KEY POINTS:
Richie McCaw was last night named New Zealand's player of the year, clean-sweeping the major rugby awards this year.
The Canterbury, Crusaders and All Black player, regarded as a peerless openside flanker in the past Southern Hemisphere season, won the award at the New Zealand Rugby Union annual awards at Auckland's SkyCity.
The All Blacks were named team of the year - for the second consecutive year - and their coach Graham Henry coach of the year.
Former All Black Stan "Tiny" Hill was honoured for his outstanding contribution to the game.
All Blacks, Crusaders and Canterbury first five Daniel Carter was named Super 14 player of the year.
Waikato centre Richard Kahui was named Air New Zealand Cup player of the year and Poverty Bay first five-eighths and competition top-scorer Scott Leighton won the Heartland Championship player of the year.
All Blacks, Highlanders and Otago prop Carl Hayman (Tuwharetoa iwi) was named the Tom French Memorial Maori player of the year and Black Ferns and Canterbury midfielder Amiria Marsh, who starred at the World Cup and was picked in the cup's All Stars XV, was named women's player of the year.
