World Rugby Men’s Sevens Player of the Year 2021 in association with HSBC: Marcos Moneta (Argentina)
Marcos Moneta had shown glimpses of his potential on the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2020, but it was at the Olympic Games in Tokyo that he announced his name to the watching world with six tries to finish as top try-scorer as Argentina won the bronze medal.
The 21-year-old, a Youth Olympic Games gold medallist in 2018, scored his tries at key moments, not least a double in the quarter-finals as the six – and for a period five – men of Argentina held off South Africa to keep their medal hopes alive.
Moneta is the first Argentinian to win the accolade.
Nominees: Napolioni Bolaca (Fiji), Scott Curry (New Zealand), Jiuta Wainiqolo (Fiji)
World Rugby Women’s Sevens Player of the Year 2021 in association with HSBC: Anne-Cécile Ciofani (France)
The first French player nominated for the award, Anne-Cécile Ciofani breaks the dominance of Australia and New Zealand in this category. The 27-year-old was in inspired form in 2021, scoring seven tries in the World Rugby Sevens Repechage to book France’s ticket to Tokyo 2020 and enable her to follow in her parents’ footsteps as an Olympian. Ciofani crossed for seven tries in Tokyo, only failing to do so in the opening match against Fiji, as France claimed a deserved silver medal.
Nominees: Sarah Hirini (New Zealand), Alowesi Nakoci (Fiji), Reapi Ulunisau (Fiji)
