The most capped New Zealand women’s sevens player, Tyla King, will take to the sevens field for the last time this month, announcing the Paris Olympics will be her last international tournament.
King debuted for the Black Ferns Sevens in 2012 at an Oceania event in Fiji and has gone on to play 60 tournaments in the black jersey, the most of any New Zealand women’s player.
King has won two Rugby World Cup Sevens titles, Olympic gold and silver medals and Commonwealth Games gold and bronze medals. Having scored 1448 points across 269 SVNS Series matches, she is the highest point scorer in Series history.
Among the many accolades King has received, she was named World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year in 2023 and has twice been the New Zealand Sevens Player of the Year in 2015 and 2019.
In a social media post, she reflected on her time in the black jersey.
“I was a young 17-year-old kid, still in high school when I first made the team. Now I'm 30 years old and about to play at my third Olympic Games. This team and the sport of rugby has allowed me to travel the world to countries I could only dream of, amazing teammates that I call sisters, opportunities I never thought possible and so much more,” said King.
New Zealand Rugby CEO Mark Robinson commented;
“Tyla has long been an amazing ambassador for New Zealand Rugby around the globe. Her professionalism on and off the field and impressive point scoring prowess is second to none. We wish her and the entire team the best for what will be a special Olympics later this month.”
Black Ferns Sevens Coach Cory Sweeney said;
"A career that has been layered with success and breakthrough milestones highlights what a special player Tyla is but more importantly a role model and inspiration within our team and young girls in New Zealand. We will miss her, the world will miss her playing sevens but we thank her for the legacy she will leave and will celebrate her amazing career together one last time time at the Paris Olympics."
King will don the black jersey for the last time in Paris, her third appearance at the Olympic Games.
