All Blacks hopeful cleans house at Blues season awards

Anton Segner has been rewarded fruitfully for his efforts for the Blues this year at the club’s season awards night, taking home all four of the awards available to him.

The flanker won the top gong, Player of the Year, as well as Players’ Player of the Year and Fans’ Player of the Year. He then finished the night with the Forward of the Year award. The 24-year-old has been a difference-maker for the club in 2026, his fifth year in Auckland after moving to Nelson from Germany as a teenager to pursue his rugby dream.

Torian Barnes took home Rookie of the Year, beating fellow loose forward Malachi Wrampling. Both young flankers have well and truly established themselves as stars of the future in their first year at the Blues, just in time to replace outgoing All Blacks Dalton Papali’i and Hoskins Sotutu.

Xavi Taele was named Back of the Year, having stepped up in the Blues’ midfield in the absence of Rieko Ioane. While the All Black will return from Leinster next season, the Blues will lose the powerful AJ Lam to Top 14 side Clermont.

Eli Oudenryn won Team Toa Player of the Year for his time with the club’s development team, having joined the Aucklanders’ wider training group ahead of the season.

The Blues also celebrated their Club Person of the Year, which was awarded to Kim Malaki.

2026 Blues season award winners

Better Blues Company Player of the Year: Anton Segner

nib Players’ Player of the Year: Anton Segner

MG Blues Forward of the Year: Anton Segner

CMC Markets Blues Back of the Year: Xavi Taele

HelloFresh Blues Rookie of the Year: Torian Barnes

Lockton Team Toa Player of the Year: Eli Oudenryn

Blues Supporters 4Life Fans’ Player of the Year: Anton Segner

Barfoot & Thompson Mealamu Club Person of the Year: Kim Malaki