Dunedin captain Mark Grieve-Dunn and Green Island loose forward-lock Jackson Hemopo shared the honours last night at a function at Kaikorai Rugby Football Club, both scoring 22 points.
The points are handed out by Otago Daily Times rugby writers watching each club game along with Radio Sport club rugby correspondents.
Hemopo was the runner-up in the award last year which was won by Southern loose forward Adam Knight.
Grieve-Dunn had a top season for the Dunedin side and his strong running game was a key to Dunedin making the final, only to lose to Kaikorai.
Grieve-Dunn (26) has never played for Otago but has been a mainstay for Otago B for the past two seasons. Not the tallest of locks, Grieve-Dunn was a real mainstay for Dunedin as its forward pack helped it go all the way to the final.
He has played for Green Island since he came to Dunedin in 2012 - except for one year at the Southern club - and his play was a big factor in Green Island moving up the table this year.
The side did not win a game last season but improved to mid-table this year. Hemopo will play his Mitre 10 Cup rugby for Manawatu this season.
Neither player could make it to the awards last night.
University A first five-eighth Fletcher Smith was the top points-scorer for the season with 213 points and University A winger Gavin Stark was the top try-scorer with 21 tries.
Adam Morrison was awarded referee of the year.
Ron St Clair-Newman, a stalwart of the Kaikorai club, was named as the club personality of the year.
