RUGBY: The Qantas Australian Women's Sevens pair of Emilee Cherry and Charlotte Caslick have been shortlisted for the prestigious IRB Women’s Sevens Player of the Year award.
Also on the shortlist were New Zealand's Sarah Goss and Kayla McAlister, the winner in 2013.
The four players have each helped their respective sides win two of the four rounds in the 2013/14 Series, and were voted onto the shortlist by the management staff of the teams competing against them.
The winner will be announced on Sunday morning (AET) at the conclusion of the Amsterdam Sevens, the final round of the IRB Women’s Sevens World Series 2013/14. Where Australia and New Zealand are looking to win the series. New Zealand currently has 76 points, Australia 74 and Canada sits on 64.
See highlights video of the four star players here>>>
Charlotte Caslick (Australia)
The youngest of the four nominees having only turned 19 in March 2014, Caslick is one of the brightest young stars in women’s rugby. She made her debut in Amsterdam last year and has scored 10 tries in her first full season.
Emilee Cherry (Australia)
A former touch rugby champion and a natural reader of the game, Cherry is known for her blistering speed and evasive running. The 21-year-old has been at the forefront of Australia’s success this season and is the leading try and point scorer with 24 tries and 138 points.
Sarah Goss (New Zealand)
A hard worker and uncompromisingly tough tackler, Goss gives her team the go-forward and solid base from which to build their many attacks. Compared to All Blacks Sevens captain DJ Forbes for her work ethic and value to the team.
Kayla McAlister (New Zealand)
The recipient of the first IRB Women’s Sevens Player of the Year Award in 2013 after only a year in the sport, McAlister has scored 20 more tries this season. A former netballer inspired to try Sevens by the lure of the Olympics, her quick feet and vision have split many a defence and led to tries for the world champions.
IRB Chairman Bernard Lapasset said: “Women’s Rugby Sevens continues to win new admirers all over the world as the quality of the individual athletes and the team performances improve with every season. In this year’s IRB Women’s Sevens World Series we have seen some outstanding matches and these four players in particular have demonstrated what it takes to excel at the top level.
“We are now just two years away from Sevens’ Olympic debut in Rio de Janeiro and the teams continue to raise the bar in performance. To be nominated by the teams for this award is a special achievement in itself so I congratulate all four players.”
This will be the second IRB Award to be presented in 2014 after Fiji’s Samisoni Viriviri was named the men’s IRB Sevens Player of the Year in London on Sunday.
All of the action from the Netherlands will be streamed live at wsws.irb.com.
Australian Women's Sevens fixtures in Amsterdam, Netherlands, 16-18 May:
Australia v France, Pool B, 10.20pm (EST), 16 May
Australia v South Africa, Pool B, 1.04am (EST), 17 May
Australia v Russia, Pool B, 3.48am (EST), 17 May
Show your support for the Australian Women’s Sevens team (Aussie7s) in the Netherlands via Twitter by using the hashtag #SevensSupport
Australian Rugby Union
