Elite players, teams and coaches acknowledged as finalists in New Zealand Rugby Awards

The best of New Zealand’s national and international rugby talent has been recognised in the final round of nominees in this year’s New Zealand Rugby Awards.

Blues teammates Braxton Sorensen-McGee and Portia Woodman-Wickliffe join Amy du Plessis (Matatū) as finalists for Sky Super Rugby Aupiki Player of the Year. In the men’s competition, Hurricanes flanker Du’Plessis Kirifi, Will Jordan (Crusaders) and Moana Pasifika captain Ardie Savea are nominated for the DHL Super Rugby Pacific Player of the Year.

Savea also features as a nominee for All Blacks Player of the Year, joined by teammates Cam Roigard, Quinn Tupaea and Fabian Holland. Four players are in consideration for Black Ferns Player of the Year, including Sorensen-McGee, Jorja Miller, Georgia Ponsonby and last year’s winner, Kaipo Olsen-Baker.

Dylan Collier, Tone Ng Shu and Frank Vaenuku are in the running for the Richard Crawshaw Memorial All Blacks Sevens Player of the Year, with Michaela Brake, Risi Pouri-Lane and Miller receiving nods for Black Ferns Sevens Player of the Year.  

Woodman-Wickliffe (Ngāpuhi/Ngāti Kahu ki Whaingaroa/Ngāti Porou) earns a second nomination for the year in the Tom French Memorial Māori Player of the Year category, alongside Māori All Blacks captain Kurt Eklund (Ngāti Kahu) and Quinn Tupaea (Ngaati Tiipa, Ngaati Amaru).

Three exciting young talents are up for the New Zealand Age Grade Player of the Year – Otago’s Dylan Pledger, Oli Mathis (Waikato) and Sorensen-McGee (Auckland), her third nomination for the year.

Recognising the best from New Zealand’s national competitions, the Blues, Otago Spirit and Waikato are in the running for adidas National Women’s Team of the Year, while it’s a Canterbury region trifecta for the adidas National Men’s Team of the Year nominees – Canterbury, Crusaders and Mid-Canterbury. Coaches for these competitions have also been acknowledged, with Matt Direen (Otago Spirit), Reuben Samuel (Waikato) and Willie Walker (Blues) named as finalists in the ASB National Women’s Coach of the Year category, and Marty Bourke (Canterbury), Mark Brown (Otago), and Rob Penney (Crusaders) shortlisted for the ASB National Men’s Coach of the Year.

The New Zealand Rugby Referee of the Year acknowledges the performance of match officials domestically and on the international stage. The finalists this year are Maggie Cogger-Orr (Auckland), James Doleman (Otago) and Ben O’Keeffe (North Harbour).

This group of finalists joins the nominees in the community and provincial medallist categories announced earlier this month. The full list of nominees can be found below.

Five awards will be presented on the night. The Kelvin R Tremain Memorial Player of the Year will be awarded to one of the winners of the major Player of the Year categories. The ASB New Zealand Coach of the Year and adidas New Zealand Team of the Year will be announced on the night, with all Teams in Black and their respective coaches eligible.

The Steinlager Salver, the most prestigious award in New Zealand rugby, will acknowledge someone who has given sustained service to the game. Previous recipients include Sir Colin Meads, Jock Hobbs, Waka Nathan, Sir Tuifa’asisina Bryan Williams and Dr Deb Robinson.

The New Zealand Rugby Players’ Association Kirk Award recognises former players who have made an outstanding contribution on behalf of fellow professional players and led by example off the field. Last year’s recipient was Daniel Carter.

The New Zealand Rugby Awards show will be broadcast on Thursday 11 December, 7.30pm on Sky Sport 1.

2025 New Zealand Rugby Awards finalists:

DHL Super Rugby Pacific Player of the Year

Will Jordan (Crusaders)
Du'Plessis Kirifi (Hurricanes)
Ardie Savea (Moana Pasifika)

Sky Super Rugby Aupiki Player of the Year

Amy du Plessis (Matatū)
Braxton Sorensen-McGee (Blues)
Portia Woodman-Wickliffe (Blues)

Richard Crawshaw Memorial All Blacks Sevens Player of the Year

Dylan Collier
Tone Ng Shiu
Frank Vaenuku

Black Ferns Sevens Player of the Year

Michaela Brake
Jorja Miller
Risi Pouri-Lane

New Zealand Rugby Age Grade Player of the Year

Oli Mathis (Waikato)
Dylan Pledger (Otago)
Braxton Sorensen-McGee (Auckland)

ASB National Men’s Coach of the Year

Marty Bourke (Canterbury)
Mark Brown (Otago)
Rob Penney (Crusaders)

ASB National Women’s Coach of the Year

Matt Direen (Otago)
Reuben Samuel (Waikato)
Willie Walker (Blues)

New Zealand Rugby Referee of the Year

Maggie Cogger-Orr (Auckland)
James Doleman (Otago)
Ben O'Keeffe (North Harbour)

adidas National Women's Team of the Year

Blues   
Otago Spirit
Waikato

adidas National Men's Team of the Year

Canterbury
Crusaders         
Mid-Canterbury

Tom French Memorial Māori Player of the Year

Kurt Eklund (Ngāti Kahu)
Quinn Tupaea (Ngaati Tiipa, Ngaati Amaru)
Portia Woodman-Wickliffe (Ngāpuhi/Ngāti Kahu ki Whaingaroa/Ngāti Porou)

All Blacks Player of the Year

Fabian Holland
Cam Roigard
Ardie Savea
Quinn Tupaea

Black Ferns Player of the Year

Jorja Miller
Kaipo Olsen-Baker
Georgia Ponsonby
Braxton Sorensen-McGee

Previously announced:

Bunnings Warehouse Rugby Club of the Year

Hunterville Rugby Football Club (Whanganui)
Rangataua Sports and Cultural Club (Bay of Plenty)
Waimate Rugby Football Club (South Canterbury)

Charles Monro Volunteer of the Year

Glen Devenie (Auckland Rugby Referee Association, Auckland)
Stacey Kobus (Cambridge Junior Rugby and Community Sports Club, Waikato)
Jodi Taylor (Strath Taieri Rugby Club, Otago)

Te Hāpai Community Impact Award

Cian Byrne-Hansen (Counties Manukau)
Peter Hastings (Bay of Plenty)
Sosoli Talawadua (Whanganui)

Duane Monkley Medal (Bunnings Warehouse NPC Player of the Year)

Sam Darry (Canterbury)
Folau Fakatava (Hawke’s Bay)
Josh Jacomb (Taranaki)

Fiao’o Faamausili Medal (Farah Palmer Cup presented by Bunnings Warehouse Player of the Year)

Taufa Bason (Auckland)
Grace Houpapa-Barrett (Waikato)
Holly Williams (North Harbour)

Ian Kirkpatrick Medal (Bunnings Warehouse Heartland Championship Player of the Year)

Declan McCormack (Mid Canterbury)
Keanu Taumata (Poverty Bay)
Sam Walton-Sexton (Wairarapa Bush)