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The strong season on the HSBC Sevens Series has seen three of the top women’s players in the Americas named to the official 2016-17 season Dream Team. USA captain Alev Kelter is joined by her Canadian counterpart Ghislaine Landry and a second Canuck, Britt Benn, on this year’s selection.
Kelter led the Women’s Eagles to a 6th place overall finish and finished 10th in the overall season’s scoring charts. Though chosen as a playmaker her physicality in defense was just as prominent as her attacking skills. Kelter earned tournament Dream Team honors in Sydney and Las Vegas.
Like Kelter, Benn’s strength on both sides of the ball see her selected among the forwards. Laying down some of the biggest hits of the season put her in the shop window and her 20 tries scored, good enough for 11th overall, sealed her selection. Benn earned individual tournament honors in Sydney, Las Vegas, and Langford.
The most celebrated of the trio is Landry, who capped another outstanding season with her 100th career try in Clermont-Ferrand. Landry was the leading points scorer on the circuit for the third consecutive season and is now well-positioned to become the first woman to reach the coveted 1000-point mark next season with 844 currently on her resume. It’s the second consecutive overall Dream Team selection for the Canadian star, one of two players in the team who achieve repeat honors. Landry took home individual tournament honors in Sydney, Kitakyushu, Langford, and Clermont-Ferrand.
New Zealand poster-woman Portia Woodman is the other, the powerful outside back once again getting the nod despite giving way to new speedster Michaela Blyde on the try-scoring charts. The 20-year-old Blyde had a sensational season, scoring an incredible 40 tries to leave the rest of the pack in her wake.
Joining Benn in the forwards is Australian veteran co-captain Sharni Williams and another impressive New Zealander in the dynamic Ruby Tui.
Of those unlucky to miss out perhaps the most notable is USA winger Naya Tapper whose tackle-busting prowess saw her tally 32 tries on the season, second only to Blyde. Tapper earned tournament honors in Sydney and Las Vegas.
And finally:The Season DREAM TEAM: Brittany Benn, Ruby Tui, Sharni Williams, Michaela Blyde, Alev Kelter, Ghislaine Landry & Portia Woodman! pic.twitter.com/tDAigQY8MJ
— World Rugby Sevens (@WorldRugby7s) June 25, 2017
