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Levi, Kildunne & Portia: 7 women’s sevens players to watch at Olympics
France won the first of two Olympic gold medals on offer for rugby sevens in Paris with Antoine Dupont putting on a clinic against Fiji on Saturday evening. It was a famous event over a record-breaking few days, but the fun isn’t over just yet.
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Now that the men have had their moment in the rugby sevens spotlight, it’s almost time for the women’s draw to get underway at Stade de France. Australia and New Zealand are the favourites, but the fan factor can’t go unnoticed.
With more sold-out crowds expected, the support of the French faithful will come as a major boost to the women’s team as they look to win a gold medal themselves. Canada and the USA should also be expected to challenge for at least bronze this week.
Whether you’re new to sevens or a seasoned fan, here are seven names you need to know before the women’s rugby sevens competition gets underway at the Paris Olympics.
Canada strike first in our Bronze final 🥉#HSBCSVNS | #HSBCSVNSVAN | @RugbyCanada pic.twitter.com/dRjzILg8Zc
— Rugby Sevens (@SVNSSeries) February 25, 2024
CHARITY WILLIAMS (CANADA)
There’s no doubt that Australia and New Zealand are the two clear favourites to take out Olympic gold at Stade de France in the next few days. Both teams have been a class above once again on the SVNS Series but that’s not to say they’re at all invincible.
Canada and France are the only two women’s nations who beat both the Aussies and Kiwis on the Series in 2023/24. France beat New Zealand in Cape Town and later the semi-finals of SVNS Vancouver at BC Place Stadium.
That narrow two-point loss was followed by another disappoint defeat to Canada in the third-place playoff. Try-scoring machine Charity Williams stole the show that day with a forward-roll somersault finish in the 11th minute.
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Williams is the key to Canada’s success at the Paris Games. If they’re going to repeat those heroics against Australia, or beat New Zealand again after doing the job in Madrid last month, then the speedster from Toronto needs to have a big say.
At just 27 years of age, the Canadian is about to compete at her third Olympic Games. Williams helped Canada win bronze at the 2016 Rio Olympics and has continued to play a big role in any of the team’s victories in the years since.
With speed to burn and an impressive amount of strength, Williams has all of the characteristics needed to be a prolific try scorer at the highest level. The Canadian scored 20 times on the Series this season and will want to carry that try scoring form into the Games.
Another player to watch is Olivia Apps who was part of Canadian teams who recently beat New Zealand in 15s and sevens. Both Apps and Williams have been to Olympic Games’ before so that experience will be invaluable to a talented team.
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ELLIE KILDUNNE (GREAT BRITAIN)
There’s been a lot of attention on Antoine Dupont in the men’s game. The Frenchman made a seamless transition from 15s to sevens which included success on the SVNS Series and a historic gold medal at these Olympic Games.
Red Roses star Ellie Kildunne warrants similar attention in the women’s game.
Kildunne, who helped England take out a sixth Women’s Six Nations crown on the bounce earlier this year, brings world-class skill, calmness and confidence to a Great Britain side who need a boost if they want to challenge for a medal.
The Harlequins fullback has already spoken about doing something “special” with GB at the world’s biggest sporting event. GB finished the SVNS Series’ regular season in eighth after a largely underwhelming campaign.
While they finished with bronze behind champions Ireland and Australia at Perth’s HBF Park in January, this team has tended to fall away against more-fancied opposition. That extended into a winless run at the Grand Final in Madrid which Kildunne was a part of.
But keep an eye out for the Red Roses star.
She’s one of the world’s best for a reason.
ILONA MAHER (USA)
If you’ve opened TikTok in the last few days or so, chances are you’ve seen USA’s Ilona Maher pop up with a video or two. The social media sensation has been taking fans behind the scenes of the Olympic Village as the excitement over the Games continues to grow.
But that’s not all the American is known for.
Ilona Maher is one of the biggest names in rugby sevens.
The 27-year-old is probably the most recognisable American rugby player on the back of her candid work on social media and what she’s able to do on the rugby field. No player is more important for the Americans ahead of their push for an Olympic medal.
When the USA line up before a match, Maher is always focused on the job at hand. Maher leads them onto the field of battle and the captain always turns around to give her teammates one final pep talk or words of confidence before a match.
Maher is a leader with both words and action.
Defenders are often drawn in to tackle her, but Maher is more than capable of getting an offload off which allows others including Naya Tapper and Alev Kelter to make something happen.
The American women’s captain is also a force to be reckoned with on the defensive side of the ball. No player should want to run at Maher, who made a couple of massive tackles on the SVNS Series in 2023/24.
Maher scored three tries at the postponed Tokyo Games and will once again have a big say on whether the USA take their place on the podium or not. They showed this season that they can do it, but they’ll need to remedy their lack of consistency.
MADDISON LEVI (AUSTRALIA)
Every single preview piece written about women’s sevens at the Paris Olympic Games should include the name Maddison Levi. Commentator Rob Vickerman said at one of the later events on the Series this season that the Australian scores with every second touch.
Levi makes it look easy. Even at training, this writer watched the Aussies compete against each other the day before the Hong Kong Sevens, and Levi was racing away for long-range tries against some of the world’s best players there, too.
At just 22 years of age, Levi is a former AFLW draftee, and she’s since been nominated for World Rugby’s Sevens Player of the Year. Other than a couple of red cards earlier this year, Levi has undoubtedly been a standout again in 2023/24.
The Australian broke the record for the most tries scored by a player in a women’s SVNS Series season in 2022/23 and continued that fine form in Dubai last December. Levi scored a decisive try to practically seal Australia’s win over New Zealand in that Cup Final.
Levi continued to score tries for fun in Cape Town, Perth, Vancouver, Los Angeles, Hong Kong China, Singapore and Madrid. As an example, the speedster scored a crucial try against New Zealand in the Spanish capital to level the scores with time up on the clock.
There really is no stopping Maddison Levi when the young Aussie gets on a roll.
With experienced campaigners Demi Hayes and Madison Ashby missing the Olympics through injury, some of that x-factor and responsibility will fall on Levi. But if the two-time Olympian keeps doing what she’s been doing, then the Aussies will be in the mix for gold.
Younger sister Teagan Levi is another player to watch, as if Faith Nathan, Dominique Du Toit and captain Charlotte Caslick. This is a world-class team who have their sights well and truly set on a gold medal at Stade de France.
PORTIA WOODMAN-WICKLIFFE (NEW ZEALAND)
Portia Woodman-Wickliffe is one of the greatest rugby players of all time. In both 15s and sevens, the New Zealander has broken record after record during a decorated international career, but all good things must come to an end.
Woodman-Wickliffe has announced that these Olympic Games will be her final international rugby sevens tournament. What the two-time Olympic medallist does after the Paris Games is a question that is yet to be answered.
This writer spoke with team Sarah Hirini recently and the captain had to fight back the tears after being asked about Woodman-Wickliffe’s retirement. The cross-code star has had a meaningful impact on teammates and fans alike.
At the SVNS Series Grand Final in Madrid, there were literally a line of supporters waiting to have their picture taken with Woodman-Wickliffe or ask for an autograph. The New Zealander always has time for fans and that goes a long way.
Woodman-Wickliffe is a two-time Rugby World Cup winner in 15s, an Olympic gold medallist in Tokyo, was crowned the Sevens Player of the Year in 2015 and later the Sevens Player of the Decade in 2020. That’s legendary.
The try-scoring machine will go down in history as one of the most prolific players in the history of the sport on the back of her powerful carries in attack and fearless approach to defence. There are no players quite like Portia Woodman-Wickliffe.
Before the Kiwi steps away from sevens, make sure to enjoy the next few days.
RISI POURI-LANE (NEW ZEALAND)
When Black Ferns Sevens captain Sarah Hirini suffered a devastating knee injury in Dubai last December, youngster Risealeaana Pouri-Lane stepped up as a leader. The 24-year-old wore the figurative armband with pride and led the Kiwis with her actions on the field.
‘Risi’ Pouri-Lane was consistently a standout for the New Zealanders during the recent SVNS Series campaign. The playmaker was a goal-kicking ace who also proved problematic for defenders trying to bring her down with a defensive effort.
The Tokyo gold medallist seems to catch defenders in two minds with quick feet and a desire to keep the play alive with an offload. Pouri-Lane is sometimes the one scoring under the sticks but is more likely to be setting up others including Jorja Miller and Michaela Blyde.
In a team full of superstars, it’s quite easy to look to those who score tries as the ones who hold the key to New Zealand’s success at the Games. But when the going gets tough against Australia, France or Canada, Pouri-Lane has been the difference.
The Kiwi has been calm, composed and calculated in her approach.
It’s quite mesmerizing to watch Pouri-Lane play. Even when the pressure is on, the Australian-born talent is often able to swing momentum back in New Zealand’s favour or extend their advantage on the back of some masterful play.
If New Zealand take out the gold medal at the Olympics then Pouri-Lane should pip the likes of Australia’s Maddison Levi, teammate Michaela Blyde and France’s Seraphine Okemba for Player of the Year honours.
That’s just how good Risi Pouri-Lane has been.
SERAPHINE OKEMBA (FRANCE)
The French men’s team took out Olympic gold on Saturday evening. With a full house at Stade de France cheering them on, Antoine Dupont stood out in the gold medal match to help get the team home on a famous day for French rugby.
Now, it’s over to the women’s team.
France are more than capable of completing what would be an incredible golden double at the Olympic Games. The women’s team have beaten both Australia and New Zealand during the 2023/24 SVNS season, so they’ll believe they can do it again.
Caroline Drouin is a talented playmaker with a prolific background in both 15s and sevens, and the likes of Chloe Pelle and Carla Neisen will also play a big part in their push for a medal. But France’s player to watch is Seraphine Okemba.
Okemba, much like Maddison Levi and Portia Woodman-Wickliffe is a proven try scorer. The 28-year-old scored some big tries in big matches this season and will want to do the very same as the sporting world watches on in Paris.
Former England sevens star turned commentator Rob Vickerman described Okemba as “one of the best all-round stars in sevens” and for those who have watched a bit of the sport, you’ll no doubt agree with that statement.
Okemba made the official ‘Dream Team’ on multiple occasions this season which reinforces not just her importance to this team, but just how good the Frenchwomen is compared to players from around the world.
I mean, what has Kildunne done on a 7s paddock? And, although Portia has had an amazing 7s career, you’d be better off watching out for Jorja and Risi.