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Marcos Moneta has taken out the top award for Men’s Rugby Sevens players. The 21-year-old Argentine has won the 2021 World Rugby’s Sevens Mens Player of the Year. The award was part of the World Rugby Awards.
Moneta was an Olympic Bronze Medalist this year. His remarkable heroics against South Africa saw Argentina into the Olympic Semi Finals. Moneta ran in two tries in a performance in which Argentina had a player red carded and finished the Quarter Final with 5 men.
The speedster from San Andrés in Greater Buenos Aires was also a tryscorer in the Bronze Final. Los Pumas 7’s were 17-12 winners over Great Britain. The result gave Argentina their first ever Olympic medal in Rugby Sevens. Moneta was the top try scorer at the Tokyo Olympics.
2021 was about more than just the Olympics. Moneta impressed for Argentina both before and after. ARN noted his performance back in March while he played very well for Los Pumas Sevens in the back-to-back Bronze finishes in Dubai to end the year.
Mario Ledesma selected Moneta for the Rugby Championship. He did not receive game time and thus remains uncapped. He was named the start for the Barbarians against Samoa last month. The match was called-off.
A test debut for Moneta is only a matter of time. He is likely to remain with Los Pumas 7’s in 2022. Argentina will go in to September’s Rugby Sevens World Cup as contenders. A place in the test team may follow for Los Pumas’ November 2022 tour of the UK.
Moneta is the first Argentine to win the World Rugby Sevens Mens Player of the Year award. Back in 2004 Lucio López Fleming was nominated for the award.
Marcos Moneta was one of four players shortlisted for the award. The others were Jiuta Wainiqolo (Fiji), Scott Curry (New Zealand), and Jiuta Wainiqolo (Fiji).
