Four Kiwis on Sevens honour roll for 2020
Fluhler acknowledged as all-round Impact Player of the Year
Three Black Ferns Sevens players have been named in the women’s Sevens World Series team of the year. New Zealand’s Tyla Nathan-wong, Stacey Fluhler and Ruby Tui made the selection, with the Scott Curry the sole All Blacks Sevens player in the men’s team.
Both New Zealand sides were officially crowned overall champions of the Covid-disrupted World Series season.
They topped the standings when the season was officially called off earlier this year.
Fluhler also won top women’s try scorer and was awarded the Impact Player gong, which statistically analyses individuals’ all round performances measured against four key criteria — offloads, carries, line-breaks and tackles.
World Rugby Chairman Sir Bill Beaumont said: “On behalf of World Rugby I would like to congratulate all the World Rugby Sevens Series 2020 award winners. Although the series this year was forced to conclude early there was no shortage of speed, skill and spectacular tries on display from players and teams, combined with unpredictable and awe-inspiring moments that embody the values of the game and remind us that rugby sevens is a truly unique and thrilling sport.”
Fluhler said: “It’s such a massive honour to receive these awards, and I do so on behalf of my team — I wouldn’t be able to be out there scoring tries if they weren’t working hard in the middle of the field! While we were gutted the season ended the way it did there were lots of highlights, like playing in South Africa for the first time and hosting all the teams in Hamilton.”