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Maddison Levi Named For Wallaroos Debut as Rugby Australia Pushes Sevens‑to‑15s Pathway

Rugby Australia is accelerating the crossover of top sevens players to the Wallaroos to build a full‑time women’s program backed by a $40 million Ballymore high‑performance hub.

Overview

  • Levi was named on the Wallaroos match‑day 23 for the team’s 100th Test against New Zealand and is in line to make her 15s debut, a selection confirmed by Rugby Australia on Thursday.
  • Coaches including assistant Mike Ruthven and interim director Tim Walsh publicly said they believe Levi can adapt from sevens and make an impact off the bench in Auckland.
  • Former Black Fern Pia Tapsell was cleared under World Rugby rules to switch allegiance and was also named as an uncapped option in the match‑day squad.
  • Rugby Australia announced a $40 million redevelopment of Ballymore in Brisbane to become a permanent high‑performance base for the Wallaroos and national sevens programs, with construction to start later this year and a target completion before the 2029 World Cup.
  • The selections and facility investment form part of a wider strategy to share elite sevens talent across formats and move the Wallaroos towards a full‑time professional program while contract rules mean Teagan Levi will not be released for the Rugby League World Cup.