Rugby superstar Teagan Levi will play in the NRLW this season, with the Gold Coast Titans succeeding in their bid to sign the 22-year-old, even after she inked a new deal with Rugby Australia through to 2028 — and had originally been denied the chance to try her hand at rugby league.
Levi has now been given the green light to play both codes and will join the Titans after the Sevens World Series wraps up. The last two rounds will be hosted in Spain in late May and France in early June.
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Because rugby sevens wasn’t included in the Commonwealth Games, the playmaker will have a month to prep for her rugby league debut. The Titans open their NRLW season against the Sydney Roosters, on Saturday, July 4.
The former Miami State High School student said she was excited to return home to play with Gold Coast under coach Karyn Murphy.
“I want to test myself and keep growing as a person and a player, and this opportunity allows me to step out of my comfort zone, which I can’t wait to do in front of my family and friends in my hometown,” Levi declared in a player statement this week. “Making the switch to league has always been on my mind, but I wanted to make sure I was able to be all-in.
“It looked like I may not have been able to do that, juggling my Rugby Australia commitments, but after sitting down with Murph to discuss all the specific details, I [can] make it work and give my all to rugby league.”
Levi graduated from Miami State High before then starting her sporting career at the Suns. Her best year came in 2022, when she won gold at the Commonwealth Games, Rugby Sevens World Cup, and Sevens World Series.
Titans coach Murphy said it was a “huge coup” to be bringing Levi back to the Gold Coast.
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“She’s been on the world stage wearing the green and gold in significant tournaments the past few years, and her big-game experience and exposure to high-performance environments will be valuable for our upcoming campaign,” the Gold Coast boss said.
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“Already achieving significant accolades at such an early stage of her career, we’re excited about what Teagan can bring to our squad, and we’ll support her to continue developing her game. She’s extremely eager to learn and already has a great understanding of the game with rugby league in her DNA – following in her father’s footsteps after he played for Manly in the 90s.
“I’m looking forward to working with her in the pre-season ahead of Round 1.”
