Jo Yapp on injured sevens star Maddison Levi’s Wallaroos ambition

Australia coach Jo Yapp hasn’t ruled Maddison Levi out of contention for a spot in the national 15s squad even though the HSBC SVNS Series phenomenon is understood to be in doubt to play for the Queensland Reds over the coming weeks.

Levi, 22, won’t play at SVNS Vancouver from Saturday to Monday (AEDT) after suffering a thumb injury at last month’s home event at Perth’s HBF Park. The two-time Olympian scored nine tries in four matches but didn’t take any further part in the tournament.

After the fourth SVNS Series stop of the season, nine members of Australia’s sevens side were set to play up to two matches for their respective Super Rugby clubs before returning to international duty in time for the highly anticipated Hong Kong Sevens.

Younger sister Teagan Levi, three-time Olympian Charlotte Caslick, Australia sevens captain Isabella Nasser, and recent SVNS Series debutant Khali Henwood will all train with the Reds after returning home, with the intention of representing Queensland soon after.

While Levi is in doubt to play Super Rugby, the reigning World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year remains in the race to don Wallaroos gold during a Rugby World Cup year. Yapp was asked whether Levi’s injury would bring an early end to the sevens star’s Wallaroos ambition.

“What’s really important for us is that we treat all the players as individuals and if a player hasn’t been able to play because of injury, we can’t use that as a reason to rule players out,” Yapp told RugbyPass at the Super Rugby Women’s season launch.

“We have to work with them, work with the sevens to make sure we’re finding other opportunities to give them a chance to show what they can do in 15s.

“They’re all coming with something different and I think we have to make sure we manage them all as individuals because they’re all looking at different positions,” she had said earlier.

“I’m excited to see all of them come in. They’re super enthusiastic, they’re really eager to learn, so I think it kind of just adds that depth to our squad.”

Tia Hinds, Bienne Terita and Demi Hayes are all off to the ACT Brumbies, which is a big boost for the club playing out of Australia’s capital. Meanwhile, Sariah Paki will be the only member of the sevens side playing for defending Super Rugby Women’s champions the NSW Waratahs.

The Wallaroos made history late last year by taking out the WXV 2 title in Cape Town, which is the first piece of major silverware in team history. They beat Wales, tournament hosts South Africa and a previously undefeated Scottish outfit en route to title-winning glory.

With the Women’s Rugby World Cup in England just around the corner, coach Yapp was clear about the importance of players performing for their respective Super Rugby clubs in a bid to play at the showpiece event which gets underway on August 22.

“It’s really exciting because ultimately we want the girls playing competitive games,” Yapp added. “Last year, obviously, the Tahs were extremely strong in the competition and a lot of those girls were Wallaroos.

“We really need those players challenged week in, week out.

“To see, already, the level of competition is going to give us a much better opportunity to see those players challenged.”

Australia have been drawn in a tough pool against Samoa, Pacific Four Series rivals the United States of America, and international powerhouse England who have firmed as strong favourites to take out the top prize in women’s 15s rugby on home soil.