Double 'best' nomination for McCaw in awards

Richie McCaw

All Blacks vice-captain Richie McCaw has been nominated as Super 12 and NPC player of the year in the New Zealand Rugby Union's nominations for this year's rugby awards.

Joining McCaw in the Super 12 category are his Crusaders team-mate Daniel Carter, and Chiefs skipper Jono Gibbes.

In the NPC category, Wellington's Conrad Smith and Glen Jackson from the Bay of Plenty are the other nominees.

The category winners and the overall player of the year will be named on February 3.

The All Blacks, who won 10 of their 12 matches this year, vie with NPC champions Canterbury, Ranfurly shield winners Bay of Plenty and the New Zealand Colts for the team of the year title.

Bay of Plenty also figures in the coach of the year. Their coach, Vern Cotter, is nominated with Canterbury coach Aussie McLean, Colts coach Bryce Woodward and sevens coach Gordon Tietjens.

Categories and nominees:

NZRFU age grade player, Richard Crawshaw Memorial sevens player: Winners to be named on February 3.

NZRFU referee of the year: Kelvin Deaker, Paul Honiss, Paddy O'Brien.

Lion Foundation Cup women's player of the year: Victoria Heighway (Auckland), Stephanie Mortimer (Canterbury), Farah Palmer (Manawatu).

Rugby volunteer of the year: Allen Grainger (Waikato), Bryce Murray (Canterbury), Adelle Wakely (Hawkes Bay).

Super 12 player of the year: Daniel Carter (Crusaders), Jono Gibbes (Chiefs), Richard McCaw (Crusaders).

Team of the year: All Blacks, Bay of Plenty, Canterbury, NZ Colts.

Tom French memorial Maori player of the year: Winner to be named on February 3.

NPC division three player of the year: Craig Tansley (Horowhenua-Kapiti), Sione Ngatu (Poverty Bay), Stu Smith (Wairarapa Bush).

NPC division two player of the year: Mark Bright (Nelson Bays), Clint Newland (Hawkes Bay), Niva Ta'auso (Counties Manukau).

NPC division one player of the year: Glen Jackson (Bay of Plenty), Richard McCaw (Canterbury), Conrad Smith (Wellington).

Coach of the year: Vern Cotter (Bay of Plenty), Aussie McLean (Canterbury), Gordon Tietjens (NZ Sevens), Bryce Woodward (NZ under-21)

Kelvin R. Tremain memorial trophy player of the year: Winner to be named on February 3.

- NZPA