Best of the best: DHL Impact Player Award Masterclass

Over the course of last season’s World Rugby Sevens Series, we selected a DHL Impact Player at the end of every tournament. These were some of the most technically-skilled players in the world, and after reviewing some amazing off-loads, tackles, line breaks, and carries, we asked you to vote on the best ones in our DHL Impact Player Award Masterclass Series.

With the speed and skill involved in Rugby Sevens, the difference between winning and losing often comes down to one key player delivering a standout performance. That player at each stop on the World Rugby Sevens Series was named the DHL Impact Player in recognition their consistency in four key areas of the game: line-breaks, carries, offloads and tackles.

By the end of the season, the highlight reel in these categories was an astonishing display of technical ability and athleticism. We couldn’t resist breaking down some of the best plays of the season and turned to you – the fans – to help up select the best play in each of the four DHL Impact Player categories. Get out a pen and take some notes as you watch the final compilation of the winning Masterclass performances above, then get the full story on the winner in each category below!

Offloads – Sonny Bill Williams (New Zealand)

The true test of performance under pressure – who was able to get off the best pass as opponents pile up on top? That distinction goes to New Zealand’s Sonny Bill Williams, who found teammate Joe Webber sprinting for the try-line despite three South African defenders doing everything they could to bring him down.

The brilliant offload found Webber with a clear path to score the winning try. Without the Sonny’s quick reaction as he was being tackled, the Blitzboks would have had a bit of extra time to regroup on defense – which could have made the difference in the match.

Line Breaks – Cheslin Kolbe (South Africa)

You won’t get very far in Rugby Sevens if you can’t break your opponents line to score. While rugby sevens is often about muscling your way through the defense, a great line break is often a matter of finesse, and nobody knows that better than South Africa’s Cheslin Kolbe.

Starting from his own half of the pitch, Koble’s quick-footed step down took him cleanly through Argentina’s line, leaving his defender flat-footed and in the dust. He encountered Argentina’s last line of defense further down the pitch, but a quick pass for the last few meters led to a great team try for the Blitzboks.

Tackles - Jarryd Hayne (Fiji)

In Rugby Sevens, tackling is an art form. A poorly executed tackle by even the brawniest player can fail, while a perfectly executed tackle can bring down the toughest opponents. In fact, sometimes it’s the lightest touch that makes all the difference.

Need an example? Jarryd Hayne's ankle-tap on Alexandre Gracbling prevented what everyone – including Gracbling – thought was a sure try. With a perfectly executed, flat-out dive, Fiji’s Hayne was able to clip Gracbling’s heels and send him sprawling to the pitch. You can see the frustration on Gracbling’s face as he dusts himself off – the sign of a truly great tackle!

Carries – Nelson Oyoo (Kenya)

Speed counts in Rugby Sevens. With only seven players on the pitch, there is plenty of room to roam – if a player can weave through defenders and find a clear path to score. Starting deep in his own territory, Kenya's Nelson Oyoo saw an opportunity to break away from his defenders, and then simply turned on the jets.

His run, which covered nearly the length of the pitch, came during the Singapore 7s tournament. Kenya went on to beat Fiji in this match and win their first-ever Sevens Cup!

The DHL Impact Player Award Masterclass series showcases the best of the best from the 2015/2016 World Rugby Sevens Series. We can’t wait to see the amazing plays and game-changing moments from our DHL Impact Players in Rio and during next season’s Rugby Sevens competition! To keep up to speed on all the latest in Rugby Sevens, bookmark the rugby page on DHL InMotion, watch more highlights on YouTube, and follow @DHLRugby on Twitter or Facebook.