Three named for Sevens’ Top Gong
August 12, 2008 - 3:07pm
Story by: ARU
The International Rugby Board has today unveiled a shortlist for the IRB Sevens Player of the Year award category, with the winner to be announced at a gala ceremony in London on November 23.
South African Fabian Juries heads the list and is joined by NZ captain DJ Forbes and Samoan veteran Uale Mai, in the final three.
Australian Sevens fans will remember Juries as the hero of the epic Fairmont Homes International Rugby Sevens Adelaide final earlier this year.
The South African veteran scored two memorable solo tries as a baby Springboks team finally ended New Zealand’s record unbeaten run and claimed their first tournament victory since Dubai in 2006 in the process. Not surprisingly, Juries was named Player of the Tournament for his Adelaide feats.
New Zealand’s dominance of the 2007/08 IRB Sevens World Series, which included a record run of 47 matches undefeated, is underlined with the nomination of inspirational captain DJ Forbes.
The New Zealander is joined in the shortlist by Samoa captain Uale Mai, the most capped Sevens player of all time and the recipient of the award in 2006.
The three nominees were selected by a panel comprising the team managers from the IRB Sevens World Series.
"Rugby Sevens broke new ground in 2007/08,” said IRB Chairman Bernard Lapasset.
“Not only did the popular IRB Sevens World Series shatter all previous Series attendance and broadcast records, but an unprecedented level of Sevens Rugby has been played around the world this year with the continuation of qualifying for Rugby World Cup Sevens 2009 in Dubai, the first RWC Sevens tournament to feature a women’s event running alongside the men’s.”
"The overall competitiveness of Sevens Rugby continues to scale new heights, and the IRB Sevens Player of the Year award presents the IRB with the opportunity to recognise those who made a significant impact in the Game during 2008,” added Lapasset.
