EXCLUSIVE: Aussie star Maddison Levi 'itching' to return from injury as World Cup carrot dangles
She's the best rugby sevens player in the world, but even Maddison Levi can admit she is enjoying a "well-earned break" after what was a "rollercoaster" 2024 campaign.
The speedster starred for Australia throughout the year, including scoring 14 tries during the side's fourth-placed finish at the Paris Olympics.
However, in the midst of a chaotic schedule in national colours, Levi was dealt a setback after fracturing her thumb during the Perth Sevens tournament last month.
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Maddison Levi has been dealt an injury blow. Getty
It has forced the 22-year-old to sit out and watch her teammates play without her, which saw the Aussies finish third in the Vancouver Sevens over the weekend in what Levi described as a "frustrating" experience to watch from afar.
"I watched every game, definitely supporting - probably more frustrating that I can't do anything," Levi told Wide World of Sports.
"The girls played really well and created some more depth within the team.
"I think having a sister (Teagan) playing as well, I get more nervous watching her than she does playing, making sure she's doing the right things ... I'm probably her harshest critic."
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While sitting back isn't something Levi has been used to since bursting onto the scene as a teenager, the Gold Coast product is trying to take it in her stride.
"I'm looking at the positives, which I try to do with any aspect of my life," she said.
Maddison Levi in action for Australia. Getty
"It's a well-earned break that I wouldn't normally give myself with sevens leading into 15s and then hopefully the World Cup - there's not a lot of down time there.
"As much as I hate being on the sidelines, it's probably good to just fine-tune everything and get my body right and make sure I'm getting fitter, faster and stronger.
"This is probably my first major injury and a thumb is not too bad.
"It has made me more eager to play - we kind of had that lull period after a rollercoaster year, but this has made me itching to get back out there with the girls."
While she isn't expecting to be sidelined for long, Levi knows there is a massive year ahead and it could present the opportunity to achieve a rare feat.
Alongside her sister Teagan and a host of other sevens players, Levi will line up in the Super Rugby competition as she looks to mount a case for selection in the World Cup.
"I think the more we watch the girls who have transitioned into that 15s space, the more excited we get," she said.
Maddison Levi alongside her Queensland Reds teammates. Queensland Reds
"We want to not only complement the girls who are already there, but also stamp what we know from sevens and transition that and build on what we've learned.
"We won the sevens World Cup back in 2023, so to play in another World Cup in a different code and become a dual international is pretty exciting.
"Not many people have done it and I think the beauty of women's sport is that we can transition out to play both versions of the sport.
"We've got to keep our foot in the door for more opportunities and take it while we can."
Levi is expected to feature for the Queensland Reds during the Super Rugby Women's season, all while juggling her commitments on the sevens circuit, before hopefully earning a spot in the Wallaroos squad for the Rugby World Cup in August.
