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Tyla Nathan-Wong granted release from Black Ferns Sevens contract

(Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

New Zealand Rugby (NZR) has agreed to release Black Ferns Sevens player Tyla Nathan-Wong from her contract at her own request to pursue an opportunity to play in the NRLW competition during the Black Ferns Sevens off-season.

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The 28-year-old has been involved in the Black Ferns Sevens programme since her debut in 2012 at the age of 18. She has been a pivotal player for the Black Ferns Sevens during this time, achieving a number of milestones on the world stage.

Notably she has won two Sevens Rugby World Cups, Olympic silver and gold medals, Commonwealth Games bronze and gold medals, alongside seven Sevens World Series titles.

Nathan-Wong said she was grateful that NZR has enabled her to pursue a personal goal.

“I am excited to be jumping across the ditch and joining the NRLW. It will be a great opportunity to grow myself and my game on and off the field in a different sport, team, and environment before hopefully returning to the sevens programme.

“As an athlete I love the challenge and growth that sport offers, so to be able to test myself in a different format and experience a new space to refresh is hugely exciting.

“I am really appreciative to NZ Rugby for giving me the contract release to enable me to take up the opportunity and to my fiancée, family, and management team for all the support.”

Sweeney extended his support for Nathan-Wong’s new challenge.

“Tyla has been a huge part of our team for some time now, it is unsurprising to have an athlete of her calibre to be sought after by another code.

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“While the timing is not ideal being a year out from the 2024 Paris Olympics, we wish her all the best with this next chapter in her career. We will certainly be staying in touch with her about a possible return to the programme with a view to being a part of next year’s Olympic campaign.”

NZR General Manager Professional Rugby & Performance Chris Lendrum noted the increasing number of options available for professional women’s rugby players to explore.

“After 12 years with the Black Ferns Sevens Tyla has played her part in achieving the many successes of the Black Ferns Sevens, and we are grateful and thank Tyla for her contribution.

“Our women’s professional players have an increasing number of opportunities available to them. We are working hard to ensure we are building competitions and a pathway in the women’s game that our players want to play in, but we are not yet in a finished state.

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“We need to maintain an open mind to retaining talent in this space and provide solutions that meet the needs of both players and NZR.”

-Press Release/NZ Rugby

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1 Comment
b
beau 671 days ago

Good luck Tyla maybe when warriors re enter nrlw they maybe able to woo both yourself and Gail Broughton home.

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JW 1 hour ago
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MP are a NZ side through and through, NZ is even having to pay for it.

Yes they caved to public demand, I bet it accomplished a lot of internal goals. They could have left it to the other groups, but I’m of the belief that they weren’t showing the capability to make it work as being a good reason for NZR to jump in and do it. I think it’s actually funded 50/50 between NZR and WR though.

(when nothing was stopping a pi player playing for any side in Super Rugby)

Neither is that fact true. Only 3 non NZ players are allowed in each squad.


I see you also need to learn what the term poach means - take or acquire in an unfair or clandestine way. - Moana have more slots for non eligible players (and you have seen many return to an NZ franchise) so players are largely making their own choice without any outside coercion ala Julian Savea.

Not one of these Kiwis and Aussies would go live in the Islands to satisfy any criteria, and I’d say most of them have hardly ever set foot in the islands, outside of a holiday.

Another inaccurate statement. Take Mo’unga’s nephew Armstrong-Ravula, if he is not eligible via ancestry in a couple of generations time, he will be eligible because he plays his rugby there (even if he’s only their for rugby and not living there), that is a recent change made by World Rugby to better reflect examples like Fabian Holland and Fakatava.

It’s becoming the jump-ship/zero loyalty joke that international League is.

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