Jorja Miller of New Zealand runs the ball to a try during the 2024 Perth SVNS women's match. Photo / Getty Images.
Jorja Miller of New Zealand runs the ball to a try during the 2024 Perth SVNS women's match. Photo / Getty Images.
The Olympic Gold medal-winning Black Ferns Sevens have swept the 2024 NZ Rugby Awards, claiming New Zealand Team of the Year, Cory Sweeney the Coach of the Year and Jorja Miller receiving the Kelvin R Tremain Memorial Player of the Year title.
At 20 years of age, Miller is the second-youngest recipient of the Player of the Year gong in its 30-year history (behind Jonah Lomu), another piece of history for the Timaru native, after becoming New Zealand’s youngest female gold medallist at the Paris Olympics earlier this year.
Sweeney’s nod for Coach of the Year is his fifth time claiming the title, equalling the record held by Sir Steve Hansen.
The Blues almost made a clean sweep of the awards they were nominated for, picking up both National Men’s and Women’s Team of the Year, Hoskins Sotutu and Katelyn Vahaakolo winning the Super Rugby Pacific and Super Rugby Aupiki Player of the Year awards and Vern Cotter taking home the Men’s Coach of the Year.
Weeks after receiving the World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year award, Wallace Sititi was recognised as the All Blacks Player of the Year, while fellow All Blacks forward Tyrel Lomax (Ngāi Tuhoe, Muaupoko) took out the hotly contested Tom French Memorial Māori Player of the Year.
All Blacks Sevens captain Dylan Collier rounded out 2024 with the Richard Crawshaw Memorial All Blacks Sevens Player of the Year award.
Jorja Miller took out the Kelvin R Tremain Memorial Player of the Year title. Photo / Getty Images.
A bulldozing season in black for Kaipo Olsen-Baker saw her acknowledged with the Black Ferns Player of the Year title, while her provincial teammate Hollyrae Mete received the Fiao’o Fa’amausili Medal for her outstanding Farah Palmer Cup, presented by Bunnings Warehouse, campaign for the Matawatū Cyclones.
Other domestic winners were Tasman’s Timoci Tavatavanawai and Whanganui’s Alekesio Vakarorogo winning the Duane Monkley Medal (Bunnings Warehouse NPC) and Ian Kirkpatrick Medal (Bunnings Warehouse Heartland Championship) respectively.
Waikato FPC Coach James Semple was recognised for his premiership-winning efforts with the ASB National Women’s Coach of the Year, while Auckland midfielder Xavi Taele received the New Zealand Rugby Age Grade Player of the Year.
Leaders in the community game were recognised with special awards highlighting the contribution of special volunteers, groups and rugby clubs.
Dunedin’s Green Island Rugby Football Club received the Bunnings Warehouse Rugby Club of the Year, Putāruru’s Conor Croke the Charles Monro Rugby Volunteer of the Year and Erin Rayner from Sense Rugby the Te Hāpai New Zealand Rugby Community Impact Award.
After becoming New Zealand’s most-capped international match official, Ben O’Keeffe won the New Zealand Rugby Referee of the Year for the fourth year in a row.
The New Zealand Rugby Players’ Association Kirk Award was awarded to Dan Carter, while Ian Kirkpatrick was recognised for his outstanding service to the game with the Steinlager Salver.
