2016–17 United States national rugby sevens team season

The United States national rugby sevens team began the 2016-17 World Rugby Sevens Series slowly, sitting in 11th place after the first three rounds. The U.S. was missing certain key players from the previous season. The U.S. turned things around mid-season. In the second half of the season, the team for the first time reached four consecutive semifinals: first at the USA Sevens where the U.S. finished third; then at the Canada Sevens where Perry Baker scored 9 tries including his 100th career try;[1] followed by Hong Kong and Singapore. The U.S. finished the season in fifth place overall, a record high for the team.[2]

United States
2016–17 season

Perry Baker and Danny Barrett were both selected to the 2016-17 Dream Team.

Tournament results

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Leg Date Finish Record
(W-L-D)
Leading Try Scorer Leading Points Scorer Dream Team
selection
Dubai December 2016 9th 4–2 Perry Baker (5) Madison Hughes (39)
South Africa December 2016 T–7th 2–3 Perry Baker (5) Perry Baker (25)
New Zealand January 2017 T–11th 2–2–1 Baker & Barrett (3) Madison Hughes (23)
Australia February 2017 6th 3–3 Carlin Isles (5) Madison Hughes (24) Danny Barrett
United States March 2017 3rd 4–2 Danny Barrett (5) Danny Barrett (25) Danny Barrett
Canada March 2017 4th 4–2 Perry Baker (9) Perry Baker (45) Perry Baker
Hong Kong April 2017 4th 4–2 Perry Baker (9) Perry Baker (45) Baker & Pinkelman
Singapore April 2017 2nd 4–2 Baker & Tomasin (8) Baker & Tomasin (40) Baker, Barrett & Tomasin
France May 2017 5th 4–2 Perry Baker (8) Perry Baker (40) -
England May 2017 4th 3–3 Perry Baker (8) Perry Baker (40) Perry Baker
Totals 5th Perry Baker (57) Perry Baker (285) Baker (4), Barrett (3)

Player statistics

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Perry Baker was the season's leading try scorer (57) and points scorer (285) on the Series.[3] Madison Hughes ranked third in points (279).

The following table shows the players who appeared in at least 12 matches for the U.S. during the 2016–17 Sevens Series season.

Leading U.S. players (2016–17 WS season)
Player Matches Tackles Tries Points
Stephen Tomasin 57 156 27 171
Madison Hughes 49 143 13 279
Folau Niua 57 91 10 58
Perry Baker 53 82 57 285
Ben Pinkelman 35 73 11 55
Martin Iosefo 55 66 19 95
Andrew Durutalo 54 64 13 67
Maka Unufe 47 60 14 70
Danny Barrett 42 44 22 110
Matai Leuta 40 27 3 15
Mike Te'o 13 22 5 29
Don Pati 18 11 3 15

References

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  1. ^ "Baker scores 100th Sevens Series try", Americas Rugby News, March 13, 2017.
  2. ^ "U.S. rugby concludes best-ever season", NBC Sports, Seth Rubinroit, May 21, 2017.
  3. ^ "U.S. rugby concludes best-ever season", NBC Sports, Seth Rubinroit, May 21, 2017.