Sisters Maddison and Teagan Levi reveal ‘raw emotion’ that made mum Richelle a viral sensation

They reduced a rugby legend to tears and sent their mum into such hysterics she quickly became a television cult hero. So what’s next for Gold Coast rugby’s sister act?

They reduced a rugby legend to tears and sent their mum into such hysterics she quickly became a television cult hero.

It is safe to say Commonwealth Games champions Maddison and Teagan Levi created pure ecstasy for their close knit followers, as the Gold Coast duo plot their next milestones.

The sister act of the Australian Rugby 7s side returned to the Glitter Strip with gold medals proudly hanging from their necks, with the pair playing crucial roles in the triumph.

Whether it was Maddison scoring a hat-trick in the final against Fiji — finishing with 10 tries for the tournament — or Teagan laying on the decisive moment for her sister to cross against New Zealand, their performances have sent a warning shot to their forthcoming World Cup rivals next month.

Levi sisters return with Gold

The Levis' elation after securing the victory brought out the water works from their agent, former dual-code star Mat Rogers, and incited jubilant celebrations from their mother, Richelle, which sent the Sunrise morning show panel into stitches.

“I’m not going to lie it was a bit cringe, but I guess it just shows the raw emotion of the whole family and how everyone celebrates,” Maddison laughed of her mum’s televised reaction.

“I guess you don’t really see it. You always see how the athletes cope and how they celebrate, but I think it’s not just an individual effect.

“You don’t just get effected individually, the whole family does, and she’s ridden the highs and lows with us. To actually have her raw emotion and how happy and proud she was was pretty special.”

For younger sister Teagan, who in some media circles was recognised as the find of the tournament, the chance to share in the excitement with her sister was already a reward for effort.

But to lay on the match winning try against New Zealand early in the campaign, the victory which the siblings said truly launched their surge to top of the podium, was a next level feeling.

Levi sisters return with Gold

“I hadn’t had too many minutes game time until the weekend that just went by. Getting to link up with Mads on the field was awesome to get that winning try over New Zealand,” Teagan said.

“The level of footy they play is awesome, so to finally be involved in that and have a run around there was very good. The tempo of the footy definitely gets faster and the girls are definitely bigger and stronger humans, so you have to put your best foot forward.”

Having gone from the multi-talented Miami State High School students who turned to sport in a bid to get out of class to world beaters, there are plenty of future options at the Levis’ disposal.

Previously members of the Suns AFLW squad, the pair now have a World Rugby Sevens Series and Commonwealth Games accolades to their credit, with the World Cup kicking off in South Africa on September 9.

That for now is where their focus lies, and Rogers — who himself pulled on the green and gold in 7s upon his switch from rugby league to union — said they would determine their next phase once their 2022 pursuits were over.

Levi sisters return with Gold

“I was bummed when I didn’t get asked to play in the Melbourne Commonwealth Games in 2006, they only took two players and they took Chris Latham and Lote Tuqiri,” Rogers said.

“I was genuinely disappointed though, so to see these girls go on to a gold medal is enormous. I just want to take that yucky stuff out of their hands and sit them down when we’ve got a clear picture of what their options are.

“But clearly their options are whatever they want. They could dominate in AFL, they could dominate in NRLW and they’re dominating in Rugby 7s.

“We’re not going to be silly and make a straight out decision, we’re just going to sit down after this when the dust settles after the World Cup and work out what the future holds.”