‘Ready to give back’: Retiring sevens star Sharni Smale hints at 15s switch

Three-time Olympian Sharni Smale has hinted at a “crossover” back to 15s after the Australian women’s sevens side fell to an agonising 14-12 loss to the USA in the bronze medal match at the Paris Games.

Earlier this month, Smale announced on social media that she would retire from international rugby sevens after the Olympics. The 2016 Rio gold medallist is one of the sport's all-time greats, but all good things must come to an end.

Smale, 36, looked to bow out on top of the sporting world as an Olympic champion along with fellow retiree Dominique Du Toit. Australia appeared to be on track as they backed up their status as one of the gold medal favourites with four strong wins.

Australia got the better of South Africa, Great Britain and then Ireland twice to book their place in the semi-finals where they’d come up against giant slayers Canada. The Canadians had beaten hometown favourites France in a thriller the night before.

But in an all-time famous upset, Canada stunned the Aussies 21-12. Australia went on to lose the bronze medal playoff to the USA 14-12 which brought an end to Smale’s sevens career, but it’s not necessarily the last time we’ll see her in a gold jersey.

“I know that when I do look back at them I’ll be extremely proud of this little country kid that’s come from a town of 1,500 people to be on the world stage and be authentic self and the sport allowing me to be that,” Smale said on Stan Sports’ Olympics Daily.

“I’m truly grateful for the sport and I'm ready to give back to it as well. It’s given me so much.

“There might be a little crossover back to 15s,” she added. “But at the moment it’s getting around my family and giving them back some time that they sacrificed.

“12 years on the road, it’s one of the best jobs in the world… it can take you away from your family and you can really start to see and appreciate it. Plenty of time with my wife and kids.”

The Stan Sports broadcast then returned to the studio where former Wallabies Morgan Turinui and Michael Hooper both had something to say.

Turinui revealed that Smale could potentially go on to play at next year’s Rugby World Cup in England, and fans should also “expect” to see sevens captain Charlotte Caslick and the Levi sisters expect to make the switch.

Maddison Levi made history at the Paris Games by scoring the most tries by a women’s player at an Olympics ever, and Teagan was also front and centre as a playmaker for the competition heavyweights. Along with Caslick, they could help transform the Wallaroos.

But that brings everything back to Smale.

It’s yet to be confirmed if the rugby veteran will go on to play at next year’s World Cup, and while it seems likely, now is the time to appreciate a great sevens career. With SVNS Series, Commonwealth Games and Rugby Sevens World Cup titles, she’s one of the greats.

It’s just unfortunate that it had to end in such heartbreaking circumstances.

The USA’s Alex Sedrick went coast-to-coast to level the scores with time up on the clock in the bronze medal match. America secured their first women’s rugby sevens medal at the Olympics with a conversion from in front.

“I guess it’s hard to put into words. After the last one I felt numb, this one I have a lot of emotion. That’s my last game for the Aussie sevens,” Smale reflected.

“It’s pretty disappointing but I’m super proud of the girls. Our goal was to go into that gold medal match and we didn’t get there but to bounce back, that’s the sport of sevens is that it’s a roller coaster and we definitely came out fighting.

“Obviously, just not our day.”