Savea shines in New Zealand Rugby Awards

Ardie Savea’s dominant performances across the rugby season have been reflected in the New Zealand Rugby Awards, with the 32-year-old acknowledged as the best player in the country in 2025.

In the season where he brought up his 100^th Test, Savea has been named as the Kelvin R Tremain Memorial Player of the Year and All Blacks Player of the Year. His commanding performances and inspiring leadership for his new team Moana Pasifika saw him crowned DHL Super Rugby Pacific Player of the Year as well. 

Youngster Braxton Sorensen-McGee added two more awards to her outstanding debut year. After being announced as World Rugby’s Women’s 15s Breakthrough Player of the Year, the 19-year-old was named as Black Ferns Player of the Year, and New Zealand Age Grade Player of the Year.

Portia Woodman-Wickliffe (Ngāpuhi/Ngāti Kahu ki Whaingaroa/Ngāti Porou) also took home multiple awards; recognised as the Sky Super Rugby Aupiki Player of the Year and, for the first time in her storied career, named as the Tom French Memorial Māori Player of the Year, acknowledging her on-field performance as well as being a role model for Māori within rugby.

It was also a big night for the Black Ferns Sevens and their coach Cory Sweeney, taking out the adidas New Zealand Team of the Year and ASB Coach of the Year awards, having also won those categories in 2024. Sweeney becomes the most successful coach in this category, having now been named the top coach in the country six times.

Jorja Miller adds Black Ferns Sevens Player of the Year to her World Rugby Women’s Sevens Player of the Year title, while new All Blacks Sevens captain Tone Ng Shiu was acknowledged as Richard Crawshaw Memorial All Blacks Sevens Player of the Year.

The late Luke Crawford, former Māori All Blacks Kaumatua and NZR’s Kaihautū Māori, was honoured as the Steinlager Salver recipient. Crawford, who passed away suddenly in December 2024, was recognised for his service to ensuring te reo and te ao Māori were safely embedded and accurately represented in rugby spaces.

Rob Penney and Willie Walker were acknowledged as ASB National Men’s and Women’s Coach of the Year respectively, while their championship-winning teams, Crusaders and Blues, took home the titles of adidas National Men’s and National Women’s Team of the Year.

After taking control of a Rugby World Cup semi-final match, Maggie Cogger-Orr was named as New Zealand Rugby Referee of the Year for the first time.

Top provincial performers were recognised for their domestic competition seasons: Josh Jacomb of Taranaki received the Duane Monkley Medal (Bunnings Warehouse NPC Player of the Year); Auckland’s Taufa Bason took home the Fiao’o Faamausili Medal (Player of the Year in the Farah Palmer Cup presented by Bunnings Warehouse) and the Heartland Championship’s Ian Kirkpatrick Medal went to Keanu Taumata (Poverty Bay).

Former international players Samuel Whitelock and Les Elder were honoured with the NZRPA Kirk Award, acknowledging their service to their fellow players through their long tenures on the NZRPA Board.

Community rugby was also spotlighted, with Peter Hastings presented with the Te Hapai Community Impact Award for his work in mental health. Jodi Taylor of Strath Taieri Rugby Club is the Charles Monro Volunteer of the Year, while Waimate Rugby Football Club will enjoy $5,000 in Bunnings products and materials to further improve their facilities after being crowned Bunnings Warehouse Rugby Club of the Year.

Matt Fleming (Westlake Boys High School) was the runaway winner of the Sky TV Fans’ Try of the Year.

NZR CEO Mark Robinson said:

“Congratulations to the winners and all finalists this year, being nominated in these awards is a big honour.

“Ardie has a level of consistency that is unmatched, and his three awards tonight demonstrate that. He keeps raising the bar for what’s possible on an individual level, and brings his inspirational leadership to every environment. He is massively respected domestically and internationally.

“What’s great about the New Zealand Rugby Awards is being able to celebrate every level of the game – elite players, emerging stars, referees, amateurs and our grassroots game. To see community rugby volunteers and clubs acknowledged right alongside our professional players shows how special rugby is right around the country.”

The full list of finalists, with winners in bold:

Sky TV Fans Try of the Year

Lucas Casey (Otago)
Matt Fleming (Westlake Boys High School)
Damian McKenzie (All Blacks)

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)

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)

New Zealand Rugby Referee of the Year

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

ASB National Men’s Coach of the Year

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

adidas National Men's Team of the Year

Canterbury
Crusaders         
Mid-Canterbury

ASB National Women’s Coach of the Year

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

adidas National Women's Team of the Year

Blues   
Otago Spirit
Waikato

ASB New Zealand Coach of the Year

Cory Sweeney

adidas New Zealand Team of the Year

Black Ferns Sevens

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
Cameron Roigard
Ardie Savea
Quinn Tupaea

Black Ferns Player of the Year

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

Kelvin R Tremain Memorial Player of the Year

Ardie Savea