Savea claims top prize at awards

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

A month after claiming World Rugby's biggest prize, All Black Ardie Savea has claimed the Player of the Year at Thursday's New Zealand Rugby Awards.

It is the second time Savea has received the top honour, while he was also named the All Blacks Player of the Year for the third consecutive year.

The World Series winning All Blacks and Black Ferns Sevens teams were each recognised with the men's team named New Zealand Team of the Year and women's coach Cory Sweeney the New Zealand Coach of the Year.

Two new awards were added this year recognising the grassroots game.

Steven Li won Te Hapai New Zealand Rugby Community Impact Award for his commitment to increasing participation, ensuring safety and fostering an inclusive environment highlighted in the Rip Rugby programme he developed to welcome Asian migrants to the game.

The Auckland University Rugby Football Club was named as the inaugural Bunnings Warehouse Rugby Club of the Year.

Auckland University RFC promoted an inclusive culture through their fee subsidy programme, creation of gender-neutral changing facilities along with several on and off-field participation opportunities for their community.

In a big night for the Auckland University club, life member Rob Fisher was recognised with one of the night's biggest honours, the Steinlager Salver for outstanding contribution to New Zealand Rugby (NZR).

Involved in rugby administration at club, provincial, national and international level for decades, Fisher has served in governance roles on the NZR, SANZAAR and World Rugby boards.

He was part of negotiations for the first sale of rugby's TV rights with Sky TV and developing the Super 12 and Tri Nations competitions.

Waikato's Allen Grainger was awarded the Volunteer of the Year award, while international referee Ben O'Keeffe was awarded the New Zealand Rugby Referee of the Year for the fourth time.

The best of the provincial game was recognised with medals in honour of the competition's greats — South Canterbury's Siu Kakala receiving the Ian Kirkpatrick Medal, Hawke's Bay Tui playmaker Krysten Cottrell the Fiao'o Fa'amausili Medal and Counties Manukau hot stepper Etene Nanai-Seturo the Duane Monkley Medal.

Poverty Bay No.8 Stuart Leach was also nominated for the Ian Kirkpatrick Medal, after a strong Heartland season for the Weka and narrowly missing out on selection for the Heartland XV squad. He would have joined Bay teammate Keanu Taumata wearing the black jersey.

South Canterbury was also recognised for their undefeated season with the National Men's Team of the Year after winning the Meads Cup for the third consecutive season.

The Auckland Storm were awarded the National Women's Team of the Year after claiming the Farah Palmer Cup.

Championship-winning coach Rawinia Everitt was recognised for her efforts with the Northland Kauri, named the National Women's Coach of the Year, while Taranaki's Neil Barnes received the men's equivalent.

Crusaders captain Scott Barrett and Matatū loose forward Lucy Jenkins can add Super Rugby Player of the Year titles to their Super Rugby titles from 2023, while Aaron Smith was recognised for another stellar season by receiving the Tom French Memorial Māori Player of the Year.

The best to don the black jersey this year were highlighted.

Under 20s star Harry Godfrey was named the New Zealand Rugby Age Grade Player of the Year, Akuila Rokolisoa received the Richard Crawshaw Memorial All Blacks Sevens Player of the Year, Stacey Waaka the Black Ferns Sevens Player of the Year and Liana Mikaele-Tu'u the Black Ferns Player of the Year.

The Fans’ Try of the Year, decided by public vote, was given to Will Jordan's finish following some Damian McKenzie magic against Uruguay in the Rugby World Cup.

NZR chief executive Mark Robinson congratulated the winners and nominees.

"We've had another amazing year of rugby with inspiring performances and contributions at all levels of the game.

"Our Sevens teams really led the charge with exceptional performances, while Ardie Savea continues to set a high standard in every team he represents and is a worthy recipient of the Kel Tremain award.

"It's heartening to hear the stories of some of our game's unsung heroes and we are really proud to have the introduction of new awards in this area in 2023." — RNZ

New Zealand Rugby Award recipients —

New Zealand Rugby Referee of the Year:

Ben O'Keeffe.

Charles Monro Rugby Volunteer of the Year:

Allen Grainger (Waikato).

Bunnings Warehouse Rugby Club of the Year:

Auckland University Rugby Football Club (Auckland).

Te Hapai New Zealand Rugby Community Impact Award:

Steven Li (Asian Non-Contact

Rugby Programme).

New Zealand Rugby Age Grade Player of the Year:

Harry Godfrey (Hawke's Bay).

Ian Kirkpatrick Medal (Heartland Player of the Year):

Siu Kakala (South Canterbury).

Duane Monkley Medal (NPC Player of the Year):

Etene Nanai-Seturo (Counties Manukau).

Fiao'o Faamausili Medal (FPC Player of the Year):

Krysten Cottrell (Hawke's Bay).

ASB National Men's Coach of the Year:

Neil Barnes (Taranaki).

ASB National Women's Coach of the Year:

Rawinia Everitt (Northland).

ASB New Zealand Coach of the Year:

Cory Sweeney (Black Ferns Sevens).

DHL Super Rugby Pacific Player of the Year:

Scott Barrett (Crusaders).

Sky Super Rugby Aupiki Player of the Year:

Lucy Jenkins (Matatū).

Tom French Memorial Māori Player of the Year:

Aaron Smith (Ngāti Kahungunu, Manawatū).

Richard Crawshaw Memorial All Blacks Sevens Player of the Year:

Akuila Rokolisoa.

Black Ferns Sevens Player of the Year:

Stacey Waaka.

Black Ferns Player of the Year:

Liana Mikaele-Tu'u.

All Blacks Player of the Year:

Ardie Savea.

adidas National Men's Team of the Year:

South Canterbury.

adidas National Women's Team of the Year:

Auckland Storm.

adidas New Zealand Team of the Year:

All Blacks Sevens.

Kelvin R Tremain Memorial Player of the Year:

Ardie Savea.