defeat did little to diminish the significance of the occasion. The Olympic Games veteran — who attended both Tokyo and Paris — has also won a Rugby Sevens World Cup gold medal and was drafted by AFLW club the Gold Coast Suns, adding a Wallaroos cap to a remarkable sporting résumé before her 25th birthday.