Bec Smyth walked away from rugby as an Australian representative who had featured at three successive World Cups.
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But she was never completely comfortable with the decision to retire.
She spent roughly a decade around the national team and she was thrilled to return west after the 2014 World Cup and start a family with her husband, the spark was still within.
And when she made the decision to return to the Narromine Gorillas' women's side last year it became a blaze.
And that led her to trial with the ACT Brumbies' Super W squad.
That and some persistence from former Wallaroos teammate and current Brumbies representative Louise Burrows (nee Cooke).
"She asked me to trial and I thought I'd just give it a crack," Smyth said.
The Brumbies 34-person squad was confirmed last week and Smyth is set to be one of the marquee players in the Super W competition after making the cut.
The game, and women's sport as a whole, has changed a lot in the six years Smyth has been away from the game but her enthusiasm is as bright as ever.
It's a welcome feeling after some slight disillusionment with the sport previously.
"I lost my love for it a little," she said.
"I was starting to grow my family and I felt guilty because I was away from them and I started to resent the sport.
"I had some Mum time and was with the family and I was really happy but I was never 100 per cent comfortable with the decision [to retire].
"I was in kid mode and focused on work for awhile and while that was great I need sport, it's a release and that social side of things."
Smyth has remained active in recent years and has been a part of representative touch football teams, the Narromine Hawks netball side, and the Wiradjuri Goannas rugby league team among others.
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But it was while returning to rugby and playing for Narromine in last season's Westfund Ferguson Cup where the passion really returned in a big way.
"I really enjoyed it and the girls were all lovely," she said.
The decision to link with the Brumbies wasn't a simple one for Smyth and her family.
She was asked to move her family to Canberra so she could be part of training sessions three times a week but with a life in the bush, with a family of four kids as well as a job, she is staying put and has been allowed to travel down for two sessions each week.
Each Wednesday and Friday since September she's been making the trek to the nation's capital to train, often with a family member or friend going along as well, much to the delight of Brumbies coach Adam Butt.
"To have someone like Rebecca Smyth come on board for the year is awesome, especially for the young women on our team. She's got so much experience for the Wallaroos and she can't wait to get out there for the Brumbies," he said.
Smyth has been incredibly thankful for those who have helped out and allowed her to be part of the squad, which is in action this weekend in two trial games.
She will line up in the forwards and while she's reached the summit of the sport previously, the way the game has changed across the years means it won't be simple to slot right into the side.
The Brumbies' first game of the Super W season is February 15.
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Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
