In the past 48 hours, Australia’s women’s rugby sevens team have put the game back on the map Down Under.
Over the next 24 hours, they can change the game’s perception in Australia if they win another medal.
Following a decade of turmoil in the men’s game, Tim Walsh’s side can change the narrative once again in Australian rugby. Perhaps they already have.
But despite winning Commonwealth gold, the World Cup and, recently, the Madrid 7s, it’s only a medal at the Olympics that moves the needle and garners the international attention Walsh’s side so richly deserve.
In front of a 70,000 fans at the Stade de France over the past two days, Australia’s women, led by Charlotte Caslick, the Levi sisters – Maddison and Teagan – and Faith Nathan and co, have put Australian rugby back in the spotlight. Now they can stay in it.
Should they make the gold medal match in the early hours of Wednesday morning, they will once again send a reminder to the Australian sporting community of what the finest high performance program in the country is.
In recent years Rugby Australia has attempted to sell the narrative that playing union provides experiences only the NRL and AFL can dream of.
The issue has been the stench surrounding rugby union over the past years as the code has limped from one car crash to another.
Now, they have a moment in the sun – and it’s the women once again leading them into brighter days.
One year ago, it was England’s women’s 15-a-side team that brought through 58,000 for a Six Nations finale.
Over the past two days, more than 150,000 people have turned up at the Stade de France to watch 12 women’s teams do battle at the venue of last year’s World Cup final. Day three of the women’s program will be no different.
Team Australia huddles before a women’s Pool B match between Australia against South Africa at Stade de France on July 28, 2024 in Paris. (Photo by Alex Ho/ISI Photos/Getty Images)
These extraordinary three days in the French capital are the snapshot for any young Australian athlete wanting to feature on the game’s biggest stage.
For those inspired by the feats of these 14 golden girls, they have Los Angeles and Brisbane to look forward to over the next eight years.
So who are the 14 women driving Australian rugby forward in Paris?
Charlotte Caslick: Australia’s captain and a three-time Olympian, the 29-year-old is a former World Rugby seven’s player of the year. Caslick led Australia to gold at Rio and remains one of the best playmakers in the game. Caslick is also Australia’s best on-ball exponent and can bring down the biggest in the game.
Dominique du Toit: Retiring at the end of the Paris Olympics, du Toit brings poise and experience to the side. Used predominantly as a weapon off the bench, du Toit is a silky runner and deceptively quick. She’s also one of Australia’s three goal-kickers.
Charlotte Caslick in full flight with Dom du Toit offering support in the background. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
Tia Hinds: Who remembers Madrid? The versatile back banged over a field goal conversion from out wide to sink the Black Ferns and lead Australia into the final. With that, she sealed Australia’s moment. Hinds’ running game came to the fore against Ireland during their earlier pool match, as she ran 50 metres before linking up with Maddison Levi.
Maddison Levi: The Jonah Lomu of women’s rugby. Maddison Levi is well on her way to becoming the game’s greatest tryscorer and already has 11 five-pointers from four matches throughout the tournament to date – an Olympic record. Levi, 22, is at her second Games and saves as many tries as she scores. Levi was described as a “cheat code” by former England sevens captain Rob Vickerman.
Teagan Levi: Known as the ‘Pit Bull’ by teammates for her desire to keep going and get amongst the dirty work, the 20-year-old has stepped out of her sister’s shadow and delivered a stunning campaign to date. Levi is physical and as effective at the breakdown as she is with ball-in-hand.
Maddison Levion her way to the tryline during the Paris Games at Stade de France on July 28, 2024. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
Isabella Nasser: In the absence of the injured Alysia Lefau-Fakaosilea, the hardworking forward has been the glue for Australia’s sevens team. She also comes from good stock, with older brother Josh making his debut for the Wallabies this month. She’s also the daughter of former Test back-rower, Brendon.
Faith Nathan: She might not get the headlines that Maddison Levi does, but Australia’s other winger is seriously deadly. Nathan’s been lethal for Australia throughout the campaign, regularly finding the line. Her five-pointer against Ireland in the quarter-final was a thing of beauty.
Sharni Smale: The team’s veteran and work-horse, Smale is two wins away from bowing out a two-time Olympic gold medallist. Australia’s most physical player, Smale straightens the line and is never beaten in contact.
Bienne Terita: Another player with X-factor on the flanks, Terita is so strong through contact and often beats the first defender.
Kaitlin Shave: Devastatingly ruled out of the tournament midway through Australia’s first-up win over Great Britain, Shave is a former sprinter turned winger and knows her way to the try-line. She also courageously tried to play through pain against GB on day one.
Sariah Paki: One of Australia’s strongest performers throughout this Olympic campaign, Paki often goes under the radar but can play both big and small. She’s been quality for Australia off the kick restart – the third set-piece in sevens rugby that can define matches (just ask Australia’s men’s side).
Australia’s women’s sevens team celebrate their quarter-final win over Ireland a the 2024 Olympics in Paris. Photo: Rugby Australia
Bridget Clark: One of Australia’s newest stars, Clark was inspired by Caslick when she met the gold medallist in 2017. Now, she’s rubbing shoulders with the captain and household name. Clark, 21, is quick and continually makes the right decision.
Kahli Henwood: Called into the Australian team early in their Olympic campaign following Shave’s injury, Henwood hasn’t put a step wrong.
Sidney Taylor: Another Queenslander with a background in Oztag, Taylor is a travelling reserve.
