Tyla Nathan-Wong

Age 16
Province Waikato (formerly Auckland, North Harbour)

Representative Achievements
Touch Blacks Women’s Team 2011 – On Debut
New Zealand Under 19 Girls 2011 – Captain
Waikato Under 21 Women’s 2011
New Zealand Under 17 Girl’s Touch Team 2010 - Captain
Auckland Under 19 Women’s Touch Football Team 2011 - Captain
Auckland U17 Girls Touch Football Team 2010 - Captain
Aotearoa Open Women’s Touch Team 2010
Tainui U21 Women’s Touch Football Team 2010
Auckland Open Women’s Touch Football Team 2008
Waitakere Maori Open Women’s Touch Football Team 2008
Northern Pirates U15 Girl’s Touch Football Team (Auckland, North Harbour, Counties Manukau) 2006 - 2009 - Captain
Auckland U15 Girl’s Touch Football Team 2008 - Captain
North Harbour U15 Girl’s Touch Football Team 2007

Touch Blacks Caps On debut

Career Highlights
Tainui U21 Women – 1st Place, Maori Touch National Tournament 2010
Selected in Maori Touch Under 21 Women’s Tournament Team
Auckland Under 17 Girl’s Team – 1st Place, Touch NZ Northern Region Interprovincial Series 2010
U15/U17 National Championship 2009 Captained Northern Pirates Under 15 Girls – 1st Place
Touch NZ Under 15 Girls Tournament Most Valuable Player
Selected for Touch NZ Elite Youth Academy
Northern Region Interprovincial Series U15 / U17 Tournament 2009, Captained Auckland Under 15 Girls – 1st Place
Auckland Under 15 Girls Most Valuable Player
Regional U15 / U17 National Championships 2008, Captained Northern Pirates Under 15 Girls – 1st Place

Family Touch connections Sporting ability runs in my family, my grandfather, David Wong was the first Chinese New Zealander to play rugby league for Auckland.

My Aunt, Sheree has been involved in touch for 22 years. She represented North Harbour and NZ in the Open Women’s from 1989 – 2006. She has played in 3 World Cups and after 2006 went on to play masters 30 women and at the 2010 Touch Nationals won gold for the North Harbour 35 Mixed Team.

My Uncle, Graham has coached various NZ Teams including Open Men’s, Open Women’s and Open Mixed over the years. My Uncle, Robert also represented NZ in the mixed team that my Uncle Graham coached.

My Cousin, Brad has represented North Harbour in U19’s, U21’s and Waikato Open Mixed grades. He played for the NZ Maori Men’s Team at the age of 17 and more recently played for Touch NZ U21 Men’s Team at 2009 Trans Tasman.

My mother, Deanne has represented North Harbour and New Zealand in the mixed grades; while my dad Russell was an Auckland Rugby Maori representative. It was a natural progression that I would be introduced sport and specifically touch football.

What is your best moment playing Touch? Over the last 7 months I have had 3 special moments that mean a lot to me that I can’t divide.

Moment 1: Sitting in the room in front of the Touch Black Women’s Coaches and the Trial Selectors waiting for their response whether I had made the world cup team. I was so nervous, but when I was told I was in; I couldn’t believe it and let out a big sigh of relieve and excitement.

Moment 2: Named Captain of the NZ U19 Women's Team and standing tall as a proud New Zealander while the NZ National Anthem was played at the Trans Tasman Test Series at Canberra, Australia in January 2011.

Moment 3: Named Captain of the Touch NZ U17 Girls Team and wearing my first NZ Representative shirt at the TFA National Youth U18 Tournament Coloundra, Queensland Australia in September 2011.

What are you goals for the World Cup? To perform to my potential for the Touch Black Women’s Team. Maximize my skill set and professional attitude while maintaining humility and always putting my team first. I intend on playing how I train, emptying the tank on and off the field; giving 100% all the time.

The World Cup is the pinnacle event in every sport and only comes around every 4 years for an athlete to measure themselves against the best in the world. This is going to be a massive event for touch football. In a way it's kind of daunting but also very exciting.

For me personally it means everything. It's a huge honour and a privilege to wear the silver fern and represent your ethnicity, family and country.