Bottles were popped on the Gold Coast as Australia’s newest rugby sevens stars tended to unfinished business in the Commonwealth Games on the other side of the world.
A 22-12 defeat of Fiji in the gold medal game in Coventry, just outside of host city Birmingham, on Sunday night erased the pain of an extra-time loss to New Zealand four years earlier.
Related: South Africa stun Fiji to win men’s rugby sevens Commonwealth gold
It came after their rousing defeat of the Kiwis in the semi-final the night before and a pool game loss to Fiji that could have upended their campaign altogether.
Mainstays Sharni Williams, Demi Hayes and Charlotte Caslick were again among the best of a side that burst onto the scene with gold at the sport’s Olympic debut in 2016.
But in Levi sisters Maddison and Teagan, as well as grand final try-scorers Faith Nathan and Madison Ashby, a new wave showed this year’s world champions were surging towards Paris 2024.
The men’s team settled for fourth place, losing 26-12 to New Zealand in the bronze-medal game. But they watched the women in awe. “It’s fricking amazing,” said Josh Turner. “The girls are incredible. They’re the best team in the world.”
Maddison scored 10 tries in five games, including a hat-trick against New Zealand that was sealed by an assist from her sister.
Lured out of an AFLW contract with hometown Gold Coast by Rugby Australia last year, the 19-year-old guessed her parents would be enjoying the moment.
“Mum had a bottle of champagne ready at 6am,” she said. “She was ready to celebrate and I think she’ll be celebrating all day ... mum dad, all our friends and family came around to watch so I’m sure she’ll be on it all day.
“I don’t know if I can say [what they said] on camera; they
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