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The Live Sport Bible is here!Miller claims top prize as Black Ferns Sevens stumble in World Series finale
Ian Chadband, AAP • June 8th, 2026 8:38 am
Photo: Photosport
Maddison Levi has defied a knee injury to score a superb double and propel Australia's rugby women to world sevens championship glory in France.
The Aussies defeated their biggest rivals in the last global showdown of the season, downing their great rivals New Zealand 26-19 in the final in Bordeaux, the last leg of the three-tournament world championship series.
The Black Ferns Sevens had already secured the World Series title, with the first six rounds deciding the World winners as part of the competition's new structure.
Their star player Levi had been injured the previous week when they won the second leg in Valladolid, Spain, and she was kept under wraps for the first two days of competition until Sunday's semi-finals and final.
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"It's pretty surreal," admitted Levi. "The girls helped me get back and I wouldn't be here without them. We spoke before the game that it's been our most consistent season, and we've been in every final.
"We've beaten an amazing New Zealand side. It's always hard when we play them. No matter even when we beat them, it's always a tough game."
Meanwhile, Jorja Miller was named women's player of the year for the second season running.
“[It’s] an absolute honour... I’m stoked,’’ Millar told Sky.
“But, honestly, all the credit goes to the girls around me. And I know it sounds a cliche, but without these girls, I wouldn’t be here and I wouldn’t be able to succeed on the world stage. So this is a team award and I’m just proud of the team.”
The overall men's world title went to South Africa, despite being defeated in the semi-finals in Bordeaux by hosts France, who went on to defeat New Zealand 14-5 in the final.
South Africa’s Tristan Leyds was named men’s player of the year.
Additional reporting by Sport Nation
