Australia’s Ben O’Donnell has been nominated for World Rugby’s sevens player of the year award.

The 23-year-old has scored 32 tries across nine rounds in his debut season in the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series, including two in the Sydney final as the hosts secured a first cup title in six years.

O’Donnell, who last weekend won Rugby Australia’s Sevens top player prize, is vying for the top global gong alongside Perry Baker of the United States – who scored eight tries as his team won the Las Vegas leg of the Series – and Fiji’s Jerry Tuwai, who led his team to five titles over the 2018 season.

New Zealand are guaranteed to have a winner in the women’s world player of the year category after Michaela Blyde, Sarah Goss and Portia Woodman were named as the three nominees for the award, which will be announced at World Rugby’s annual prize-giving in Monte Carlo on November 26.