Rugby Sevens: Who’s made the greatest impact?

After six of ten rounds, we’ve seen some great things happen on the sevens pitch. Who will claim the DHL Impact Player Award honors? It’s anyone’s guess.

France's Virimi Vakatawa (Dubai), Scotland's Lee Jones, (Cape Town), South Africa's Rosko Specman (Wellington), New Zealand's Rieko Ioane (Sydney), Fiji’s Jasa Veremalua (Las Vegas), and Fiji’s Kitione Taliga (Vancouver). These six men have been named the DHL Impact Players at the first six rounds of the HSBC Sevens World Series. 

Three others top the DHL Series Performance Tracker – Fiji’s Savenaca Rawaca, South Africa’s Seabelo Senatla and Russia’s Vladimir Ostroushko – so when it comes to picking the winner in the race for this year’s first-ever Impact Player Award, your guess is as good as anyone’s.

Dubai: Virimi Vakatawa
Although he missed the end of last season through injury, Virimi Vakatawa returned to the pitch in Dubai with immediate impact. With his 10 tackles, 5 line breaks, 19 carries and 7 offloads, the powerful Frenchman had a hand in all things good about France as they lifted the Bowl on day two of the opening round on the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series.

Every time I get the ball I just want to run and score tries. Attacking is my favorite part of the game.

Virimi Vakatawa

And after his enthralling performances, he was named the first-ever DHL Impact Player of the Tournament for Dubai, an honor that is no wonder with this attitude.

“Personally I love to run with the ball,” he said. “Every time I get the ball I just want to run and score tries. Attacking is my favorite part of the game.”

Cape Town: Lee Jones
Lee Jones is known for his pace, strength in the contact and an unquestionable eye for the try line – and he demonstrated all of these qualities at the HSBC Cape Town Sevens. The Scottish winger was all over the pitch, with 15 carries, 7 line breaks, 4 offloads and 15 tackles.

The game was obviously coming my way ?….? the team put me in good positions. I think I made a lot of tackles and got the points up there.

Lee Jones

Scottish Rugby couldn’t be more pleased with their decision to select Jones for the opening legs of the 2015/16 World Series in Dubai and South Africa. The 27-year-old not only won the DHL Impact Player Award in Cape Town, he also surpassed two milestones – the 250-point and 50-try mark – in the opening winner against Samoa on day two. Jones lit up the Bowl final to help his team to a dominating 19-0 win over the English. A stunning double stutter step to set up his fifth try of the weekend was one of many moments that made an impact.
 
Wellington: Rosko Specman
Rosko Specman is a truly world-class sevens player – a fact he proved once again at the HSBC Wellington Sevens. Carrying on from where he left off on home soil in Cape Town in December, the South African speed demon once again played an integral part in the Blitzboks reaching the final two rounds in a row. His powerful performance has earned him the DHL Impact Player Award of the Tournament.

It’s key to enjoy yourself and use the space when playing sevens.

Rosko Specman

Specman’s pace and natural try scoring ability was a pleasure to watch.  Over the two-day Tournament, he tallied up 17 tackles, 7 breaks, 27 carries and 6 offloads on the way to South Africa’s second Cup final appearance. Though the Blitzboks were beaten by hosts New Zealand in a last-minute thriller, the team now sits atop the series with 54 points, two points ahead of Fiji.

“It was a positive performance overall in the tournament and we know our game plan is on the right track,” said Specman. “It’s key to enjoy yourself and use the space when playing sevens.

Sydney: Rieko Ioane
At just 18-years-old, New Zealand’s tall center from Auckland, Rieko Ioane, has already delivered some impressive performances as an All Black. Selected for the first time for the 2015 Wellington Sevens, Rieko played a key role in his team’s final win over England in that round. Almost precisely a year to the day later, he was named the DHL Impact Player of the HSBC Sydney Sevens.

I really think my tackling and my defense stepped up. 

Rieko Ioane

Ioane made 21 tackles, 9 breaks, 20 carries and 4 offloads for 54 total points and the Impact Player honors. The icing on his performance cake was seven tries throughout the Tournament, including the winning score against Australia in the final.

“It feels great to win the DHL Impact Player award,” said Rieko after the Sydney final. “I’m glad someone is keeping track of the stats apart from my dad! I really think my tackling and my defense stepped up.”

Las Vegas: Jasa Veremalua
Fiji's Jasa Veremalua shone bright in the Las Vegas sunshine to come out as the DHL Impact Player, achieving some huge stats across the three-day tournament in Nevada.

Veremalua made some crucial breaks and tackles to help the Pacific islanders come back from 15-0 down to win a thrilling final.

The Fijian sensation scored a crucial try in the Cup semi-final against USA to secure his side a place in the final. While he did not get on the score sheet against Australia, he did make some crucial breaks and tackles to help the Pacific islanders come back from 15-0 down to win a thrilling final and notch up their second tournament win of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series.  

Veremalua’s attacking potential was seen in full flow at the USA round of the series, with 21 carries and 9 offloads, contributing to some stunning rugby in front of the packed out stands at Sam Boyd Stadium.

Vancouver: Kitione Taliga
Fiji didn’t make the final in Round 6 in Vancouver, but their players certainly made an impact on the pitch – and none more so than Kitione Taliga. A relative newcomer to the reigning World Champion’s powerful squad, Taliga put up some impressive numbers which earned him the DHL Impact Player Award of the HSBC Vancouver Sevens.

This is a blessing for me it’s an honor to be part of the Fiji 7s team.

Kitione Taliga

The 22-year-old prison officer made 13 tackles, 9 clean breaks, 5 offloads and 26 carries to top the DHL Performance Tracker in Vancouver. 

Taliga donned his nation’s jersey for the first time less than a year ago at the Scotland Sevens. At the time he told Fiji TV: “This is a blessing for me it’s an honor to be part of the Fiji 7s team.”

Series Performance Tracker
Of the six DHL Impact Players named so far this year, only Fiji’s Jasa Veremalua has performed consistently enough to make the top seven overall. With 209 points, Jasa is in fourth place behind teammate Savenaca Rawaca (213), South Africa’s Seabelo Senatla (213) and Russia’s Vladimir Ostroushko (211). With four rounds to go and only 22 points separating the top seven players, who will make the greatest impact this year is still anyone’s guess. 

Be sure to follow the conversation on the Twittersphere with the hashtag #DHLImpactPlayer.

For more, head over to World Rugby’s Impact Player page or check out the Rugby stream right here on DHL InMotion. And follow us throughout the Series on Twitter @DHLRugby and on Facebook.

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