The 2017–18 United States national rugby sevens team season included both the 2017–18 World Rugby Sevens Series and the 2018 Rugby World Cup Sevens. The season began badly. In the first tournament of the 2017–18 World Rugby Sevens Series in Dubai, 2017 World Rugby Player of the Year Perry Baker suffered a concussion, and the United States team limped to a last place finish. The U.S. improved from that point on, reaching the semifinals of the Australia Sevens. The team then won the 2018 USA Sevens, the first time the U.S. won their home tournament, boosted in large part by Perry Baker, who led all scorers with 8 tries."Las Vegas Sevens: 'Gladiator' USA team win on home soil", CNN, March 5, 2018."Perry Baker took USA to sevens gold in Vegas – now the hard work begins", Guardian, March 5, 2018. Baker, along with forwards Ben Pinkelman and Danny Barrett all made the tournament Dream Team."Las Vegas Sevens: 'Gladiator' USA team win on home soil", CNN, March 5, 2018."Perry Baker took USA to sevens gold in Vegas – now the hard work begins", Guardian, March 5, 2018. Overall the team displayed inconsistent performances, reaching the Cup semifinals three times, but also failing to qualify for the cup quarterfinals three times. Despite the inconsistent play, the U.S. finished sixth overall.
2017–18 World Sevens Series + 2017–18 Season Leg Date Finish Record (W-L-D) Leading Try Scorer Leading Points Scorer Dream Team selection Dubai December 2017 15th 0–5 Carlin Isles (3) Carlin Isles (15) — South Africa December 2017 6th 4–2 Carlin Isles (6) Madison Hughes (37) — Australia January 2018 4th 3–3 Perry Baker (9) Perry Baker (45) Ben Pinkelman New Zealand February 2018 9th 4–1–1 Perry Baker (8) Perry Baker (40) — United States March 2018 1st 6–0 Perry Baker (8) Perry Baker (40) Pinkelman, Barrett, Baker Canada March 2018 4th 3–3 Perry Baker (7) Perry Baker (37) Perry Baker Hong Kong April 2018 6th 3-2-1 Carlin Isles (7) Carlin Isles (35) — Singapore April 2018 9th 4–2 Carlin Isles (8) Carlin Isles (40) — England June 2018 6th 3-2-1 Carlin Isles (8) Carlin Isles (40) — France June 2018 6th 3-2-1 Carlin Isles (6) Carlin Isles (30) —
Player statistics The following table shows the leading players for the U.S. after the 2017–18 Sevens Series season. Among all World Series, players, Isles ranked first in tries scored with 49, and Baker ranked fifth with 37. Ben Pinkelman ranked fourth in tackles with 124 and fourth in matches played with 58.
+ Leading U.S. players (2017–18 WS season) Player Position Matches Tackles Tries Ben Pinkelman Forward 58 124 11 Matai Leuta Forward 46 82 8 Martin Iosefo Back 55 80 22 Folau Niua Halfback 52 80 9 Stephen Tomasin Forward 38 67 15 Madison Hughes Halfback 23 61 5 Perry Baker Back 30 58 37 Danny Barrett Forward 49 56 17 Kevon Williams Halfback 47 52 14 Carlin Isles Back 53 40 49 Maka Unufe Back 33 36 9 Malon Aljiboori Forward 30 19 2 Source: World Rugby website.
2018 USA Sevens
The United States won the tournament by beating Argentina 28–0 in the final. This was the first time that the United States won its home tournament. USA's Perry Baker led the tournament with 8 tries and 11 breaks."Las Vegas Sevens: 'Gladiator' USA team win on home soil", CNN, George Ramsey, March 5, 2018. Baker, Pinkelman, and Barrett were all named to the seven-man tournament Dream Team.
+ 2018 USA Sevens final: U.S. starting lineup Player Position Danny Barrett Forward Ben Pinkelman Forward Matai Leuta Forward Folau Niua Scrum-half Kevon Williams Fly-half Martin Iosefo Center Perry Baker Wing
Substitutes: Carlin Isles, Malon Aljiboori Unavailable due to injury: Madison Hughes, Stephen Tomasin, Maka Unufe
With the U.S. finishing out the game with a lineup that included Isles (wing), Baker (center), Williams (fly-half) and Aljiboori (forward), it is believed that this is the first time the U.S. has fielded a team where the majority of players are African-American."Benchmark Breach of Color Barrier for Eagles?", Rugby Mag, Pat Clifton, March 27, 2018.
2018 Rugby World Cup Sevens
Round of 16
Quarterfinals
5th place semi-finals
5th place final
PlayerDate of birth (age)Union / Club 1 BK Unattached 2 FW Denver Barbarians 3 FW Unattached 4 FW Unattached 5 FW Unattached 6 BK Denver Barbarians 7 BK Unattached 8 BK Unattached 9 FW Unattached 10 BK (c) Unattached 11 BK Unattached 12 BK Unattached BK New York Athletic Club FW Unattached Head coach: Mike Friday
See also 2018 Rugby World Cup Sevens – Women's tournament
References