2017 ARN Women’s Sevens Player of the Year

It’s another first for Americas Rugby News, our first individual women’s rugby award of any kind. We’ve had several winners in the past but never before have they had an individual category. With an ever-increasing level of competition we felt it was best to judge the women against their peers. We’ve already named our first ever Women’s Super 7 and as with the men it served as a starting point for nominations.

Canada were the best Americas team once again in the 2016-17 HSBC Sevens Series and had several standouts. Bianca Farella made the transition from wing to prop a successful one, while Charity Williams has played both out wide and up front. Making a name for herself on the wing was Julia Greenshields, while former skipper Jen Kish remains a world class forward.

The USA had their own powerhouse capable of playing wing or forward in Naya Tapper. Sara Parsons enjoyed her best season of international rugby and Nicole Heavirland broke into the side and has impressed so much that she is now the captain.

Brazil struggled as a team but that did not diminish the efforts of forwards Rachel Kochhann and Beatriz Muhlbauer. Edna Santini is always a thrill to watch while teenager Bianca Silva looks a real find and is one to watch in the future.

HONORABLE MENTION

As with the men, this didn’t require a vote but two players deserve strong recognition.

After performing short of her best at the Olympics in 2016, Britt Benn returned with a vengeance for Canada on the 2016-17 season. Her direct approach is a contrast to the hot steppers found in the wide spaces, and it’s that toughness and determination to smash through defenders that opens space for the likes of Farella, Williams, and Greenshields. Benn was outstanding all season and fully deserved her overall HSBC Dream Team selection.

The USA’s best player is Alev Kelter. Capable of playing anywhere on the field, she has found a home in the midfield where her abrasive qualities on both sides of the ball are best exploited. Two individual Dream Team selections during the 2016-17 season, overall HSBC Dream Team honors, and once again in the select side to end the year in Dubai.

THE WINNER

Ahead by a distance was Canadian captain Ghislaine Landry. The 29-year-old Toronto native scored her 100th career try in Clermont-Ferrand and now has her sights set on 1,000 career points after leading the circuit for a third consecutive season. An overall 2016-17 HSBC Dream Team selection which followed four tournament nods, and a World Rugby Player of the Year nomination. She can consider herself unlucky not to take home that award. Our 2017 ARN Women’s Sevens Player of the Year is Ghislaine Landry.