Blues sweep up gongs at NZR Awards
The Blues had a night to remember at the New Zealand Rugby Awards.
The Blues picked up both National Men’s and Women’s Team of the Year titles, meanwhile players Hoskins Sotutu and Katelyn Vahaakolo won the DHL Super Rugby Pacific and Sky Super Rugby Aupiki Player of the Year awards. Blues Head Coach, Vern Cotter rouded out the accolades taking home the National Men’s Coach of the Year.
Blues CEO Andrew Hore said the awards are recognition of many years of hard work throughout the Blues organisation.
“These awards are a great acknowledgement of a successful 2024 and I’ve been really proud of how everyone at the Blues has taken a moment to reflect but are also well and truly looking ahead and planning for long-term success,” said Hore.
“Both the Men’s and Women’s teams had great seasons, our region has been waiting for some silverware for a while and it was awesome they could deliver it to our fans.”
“Vern’s impact has been immense and a continuation of the good work Leon did before him. A massive congrats must also go to Vern’s support staff and the wider organisation. Vern’s got a special ability to simplify his message and get people working for the collective, we’re really happy to have him with us for an extended period of time.”
A nod to the Blues’ future was also recognised on Thursday night, with new signing Xavi Taele winning the New Zealand Rugby Age Grade Player of the Year for his exploits with Auckland and the New Zealand U20s teams.
Taele has been through the age-group system with the Blues and has just signed his first full contract with the team where he will look to further develop his game under the watchful eye of coach Cotter.
Blues winners:
ASB National Men’s Coach of the Year
Vern Cotter (Blues)
Clark Laidlaw (Hurricanes)
Alando Soakai (Wellington)
Richard Watt (Bay of Plenty)
DHL Super Rugby Pacific Player of the Year
Hoskins Sotutu (Blues)
Damian McKenzie (Chiefs)
Harry Plummer (Blues)
Billy Proctor (Hurricanes)
Sky Super Rugby Aupiki Player of the Year
Katelyn Vahaakolo (Blues)
Layla Sae (Hurricanes Poua)
Kaipo Olsen-Baker (Matatū)
Kennedy Tukuafu (Chiefs Manawa)
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
New Zealand Rugby Age Grade Player of the Year
Xavi Taele (Auckland)
Vernon Bason (Manawatū)
Oli Mathis (Waikato)
Elinor-Plum King (Manawatū)
Other award winners:
Sky Television Fans Try of the Year
Latrell Smiler-Ah Kiong (King Country)
Katelyn Vahaakolo (Black Ferns)
Jed Melvin (North Harbour )
New Zealand Rugby Referee of the Year
Ben O’Keeffe
Maggie Cogger-Orr
James Doleman
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)
NZRPA Kirk Award
Dan Carter
Steinlager Salver – outstanding contribution to New Zealand Rugby
Ian Kirkpatrick
Ian Kirkpatrick Medal (Bunnings Warehouse Heartland Championship Player of the Year)
Siu Kakala (South Canterbury)
Declan McCormack (Mid Canterbury)
Alekesio Vakarorogo (Whanganui)
Duane Monkley Medal (Bunnings Warehouse NPC Player of the Year)
Timoci Tavatavanawai (Tasman)
Folau Fakatava (Hawke’s Bay)
Josh Jacomb (Taranaki)
Fiao’o Fa’amausili Medal (Farah Palmer Cup presented by Bunnings Warehouse Player of the Year)
Chelsea Semple (Waikato)
Hollyrae Merekara Mete (Manawatū)
Mia Anderson (Waikato)
ASB National Women’s Coach of the Year
Willie Walker (Blues)
James Semple (Waikato)
Campbell McNeill (Manawatū)
ASB New Zealand Coach of the Year
Cory Sweeney (Black Ferns Sevens)
Tom French Memorial Māori Player of the Year
Risi Pouri-Lane (Ngāti Kuia, Ngāti Koata, Ngāi Tahu)
Tamaiti Williams (Ngāpuhi)
Tyrel Lomax (Ngāi Tuhoe, Muaupoko)
Katelyn Vahaakolo (Ngāti Whātua, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Maniapoto)
Richard Crawshaw Memorial All Blacks Sevens Player of the Year
Fehi Fineanganofo
Tepaea Cook-Savage
Dylan Collier
Black Ferns Sevens Player of the Year
Jorja Miller
Risi Pouri-Lane
Michaela Blyde
Black Ferns Player of the Year
Georgia Ponsonby
Alana Bremner
Kaipo Olsen-Baker
All Blacks Player of the Year
Tyrel Lomax
Tupou Vaa’i
Wallace Sititi
adidas New Zealand Team of the Year
Black Ferns Sevens
Kelvin R Tremain Memorial Player of the Year
Jorja Miller