Pictured in 2014, Tyla Nathan-Wong couldn't be at the 2015 awards to accept her accolade.

New Zealand sevens kicker Tyla Nathan-Wong is hoping she'll be fit to play in the next World Series tournament.

The 21-year-old is recovering from concussion so couldn't be at the NZ Rugby Awards in December.

Her grandfather accepted the 2015 women's sevens player of the year for her and Nathan-Wong was "over the moon" when she found out.

KEVIN C COX/GETTY Tyla Nathan-Wong runs in for a try against Japan during the Women's Sevens World Series in 2014.

"I was a bit surprised because I was up against Portia Woodman, who got crowned the world rugby sevens player of the year and also our captain Sarah Goss who was the previous player of the year from last year."

The accolade caps what all-in-all was a great 2015 for Nathan-Wong.

It was the third year in a row she has been part of the New Zealand team to take out the World Rugby Women's Sevens Series.

Her success was also recognised by prominent world rugby website Scrumqueens.com who in December named her under-23 player of the year, and by Sport Waitakere when she was jointly named sportswoman of the year.

Nathan-Wong, who grew up in Blockhouse Bay and went to Lynfield College, is self-effacing about her accomplishments.

"Every time I go out and play in the black jersey I give it my all," she says.

"It comes down to the credit. For me, I'm just one player within a team. Just one piece of our puzzle."

Although 2015 was "an awesome year" for her, it was not without its trials.

Nathan-Wong returned home from London in May after an injury on day one of the world series tournament – also unable to play in Amsterdam a week later.

"I was pretty gutted, as anyone would be," she says.

"I took it on the chin, went home, did the rehab and was fortunate enough to get back in the team for Dubai."

She is also now recovering from concussion received in Dubai in December in time for the second tournament of the 2015-16 world series in Brazil next month.

Now living in Papakura, Nathan-Wong says playing in the Black Ferns might be in her future but there's a world series to compete in first – and the debut of sevens at the Olympics.

"My full focus is on sevens this year. And next year, who knows?"