2016 ARN Sevens Player of the Year

Our next award is given out to our choice as the best international sevens player of the year. Of course the most prominent event on the calendar was the Olympic Games in Rio, but this award takes into account the entire year, with consistent performance on the HSBC Sevens Series just as important if not more so. Of note is that none of the five nominees below are repeats from 2015. The sevens landscape can change as rapidly as the game itself!

HONOURABLE MENTION

Argentina’s main muscle man on the HSBC circuit and also the Olympic, Axel Müller had a cracking year for the Pumas. He was named to the HSBC Dream Team for the tournaments in Paris and Singapore, and unlucky not to be selected for the overall 2015-16 Series side. With good pace and a fend to match most forwards, when Müller wasn’t scoring tries himself he was creating space for others. Currently lost to Argentine rugby after signing with French super-club Toulon, one hopes a chance in policy or a return to country brings him back to the blue and white hoops again some day soon.

Leading points scorer on the 2015-16 HSBC Women’s Sevens Series, Ghislaine Landry was named in the HSBC Dream Team on four consecutive stops (São Paulo, Atlanta, Langford, Clermont) before earning selection to the overall 2015-16 Series Dream Team. A world class playmaker who makes those around her better players. By her own admission she was short of her best in the early stages of the Olympics, but turned it up when it counted most with 18 points in the Bronze Medal match against Great Britain. Has now assumed the captaincy to start the 2016-17 Series.

Gastón Revol continues to be an inspirational figure for Los Pumas 7s, leading the team to a 5th place overall finish on the 2015-16 HSBC Sevens Series and then a Quarter Final spot at the Olympics. A try in sudden death overtime by Dan Bibby saw them miss out on a chance for a medal by the slimmest of margins. Revol was Argentina’s best player in Rio and at 30 years old continues to be a key playmaker as well as mentor to the next generation of South American stars.

One of the most exciting players to have ever played for the Eagles is now one of the most influential. Perry Baker has evolved from a pure finisher to a world class sevens player. He has added vision and passing skills to his searing pace, and his commitment to winning restarts is second to none. Baker was a Dream Team selection for Las Vegas, London, and the overall 2015-16 HSBC Series. While his team didn’t quite reach the heights envisioned in Rio, his individual achievements speak for themselves.

THE WINNER

There was no debate required when it came time to picking a winner. Jen Kish is now the most accomplished sevens captain in Americas history. A first-ever Cup Final win at the Clermont tournament was followed up with the coup de grace, an Olympic Bronze Medal. It might not have been the gold Canada wanted, but it remains an historic achievement and a new benchmark for all of the Americas moving forward. Among the very best forwards in the game, Kish was a tournament selection in São Paulo and was then named in the most prestigious team of all, the official World Rugby Olympic Dream Team.

The 2016 ARN Sevens Player of the Year is Jen Kish.