Rugby Sevens: Olympics, here she comes

Tyla Nathan-Wong is eyeing Rio. Photo / Getty

If you watched last month's Women's World Series Sevens Cup final in Dubai, you will have seen a small, dangerously fit, skilful New Zealand player tearing about the field like a whippet.

She was everywhere, and scored a critical try in New Zealand's stirring comeback to beat Australia 19-17 in the final. That was 20-year-old Tyla Nathan-Wong, who has her sights set on the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Reconfirmed as one of New Zealand's 19 contracted players for 2015, the Aucklander will next week head to Brazil aiming to win the Sao Paulo tournament and move a step closer to the Olympics. The top four sides from the world series qualify for Rio.

"It definitely feels more real now. I was talking to Portia Woodman at one of our trainings and we said, 'It's only a year away'," said Nathan-Wong. "It feels like touching distance now and it's driving me to work a lot harder. I have spewed once, and I'm pretty sure it's going to happen again at training.

"[Coach Sean Horan] really drives us hard. He's just trying to get the best out of the players. You have to have the character to handle the hard times and pressure on the field."

Nathan-Wong has handled the pressure with aplomb but never stops working to improve. Take her kicking, for example.

"You can't just hope that you'll turn up and it will turn out. I never knew how to drop kick until I first started our programme, but I had help from our assistant coach Allan Bunting and also Steve Miln."

Invariably her kickoffs are high and on the money. She reckons her fitness is also high, but is not resting on her laurels, not after the sacrifices she has made " a promising touch career on hold, and a 15s game stalled at club level, though that may change post-Olympics.

But the rewards have made it worth it. As a contracted player, Nathan-Wong earns a retainer which, while not enough to live off, makes life easier.

"It's an awesome first step for women's rugby to have these contracts. It shows how the women's game in New Zealand has grown."

She fits in correspondence studies at Massey University towards a Bachelor of Sport and Exercise degree. Nutrition is still provided through her grandfather and family cook Dave Wong. Life seems good for Tyla Nathan-Wong.