BLUES TEAMS & COACHES NOMINATED FOR TOP RUGBY AWARDS

 New Zealand Rugby has today announced the first group of the 2024 ASB Rugby Award finalists. Celebrating achievement in the community and domestic game, nominees represent players, coaches, clubs and volunteers from across the country. 

After claiming both DHL Super Rugby Pacific and Sky Super Rugby Aupiki crowns, Blues coaches Vern Cotter (men) and Willie Walker (women) are nominated in their respective coaching categories and both teams are nominated in the adidas Team of the Year categories. Other championship winnings teams Wellington Lions, Thames Valley Swamp Foxes, Waikato (women) and Manawatū Cyclones also have received nomination nods. 

At the heart of the community game are our volunteers. The Charles Monro Rugby Volunteer of the Year nominees this year are Conor Croke (Putāruru Rugby Club), Dave Webb (Marist Eastern Rugby Club and Auckland Rugby Referees Association) and Steve and Lisa Wild (Waihi Athletic Rugby Club).  

The Bunnings Warehouse Rugby Club of the Year Award recognises a club that has achieved significant outcomes for their members and local community and receives $5000 of Bunnings products and materials for the maintenance and improvement of their clubrooms. Foxton, Green Island and Ponsonby are in the running in 2024. 

The Te Hāpai award once again recognises an individual that has impacted their community across participation, culture, diversity and inclusion, women and girls, mental health and wellbeing, player welfare or leadership. This year’s nominees are James Legatt from the Tamai Rugby Project, Lisa Kingi-Bon from the New Zealand Rugby Foundation and Erin Rayner from Sense Rugby NZ. 

Domestic competition-winning coaches Alando Soakai (Wellington) and James Semple (Waikato) alongside Clark Laidlaw (Hurricanes) and Campbell MacNeil (Manawatū women) round out the coaching nominees. 

Waikato's Chelsea Semple and Mia Anderson are alongside Hollyrae Merekara Mete (Manawatū) for the Fiao’o Faamausili Medal, while Timoci Tavatavanawi, Folau Fakatava and Josh Jacomb are in the running for the Duane Monkley Medal. The current Ian Kirkpatrick Medal holder, Siu Kakala, is once again nominated, alongside Alekesio Vakarorogo and Declan McCormack. 

Emerging talent is recognising in the Age Grade Player of the Year category with New Zealand Under 20 captain Vernon Bason, Auckland midfielder Xavi Taele, Waikato flanker-come-wing Oli Mathis and Manawatu and Hurricanes Poua loosie Elinor-Plum King nominated. 

Tune in to watch the 2024 ASB Rugby Awards on December 12 at 7:30pm on Sky Sport 1. 

2024 ASB Rugby Award Nominees are:

Charles Monro Rugby Volunteer of the Year 
Steve and Lisa Wild (Thames Valley) 
Dave Webb (Auckland) 
Conor Croke (Waikato) 

Bunnings Warehouse Rugby Club of the Year 
Foxton Rugby Club (Horowhenua Kapiti) 
Green Island Rugby Football Club (Otago) 
Ponsonby Rugby Club (Auckland) 

Te Hāpai New Zealand Rugby Community Impact Award 
James Legatt (Tamai Rugby Project) 
Lisa Kingi-Bon (New Zealand Rugby Foundation) 
Erin Rayner (Sense Rugby NZ) 

New Zealand Rugby Age Grade Player of the Year 
Xavi Taele (Auckland) 
Vernon Bason (Manawatū) 
Oli Mathis (Waikato) 
Elinor-Plum King (Manawatū) 

Duane Monkley Medal (Bunnings Warehouse NPC Player of the Year) 
Timoci Tavatavanawai (Tasman) 
Folau Fakatava (Hawke’s Bay) 
Josh Jacomb (Taranaki) 

Fiao’o Faamausili Medal (Farah Palmer Cup presented by Bunnings Warehouse Player of the Year) 
Chelsea Semple (Waikato) 
Hollyrae Merekara Mete (Manawatū) 
Mia Anderson (Waikato) 

Ian Kirkpatrick Medal (Bunnings Warehouse Heartland Championship Player of the Year) 
Siu Kakala (South Canterbury) 
Declan McCormack (Mid Canterbury) 
Alekesio Vakarorogo (Whanganui) 

ASB National Men’s Coach of the Year 
Vern Cotter (Blues) 
Clark Laidlaw (Hurricanes) 
Alando Soakai (Wellington) 
Richard Watt (Bay of Plenty)   

ASB National Women’s Coach of the Year 
Willie Walker (Blues) 
James Semple (Waikato) 
Campbell McNeill (Manawatū) 

adidas National Men’s Team of the Year 
Blues 
Wellington Lions 
Thames Valley Swamp Foxes 

adidas National Women’s Team of the Year 
Blues 
Waikato 
Manawatū Cyclones 

Finalists for these categories will be announced 29 November: 
New Zealand Rugby Referee of the Year, DHL Super Rugby Pacific Player of the Year, Sky Super Rugby Aupiki Player of the Year, Tom French Memorial Māori Player of the Year, Richard Crawshaw Memorial All Blacks Sevens Player of the Year, Black Ferns Sevens Player of the Year, Black Ferns Player of the Year, All Blacks Player of the Year,  Fan’s Try of the Year 

To be presented on the night: ASB New Zealand Coach of the Year, Adidas New Zealand Team of the Year, Steinlager Salver – Outstanding contribution to New Zealand Rugby and Kelvin R Tremain Memorial Player of the Year.