Tyla
King
A rugby sevens great and a Black Ferns XV Test player, Tyla King (née Nathan-Wong) switched codes as a 29-year-old and received a rapid Kiwi Ferns call-up after a successful NRLW transition with St George Illawarra.
Northland's King won two World Cups, an Olympic silver (Rio 2016) and a pair of gold medals (Toyko 2020 and Paris 2024), Commonwealth Games gold medal (2018) and six World Series titles during a decade in the New Zealand sevens team, while she was named New Zealand's Sevens Player of the Year in 2015 and '19, and World Sevens Player of the Year in the latter. A belated Test jersey arrived in 2022 following a Super Rugby Aupiki season with the Blues.
The veteran athlete was snapped up by the Dragons in May 2023 and partnered Kiwi Ferns superstar Raecene McGregor in the halves in all nine games, scoring three tries and kicking four goals, and chalking up five try assists.
King added her name to the ranks of New Zealand's dual internationals during the Kiwi Ferns' Pacific Championships campaign, playing all three matches. She came off the bench in the loss to Australia in Townsville, before moving to five-eighth for the victories over Tonga and the Jillaroos - notching a try assist in both and averaging 18 runs.
Farewelling the international rugby sevens stage with a second gold medal for in Paris, King's start to the 2024 NRLW campaign was subsequently delayed but she featured in four matches for the Saints before being selected again in the Kiwi Ferns' Pacific Championships squad.
With clubmate Raecene McGregror unavailable, King played all three matches at halfback, laying on a try and kicking four goals in the win over Papua New Guinea.
In 2025 King made the move to the Sharks on a two-year deal, playing nine matches throughout the season covering multiple positions including five-eighth, hooker, and fullback. King returned for her third Kiwi Ferns campaign and was named at 18th man in the second Test against the Jillaroos, before starting at five-eighth and playing 58 minutes in the Grand Final loss to the Jillaroos.
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Tyla
King
A rugby sevens great and a Black Ferns XV Test player, Tyla King (née Nathan-Wong) switched codes as a 29-year-old and received a rapid Kiwi Ferns call-up after a successful NRLW transition with St George Illawarra.
Northland's King won two World Cups, an Olympic silver (Rio 2016) and a pair of gold medals (Toyko 2020 and Paris 2024), Commonwealth Games gold medal (2018) and six World Series titles during a decade in the New Zealand sevens team, while she was named New Zealand's Sevens Player of the Year in 2015 and '19, and World Sevens Player of the Year in the latter. A belated Test jersey arrived in 2022 following a Super Rugby Aupiki season with the Blues.
The veteran athlete was snapped up by the Dragons in May 2023 and partnered Kiwi Ferns superstar Raecene McGregor in the halves in all nine games, scoring three tries and kicking four goals, and chalking up five try assists.
King added her name to the ranks of New Zealand's dual internationals during the Kiwi Ferns' Pacific Championships campaign, playing all three matches. She came off the bench in the loss to Australia in Townsville, before moving to five-eighth for the victories over Tonga and the Jillaroos - notching a try assist in both and averaging 18 runs.
Farewelling the international rugby sevens stage with a second gold medal for in Paris, King's start to the 2024 NRLW campaign was subsequently delayed but she featured in four matches for the Saints before being selected again in the Kiwi Ferns' Pacific Championships squad.
With clubmate Raecene McGregror unavailable, King played all three matches at halfback, laying on a try and kicking four goals in the win over Papua New Guinea.
In 2025 King made the move to the Sharks on a two-year deal, playing nine matches throughout the season covering multiple positions including five-eighth, hooker, and fullback. King returned for her third Kiwi Ferns campaign and was named at 18th man in the second Test against the Jillaroos, before starting at five-eighth and playing 58 minutes in the Grand Final loss to the Jillaroos.
PROFILE
Height M
WEIGHT KG
DOB
Jul 1, 1994
HIGHLIGHTS
Test matches
6
Test points
8
CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS (2025)
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Ikenasio, King return to Kiwi Ferns for Final
The Kiwi Ferns have named their star-studded side to battle the Jillaroos for the Pacific Cup this Sunday at Commbank Stadium.
The Kiwi Ferns are hungry for a win over the Australians after their recent close encounter at Eden Park, which had only a converted try in it. This sees versatile former Sevens athletes Tysha Ikenasio and Tyla King re-enter the lineup to inject further speed to the backline.
Head Coach Ricky Henry said: “We are glad to have another crack at the Jillaroos this week. That last match was a tough battle, but I was proud of how the team performed. We need to get those little things right to keep the pressure on in the final.
“It is unfortunate to have Lei [Tufuga] unavailable this week, but glad to have her with us supporting the team as she follows her HIA protocols.”
Henry has made a few changes to the team with Ikenasio replacing Leianne Tufuga on the wing, and five-eighth Ashleigh Quinlan earning a start after two strong impact performances off the bench. Shakira Baker will then return to take the 18 jersey as backup, whilst newly capped Shaniece Monschau gets another opportunity.
Head Coach Ricky Henry’s commitment to developing this squad since the last World Cup is apparent, with only four new faces in this team from the one that last defeated the Australians on their home soil in 2023: Ikenasio, Shanice Monschau, Ivana Lauitiiti, and Shakira Baker, who were standouts in NRLW this season.
This continuity and experience, which has been building for the last couple of years, may prove the difference in what is sure to be a tense final.
Kiwi Ferns team to face the Jillaroos in the Pacific Cup Final:
- Apii Nicholls
- Tysha Ikenasio
- Mele Hufunga
- Abigail Roache
- Shanice Parker
- Ashleigh Quinlan
- Raecene McGregor
- Tiana Davison
- Brooke Anderson
- Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa
- Annessa Biddle
- Otesa Pule
- Georgia Hale
- Tyla King
- Shaniece Monschau
- Alexis Tauaneai
- Ivana Lauitiiti
- Shakira Baker
Unavailable for selection: Leianna Tufuga (HIA protocols)
Biography
Last updated:
December 11, 2025
A rugby sevens great and a Black Ferns XV Test player, Tyla King (née Nathan-Wong) switched codes as a 29-year-old and received a rapid Kiwi Ferns call-up after a successful NRLW transition with St George Illawarra.
Northland's King won two World Cups, an Olympic silver (Rio 2016) and a pair of gold medals (Toyko 2020 and Paris 2024), Commonwealth Games gold medal (2018) and six World Series titles during a decade in the New Zealand sevens team, while she was named New Zealand's Sevens Player of the Year in 2015 and '19, and World Sevens Player of the Year in the latter. A belated Test jersey arrived in 2022 following a Super Rugby Aupiki season with the Blues.
The veteran athlete was snapped up by the Dragons in May 2023 and partnered Kiwi Ferns superstar Raecene McGregor in the halves in all nine games, scoring three tries and kicking four goals, and chalking up five try assists.
King added her name to the ranks of New Zealand's dual internationals during the Kiwi Ferns' Pacific Championships campaign, playing all three matches. She came off the bench in the loss to Australia in Townsville, before moving to five-eighth for the victories over Tonga and the Jillaroos - notching a try assist in both and averaging 18 runs.
Farewelling the international rugby sevens stage with a second gold medal for in Paris, King's start to the 2024 NRLW campaign was subsequently delayed but she featured in four matches for the Saints before being selected again in the Kiwi Ferns' Pacific Championships squad.
With clubmate Raecene McGregror unavailable, King played all three matches at halfback, laying on a try and kicking four goals in the win over Papua New Guinea.
In 2025 King made the move to the Sharks on a two-year deal, playing nine matches throughout the season covering multiple positions including five-eighth, hooker, and fullback. King returned for her third Kiwi Ferns campaign and was named at 18th man in the second Test against the Jillaroos, before starting at five-eighth and playing 58 minutes in the Grand Final loss to the Jillaroos.
fixtures & results
