The 2016 Bay of Plenty Awards Evening was held at Club Mount Maunganui on Wednesday night.
It was well attended by teams, management, family and sponsors, celebrating the success and recognising the efforts and achievements of players, coaches, referees and volunteers.
Whakatane Marist's Steven Mapu collected the new Bay of Plenty Rugby Union Supreme Award.
In February Mapu achieved 500 official Senior A grade games for Whakatane Marist. He commenced his senior career with Whakatane Marist in 1989, at the start of the Bay of Plenty Baywide Competition and he has played continuously for the past twenty seven years and is yet to hang up his boots.
Rotorua Boys' High School student Kaleb Trask was voted Bay of Plenty Rugby Union Sports Person of the year, following his achievements with the New Zealand Barbarians Schools and Chiefs Under 18's representative teams. Trask has recently secured a spot in the Bay of Plenty Rugby Union Steamers Academy for 2017 and 2018.
Joe Tupe was the stand out for the Steamers collecting both the Steamers Player of the Year and the Steamers Players Player of the Year.
In his acceptance speech, Tupe acknowledged the support from the coaching team of Clayton McMillan, Rodney Gibbs and David Hill, and the Bay of Plenty Rugby Union. Tupe also thanked and recognised the contribution from his team mates and support from his young family.
The Steamers forward of the year went to the consistent Aidan Ross, while the back of year was awarded to the illusive Lalakai Foketi and talented Isaac Te Aute received the Steamers Rookie of the Year.
In a new initiative this year, the Vodafone Award for Player Community Service was presented to Sabastian Siataga in recognition for his contribution to the community. Fellow Steamers team mate Troy Callander and Volcanix representative Kendra Reynolds were also acknowledged for their contribution off the field.
The Volcanix Player of the Year was awarded to Lavinia Gould who has had a successful season. As the vice-captain of the Volcanix squad she brought another level of skill, experience and professionalism into the side.
Mount Maunganui College student George Haswell was awarded the Martin Teo Shield Referee of the Year with Shane McDermott winning the Lawrence Medal for Premier Referee of the Year.
Several representative awards were introduced, including the WASPS Emerging Representative player, which was awarded to Bay of Plenty Secondary School Girls Player of the Year Tynealle Fitzgerald.
Female and Male Maori Player of the Year was awarded to Autumn Stephens and Devin Tetai for the first time, along with the Bay of Plenty Samoans Player of the Year Jerry Moli.
Another new initiative was the Service to Sport medal which recognises five volunteers for their service. These worthy recipients were Mount Maunganui Sports' Terry Hurdle, Waikite's Mike and Moana Miller, Patsy Terry-Rawiri from Arataki Rugby Club, Rangiuru's Dennis Minirapa and long-time Bay of Plenty Rugby Judicial Officer Ian Spraggon.
In other community awards, Rangataua Rugby's Premier side were the fitting winners of the Club Team of the Year and their coach Aramahou Ririnui was award Club Coach of the Year following the sides Baywide Premier Club Rugby winning performance for the 2016 title.
Te Puna Rugby Club was presented Club of the Year for their positive contribution to the growth and development of rugby within their community.
Raukura Rugby (Rotorua Boys' High School) and Tauranga Girls' College coaching staff of Jeff Robb and Leo Scott, were respectively presented the Secondary Schools Programme of the Year and Tauranga Girls' College's coaching team received the Coach of the Year.
2016 Bay of Plenty Rugby Union Award Winners:
