Maddison Levi produced another heroic performance as Australia overcame New Zealand to be crowned champions of the 2025-26 World Sevens Series in France on Monday (AEST).
Returning from a knee injury on the final day of the season, the superstar bagged two tries and saved one with an incredible defensive play as Australia defeated the Kiwis 26-19 in Bordeaux.
Australia celebrate winning the 2025-26 World Sevens Series. Alex Ho/World Rugby
The victory marks a return to the pinnacle of world rugby for Australia’s women, who were previously crowned champions of the 2023-24 season.
When the full-time whistle sounded, Aussie players streamed in from all directions to pile on top of each other, overflowing with jubilation.
“It’s pretty surreal,” Levi said.
“I think the girls playing the first four games of the tournament leading up to the final was just a momentum builder.
“They helped me get back and I wouldn’t be here without them.”
Levi starred in both defence and attack when the game was on the line in the final three minutes.
First, the 24-year-old brought down Katelyn Vahaakolo with a brilliant chase-down tackle, denying the Kiwis as the Aussies clung to a 19-12 lead. She also forced a turnover.
Then, in the phase that followed, the ball was spread out to Levi on the left edge inside the Aussies’ half of the field, and she palmed off Kelsey Teneti with a powerful right-arm fend-off and accelerated away to seal victory.
Levi, unsurprisingly, was named player of the match.
The other Aussie try-scorers were rising star Heidi Dennis and Olympian Faith Nathan.
“We have an amazing squad at home and the depth of our program is unbelievable,” said Aussie co-captain Isabella Nasser.
“We saved the best until last in regards to our performance and to be able to perform at the crunch time in the World Championship is really important to us.
“I’m just really proud of the girls and how they showed up.”
It was fitting the Aussies and Kiwis squared off in the final – they had faced each other in every decider of the season, which kicked off in Dubai last November.
“Champions are not stars,” said Australia’s coach, Tim Walsh.
“Champions are team players that consistently show up and perform even when they don’t feel like it.
“Being in Bordeaux we themed this tournament as the 2026 vintage. We visited a vineyard for our jersey presentation and wanted the 2026 vintage to be remembered, and we’ve done that.”
Three Aussies named in ‘dream teams’
Three Aussies earned selection in the 2025-26 World Sevens Series “dream teams” named at the completion of the championship in Levi, Nasser and Henry Hutchison.
Hutchison was named in a dream team for the first time, Nasser for the second consecutive season and Levi for the third year in a row.
Levi also finished as top-scorer of the women’s series, having chalked up 64 five-pointers.