Fiji takes the World Rugby Sevens Crown in Paris

Sheevas Dayal

The HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2019 Awards celebrated the Best of the Season, which saw Fiji crowned Series Champions at the Stade Jean-Bouin in Paris on Sunday (June 2).
This Season has been one of the most competitive yet with just two points separating first and second placed Fiji and USA going into the final event of 2019.

Fiji Head Coach Gareth Baber’s outfit marched on to cap their series-clinching day with the tournament victory after beating New Zealand 35-24 in the Cup final.

Added significance

This year’s series carried added significance as the principal route to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games with the top four teams automatically qualifying alongside host nation Japan.

USA, New Zealand and Fiji booked their spots at the HSBC London Sevens last week and South Africa completed the line-up in Paris this weekend.

The annual HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series Awards celebrated the athletes, coaches, teams and moments that played such a pivotal role in inspiring a new generation of players and fans this season.

World Rugby Chairman Sir Bill Beaumont said, “This has been the biggest and best season on the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series yet. Every player involved in the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series is a tremendous athlete, world class performer and incredible ambassador for the sport and we can’t thank you enough for the commitment and passion that you demonstrate all season-round. You are brilliant role models and play a monumental part in the success and growth that we have seen in rugby sevens over the years.”

“The HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series Awards are an opportunity for us to celebrate the very best in field, and with four different round winners and the top four teams being the first to book their spots at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, there’s a lot to commend as another season draws to a close.”

Tight Contest

Jonathan Castleman, HSBC Global Head of Brand Partnerships, added: “What a year it has been on the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series! One of the most tightly contested competitions in years and at both ends of the table.

“As a long-term partner of rugby sevens it is with great pride that we see the sport continue to thrive all over the world with new teams challenging the existing powerhouses of the sport and fans packing into stadiums globally. Just as we have for the duration of our partnership with rugby sevens we are excited to continue to help the sport succeed in all of its goals and we can’t wait to see where, working together, we can go in the future.”

Gilbert Top Try Scorer

Having clocked up 52 tries across the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2019, USA’s Carlin Isles won the Gilbert Top Try Scorer Award for the second season in a row.

“I am very grateful for this. I thank my teammates and to do it back-to-back is amazing. I had to step up a lot because his role (Perry’s) is big. I train hard and work hard so to and I am ready for any moment so for me it was great to get this,” he said.

Rookie of the Year

This Award went to a player who has made their HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series debut in the current season. Players were nominated by an expert panel for their skill and success on the field during their debut year and this season’s award went to Meli Derenalagi of Fiji.

Derenalagi said, “It means a lot for me and the work we did in training. I want to thank my teammates, for helping me to win this and the motivation they give me. It’s my first series so I am really happy to win this.”

Fair Play

The Fair Play Award was selected by the match officials and recognises the teams who showcase rugby’s values of integrity, passion, solidarity, discipline and respect, and this year’s award went to France.

TAG Heuer Don’t Crack Under Pressure

This Award was given to the player who has shown they have the ability to execute under the intense pressure of rugby sevens. This award was voted for by the fans on social media and went to Pol Pla and Spain for their win against New Zealand in Vancouver earlier this year.

Spanish team manager Keith Chapman said: “That try did so much for Spanish Rugby so all of us have enjoyed that moment. It made national news.”

DHL Impact Player

This Award was for the player who demonstrated the most consistency and deliver the greatest impact against four key criteria – carries, off-loads, line-breaks and tackles.

This year’s winner was Vilimoni Botitu who racked up 356 points, 124 tackles, 24 breaks, 49 offloads and 159 carries.

Botitu said: “It’s always my friends and family back home that helps motivate me to play well and on and off the field. I am very humbled.”

Capgemini Coach of the Series

This season’s Capgemini Coach of the Series award was handed to USA’s Mike Friday whose team secured a second place finish on the 2019 circuit.

Friday commented: “It’s very humbling but it’s a real team effort. I am just the person at the front. The team behind the team is key.

UL Mark of Excellence

In a season packed with so many special moments, this inaugural award celebrates the one that stands out the most. USA’s Danny Barrett received the award in Paris for his incredible athleticism against New Zealand in Cape Town at the end of last year.

Barrett said, “I am definitely very aggressive with my style of play, I grew up with brothers so being the runt of the litter you kind of have to fight for scraps. My style of play brings a different element to the game so it’s great to be able to play like that.”

HSBC Dream Team

The HSBC Dream Team took into consideration players’ performances across the season and previous nominations in the individual tournament dream teams.

The seven players making up this season’s HSBC Dream Team comprised USA’s Ben Pinkelman, Stephen Tomasin, Meli Derenalagi and Aminiasi Tuimaba and Fiji’s Meli Derenalagi, Jerry Tuwai, Folau Niua and Vilimoni Botitu.

Tomasin commented: “It means a lot personally but really it just shows the success of our team this year; it wasn’t just one or two of us, but it was all of us combined throughout the season.”
Sheevas Dayal is Rugby Correspondent for Indian Newslink. He lives in Auckland.

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