Australia Sevens star Piper Simons is enjoying the challenge of adapting to the 15-a-side game as she prepares for a potential debut next week against Fijiana.
Simons has slotted into scrumhalf, repaidly getting up to speed after initially joining the Wallaroos program earlier in the year.
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It comes as part of greater alignment between the two programs, with the Manly product and Sidney Taylor making the switch ahead of the Pacific Four Series.
Whilst the 20-year-old has never played 15s before, she is confident her skills can translate.
"We've had plenty of games in camp, and we've been working throughout the earlier camps, so I've ticked the box and am feeling more comfortable seeing all the pictures," she said.
"The first big shock was there are so many people on the field, but the skills are pretty similar being a scrumhalf with the catch-pass and executing well off the ground.
"I guess there's a lot more structure and a tactical side to 15s in comparison to sevens. But it's been good having the sevens background to use that athletic side of things."
Simons has a strong group of mentors to lean on throughout the process, both in and outside of camp.
She's been leaning on Samantha Wood to help with the nuances of 15s, while Sevens teammates Charlotte Caslick, Tia Hinds and Bienne Terita have been quick to give advice from their own experience.
"Sammy has been unreal. We sit down after every training and I just bombard her with questions and I watch everything she does," Simons said.
"I'm just trying to pick everything up from her. She's such a good halfback andshe's really taken me under her wing, as well as the other backs who I just tell them to yell at me and tell me what to do.
"'Charlie', Tia and 'BB' have all been helping ever since I told them this is something I wanted to do. They've been so supportive and I've asked them about their experiences when they jumped over and it was all positives. So I think that really helped me be able to step into it, just knowing that girls before me have done it and really enjoyed it."
Simons is one of 11 uncapped players pushing for their debut next week in Canberra, the first of 10 Tests in the 2026 season.
