Tyla King On Setting An Example For The Next Generation

We spoke with New Zealand 7s playmaker Tyla King in the leadup to the Singapore SVNS which takes place from 3-5 May 2024 at the Singapore National Stadium. She talks about the opportunities she feels the World Rugby HSBC Sevens Challenger is offering teams, and of her Asian heritage.

We published the first part of the interview with Tyla King here.

Tyla King is probably one of the most recognisable names on the HSBC SVNS Series – she has been playing at the top level for more than a dozen years, with her roots in touch rugby and tag rugby, she has represented NZ and both sevens and rugby league at a national team level – she was also recognised as the World Rugby Women’s Sevens Player Of The Year last season.

She made her debut at 18 years old and in 2023 signed on to play NRWL – having recently signed on for a second season in 2024.

Her focus now us on helping NZ 7s women win the 2024 SVNS Series and Paris Olympic Games.

World Rugby HSBC Sevens Challenger – Exposing More Teams

Asked about what she thought of the new SVNS format, Tyla King told Rugby Asia 247, “One of the positives is how we potentially could see four new nations get exposed to the World Series next year if they are to qualify for the top four.

So I think that’s really cool; that means more countries get exposed to the top level of the competition, and that means the game’s growing more because you only get better when you play the best in the world, as you’ve seen with all these other nations as well.”

When asked if she had been keeping an eye on the Asian teams playing in the World Rugby HSBC Sevens Challenger, she told Rugby Asia 247.

Photo Credit: World Rugby / Mike Lee – China Women are still in contention in Dubai – World Rugby HSBC Sevens Challenger 2024

“The quality is getting better and better, like just the general skill set of the players. Even just watching from afar, like the Chinese team, just the general skill set of their catch passes, is pretty good, too. And all of them, whether they are from Brazil, South Africa, China, like they’re athletes – they know how to work hard and it’s just pretty much teaching them the game of rugby sevens, which in places like Japan and China wasn’t necessarily their number one sport.

“But to see them slowly start over the years, they might’ve been a little bit off the pace, but now they’re coming up and challenging teams that have been at the top of the game for a while now. So it’s very cool,” said King.

Investment is Key

The rise of some of the Asian teams has been no fluke as some unions have invested in pathways, players and rugby development.

Tyla King agrees, “It just shows you when you put investment into a group of people, a country, all that kind of stuff; when you invest in them, invest in their game and give them time and bring good coaches in that are able to bring that technical side of the game – You can see the growth massively.

So it’s exciting to see where this game’s heading and how far it has come over the last 13 years being a part of it all.”

Tyla King On Being A Role Model

Photo Credit: World Rugby SVNS

“Being a role model is not something that you think of yourself initially, but when you do step into the shoes of this team, especially with how well-known we are and how well we do on the world stage, you automatically become one of those.

And for me, it’s a massive thing to be able to show the next generation coming through that there are opportunities for you, obviously in New Zealand, but then obviously being part Chinese myself and really showing the Asian community and the Chinese community that we don’t have to just do typical sports that we’ve always grown up and known. It’s okay to branch out and give something else a go.

And you can make a living out of it if you do reach the highest level, but then also what you get out of it is not just; it’s the fun, the joy, the community. The family at the end of the day that you build, and the life lessons you learn along the way, too.”

Rugby Tournament News 2024

• HSBC Singapore SVNS 2024 Pools.
• HSBC SVNS Singapore 2024 – Guide To Singapore Rugby Festival 2024.
• World Rugby HSBC Sevens Challenger 2024 – Round 3 Pools.
• Sir Gordon Tietjens On Taking Chinese Women’s Sevens Rugby To The Next Level