Stuart initially played rugby for Rusholme and then Salford.[2] Stuart first came to note as a rugby player when he joined Cardiff Football Club during their fledgling years in 1883. Stuart played 50 games for Cardiff at threequarters and remained at the club until 1886.[3] In 1886 Stuart and fellow Cardiff player William "Buller" Stadden stated that they intended to join English team Dewsbury.[4] Both players stated that the reason for switching clubs was purely financial, as they were out of employment and had made friends with several Dewsbury players when the team toured Wales.[5] It was later discovered that the employment the players found in Dewsbury, was with Newsome, Sons and Spedding, a textiles company partially owned by Mark Newsome, president and former captain of Dewsbury. Although Cardiff later complained that this was backdoor professionalism, no evidence was found to prove that money had been exchanged and no charges were brought.
In 1888, Stuart was approached to join the first British overseas touring rugby team, on a trip to Australia and New Zealand. The tour was organised as a financial venture, and had no backing from any of the Home Nation Unions. Despite this, the tour went ahead, taking in 35 games against invitational and club teams. Stuart is recorded as having played in 23 games, scoring one try, but being switched from the backs into a forwards role.[6]
At the end of the tour, Stuart decided to remain in New Zealand and settled down there.[7] There he played club rugby for Poneke Rugby Club in Wellington and in 1893 he toured Australia with the New Zealand national team.[8] Stuart played in seven games of the tour, but none were against international opposition, so again he did not win a sporting cap. Stuart returned to Britain in 1902, and at one point worked in South Wales. He died in Dewsbury in October 1923 at the age of 65.[9]