Nelson Bay Flyer's Olympic Ambition Fuelled by Sevens Selection
The surprise selection of Nelson Bay speedster Maya Stewart for the Australian women's sevens team this weekend could prove to be the critical catalyst for achieving her long-held Olympic aspirations. Stewart, a bona fide superstar in the 15s format, has been named in the squad for the Singapore leg of the World Series, marking a significant and potentially career-defining moment.
From Rio Inspiration to Wallaroos Stardom
Stewart's rugby journey began with inspiration drawn from watching Australia claim sevens gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Taking up the sport shortly after, she quickly made her mark, starring in the national women's university sevens series in her debut year of 2018 before securing a Super W contract with the NSW Waratahs. Now aged 25, she has solidified her status as the Wallaroos' all-time leading try-scorer and was named their player of the year in 2024, playing a key role in their historic WXV2 title victory that same year.
A Shift Following a Frustrating 2025 Campaign
The decision to pursue the shorter sevens format emerged after a challenging 2025 season for Stewart, which was marred by a knee injury and a disappointing World Cup campaign in England during August and September. "I missed pretty much the whole roll into the World Cup from an international perspective," Stewart reflected. "The World Cup was probably a bit of a quiet tournament for me. I didn't see much ball, but I was still out there and got to soak it all in and just be a part of it, which was cool."
She returned home feeling unfulfilled and hungry for more. "I came home and thought, 'I don't want to finish my year on this note'. It was kind of unfulfilling," she admitted. Despite being contracted to the Wallaroos, Stewart proactively put her hand up for sevens duties post-World Cup, seeking a fresh challenge and an opportunity to enhance her fitness and skills within a full-time professional environment.
Embracing the Sevens Environment and Instinctive Play
Her involvement began with representing Australia A in sevens at the Dubai International Invitational last November, after which she continued training within the sevens setup. Stewart found the transition invigorating, noting the contrast in playing styles. "I thought, 'I'm really enjoying this', it's a bit more instinct, and you go back to more of a natural feel opposed to being in 15s, where at times you can be stuck in systems," she explained. "So, it was nice to get back to that feeling."
The selection for Singapore came as a pleasant surprise. "I'm really surprised. I went into training there to just better myself and better the Wallaroos when coming back to the environment, but it's really cool for younger me as that was my original goal and where my desires lay," Stewart said, acknowledging that sevens was her initial ambition before falling in love with the 15s game through her Waratahs and Wallaroos experiences.
A Pivotal Opportunity on the World Series Stage
Stewart is one of five changes to the Australian sevens squad that triumphed at the Cape Town leg in December. This weekend in Singapore, Australia will face Fiji, Japan, and the United States in pool matches, with the top teams progressing to the finals. While she is unlikely to feature in the remainder of the World Series due to impending Wallaroos Test preparations upon her return, strong performances in Singapore could firmly place her in contention for future tournaments.
Most significantly, this opportunity positions Stewart as a potential candidate for the ultimate prize: the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. "I just want to gain a whole lot of experience, and that's what I put my hand up originally to do, but I'd be lying if I said looking towards 2028 wouldn't be a goal of mine," Stewart confessed. "But it's my first time even touring on the circuit, so just gaining experience and being a sponge, getting knowledge, bringing my strengths and working alongside others to unlock theirs."
Focusing on Growth and Future Commitments
Looking ahead, Stewart aims to be at her peak when the Wallaroos resume action with a Test match against Fiji in Canberra on March 27. Further internationals against Canada and the US are scheduled for April, followed by the Super W season, anticipated to be held in June. For Stewart, 2026 is framed as a year of substantial development. "I have no major goals for this year," she stated. "We're four years out from our World Cup and three years out from the 2028 Olympics, so more experience and putting myself in those positions more frequently and just soaking up the resources around me."
She emphasised a focus on learning from diverse perspectives and environments, a mindset that directly led to her current selection. "That's probably where this selection came from, just wanting to be better and putting my hand up to go in there and train and see what it's like. So, I think 2026 will be a massive growth year and probably trying to get to play more footy, play more frequently, stay healthy and just enjoy it."
This strategic pivot to sevens not only revitalises Stewart's career trajectory but also reignites the Olympic dream that first inspired her to pick up a rugby ball, setting the stage for an exciting new chapter in Australian women's rugby.
