The Grizzlies won their first Dunedin premier club title in 46 years this season and they have added another trophy to the cabinet.
Green Island was named club of the year at the New Zealand Rugby awards last night.
Highlanders winger Timoci Tavatavanawai was named NPC player of the year for his efforts with Tasman, while Matatu No 8 Kaipo Olsen-Baker was named Black Fern of the year.
Black Ferns Sevens player Jorja Miller was the big winner and was named the Kelvin R Tremain Memorial player of the year.
Miller, 20, who also won Black Ferns Sevens player of the year, became the second youngest recipient of the gong, behind the great Jonah Lomu, after already becoming New Zealand’s youngest female Olympic gold medallist in Paris.
The Black Ferns Sevens swept the awards last night. They won team of the year, and Corey Sweeney was named coach of the year, his fifth title, equalling former All Blacks coach Steve Hansen’s record.
Wallace Sititi, recently named world breakthrough player of the year, was All Black of the year, and prop Tyrel Lomax was named Maori player of the year.
All Blacks Sevens captain Dylan Collier picked up the men’s sevens player of the year award.
The Blues also picked up several titles. They won both national men’s and women’s team of the year awards, Hoskins Sotutu was named Super Rugby player of the year, Katelyn Vaha’akolo was named Super Rugby Aupiki player of the year, and Vern Cotter was awarded men’s coach of the year.
Manawatu centre Hollyrae Mete, who is heading to Matatu next season, was named Farah Palmer Cup player of the year after leading nearly every statistic in the competition and Waikato coach James Semple was named national women’s coach of the year.
The Heartland also shone with King Country first five Latrell Smiler-Ah Kiong beating Vaha’akolo and Jed Melvin (North Harbour) for fans’ try of the year, while Alekesio Vakarorogo (Whanganui) was named Heartland player of the year.
Ben O’Keeffe was named referee of the year for the fourth year in a row.
The New Zealand Rugby Players’ Association Kirk Award was presented to Dan Carter, while Ian Kirkpatrick was recognised for his outstanding service.
