Superstar winger Maya Stewart is eager to test herself in Dubai as she prepares to play for Australia A in the Dubai International Invitational.
Stewart started her career in Sevens before making a successful transition over to the Wallaroos, currently holding the record for the most tries scored in gold.
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Now, after a frustrating 2025 and World Cup campaign amid periods on the sidelines due to injury, Stewart hopes a return to the shorter format of the game will spark and continue development.
“It's a place where I started my career initially, being really young and in the game, and then I fell in love with 15s,” Stewart said to Rugby.com.au.
“Coming off the back of the World Cup tour, I was dissatisfied individually, but as a team performance as well. Having missed those few Tests at the start, not playing as much footy as the rest of the group [played a factor].
“I relish that [Sevens] environment. Whether I play or not is another thing, but just like being able to train every day and becoming a better athlete from being here.
“When you're playing 15s for a bit of time, and you're within systems and shapes, you can become trapped in a system. So it's been really nice to come over here and express myself as a footy player and maybe find a bit more space and a bit of freedom too.”
With several Sevens stars making the jump over to 15s, Stewart is excited about the prospect of the two programs working closer together to supercharge the women’s game, especially with the 2029 World Cup now ahead.
The opportunity has also allowed Stewart to see the flip side of the transition to the shortened format of the game.
“It's been really cool to continue that on [growth between 7s and 15s] and come at it from a different perspective, because I'm coming across from 15s, so heavy on the lungs,” Stewart added.
“Heaps of the fitness is transferable. For me as an outside back, obviously, [there is] few more explosive efforts in this game. It’s similar to our game, but squished right together and intensified.
"There’s not much difference in terms of working hard. The 7s girls work hard in the day, and that’s the beauty of being on a full-time contract. The 15s girls work hard too, but usually after hours in the evening if they’re working during the day or have other duties as semi-professional players. Hopefully, we can get to a point where the 15s are also in a position to train full-time before the 2029 World Cup."
The switch between the two programs has been easier with the connections formed with the likes of Charlotte Caslick, Tia Hinds, and Bienne Terita, with Stewart playing club football with the latter two before their push into their respective Australian programs.
“Charlotte [Caslick] was not in my position, but we got on really well when she came across to 15s. She was like 'you should come and have a go'. Her knowledge of the game is honestly second to none. Having someone with eyes like that to be able to talk to you on the go, you can change it then and there with some cues. She's been pretty amazing," Stewart said.
“‘Dolly’ [Tia Hinds] as well, she's been great. Someone I've known for ages and has played both codes. We're leaning on those girls, and I think a lot of it is instinctual; the game just moves so fast. You pick up a few cues here and there, and then you roll with it.”
The skillset also works both ways for Stewart, with the 22-capped Wallaroo also able to bring her own experiences over to the Australia A side, who will take on Belgium, China, Kazakhstan, and Brazil in their opening invitational fixtures.
“It's a weird one, I probably feel more like a senior player now, and there are some development girls in there,” Stewart added.
“I have my learnings too, coming across [to Sevens] but I think actions speak louder than words, and sometimes people with experience can be calming in that sense.
“To have a few younger faces in there and some experienced heads, and the girls that weren't picked for the main squad, is really cool.
"I'll just do my job, work hard, and back up.”
- Saturday, November 29: Australia v Belgium (12:40am AEDT)
- Saturday, November 29: Australia v Kazakhstan (2:40am AEDT)
- Saturday, November 29: Australia v China (10:40pm AEDT)
- Sunday, November 30: Australia v Brazil (12:20am AEDT)
