Rugby: All Blacks sweep nominations

Aaron Smith

After a successful season in which they retained their No 1 world ranking for the fifth consecutive year, the All Blacks unsurprisingly dominate the nominations for the 2014 Steinlager Rugby Awards.

The All Blacks are nominated for the team of the year and Steve Hansen is in line for coach of the year, while Richie McCaw, Brodie Retallick and Aaron Smith will battle it out for the Kelvin R Tremain Memorial player of the year award.

Under Hansen's guidance the All Blacks equalled the record of 17 consecutive victories by a major nation, secured a clean sweep in the June series against England, won the Bledisloe Cup for a 12th year in a row, claimed a third successive Rugby Championship title and returned home undefeated from their northern tour.

Their success was recognised earlier this week by their international peers, when the All Blacks were named world rugby team of the year, while Hansen took out the coach title and Retallick; won player of the year.

Faced with the unenviable task for edging the All Blacks for team of the year are the Auckland Storm, who picked up their seventh straight women's provincial championship title, and this year's ITM Cup victors Manawatu and Taranaki.

Taranaki's fairytale win of their first Premiership title, coupled with the Maori All Blacks' successful two-match tour of Japan, sees Colin Cooper receive a nod for coach of the year, while Tasman coach Kieran Keane is also recognised for propelling the Makos into their first Premiership final.

2014 Steinlager Rugby Awards nominations

--New Zealand Rugby Age Grade Player of the Year

Mitchell Karpik

Damian McKenzie

Sio Tomkinson

--New Zealand Rugby Referee of the Year

Jessica Beard

Nick Briant

Glen Jackson

--Heartland Championship Player of the Year

Josh Clark

James Lash