FIJI Airways Fiji 7s team captain Jerry Tuwai has been selected as one of the three nominees for the World Rugby Men’s 7s Player of the Year for 2018.
Tuwai, along with USA 7s speedster Perry Baker and Australia’s running forward Ben O’Donnel, are the three contenders for the award.
The players were selected by match officials and commentators on the men’s and women’s World Rugby Men’s 7s Player of the Year and Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018.
The 29-year-old from Vanua Levu will be contesting the award for the second year after he was shortlisted last year as one of the nominees.
Baker of the USA won last year.
The Rio Olympics gold medalist has been outstanding in the 7s arena showing his unique capabilities of breaking defence and creating opportunities for his teammates or himself to score tries.
Tuwai took over the Fiji 7s team captaincy role from Osea Kolinisau after Fiji won the gold medal at the Rio Olympics in Brazil.
Tuwai led Fiji to win five titles on the 2017/2018 series, including four in a row from Vancouver to London, and scored 25 tries along the way to also earn a place in the HSBC Dream Team for the series.
The nominees for the World Rugby Women’s Sevens Player of the Year 2018 see three Kiwis contesting for the award.
Michaela Blyde won the award last year and New Zealand captain Sarah Goss and Portia Woodmans.
The shortlists- feature players from four nations, including three previous recipients of the- prestigious award, with five of them having featured in the dream teams for the- HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2018 or Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018 and it will- be held in November 25.
