Ruahei Demant and Ardie Savea recognised as NZ's best at annual awards
Black Ferns co-captain and World Cup winner, Ruahei Demant has collected three major prizes at the 2022 ASB Rugby Awards, including the supreme Kelvin R. Tremain Memorial Player of the Year.
As well as being recognised as New Zealand’s outstanding overall player in 2022, Demant (Te Whanau a Apanui / Te Whakatohea / Ngati Awa) was also named as Black Ferns Player of the Year and Tom French Memorial M?ori Player of the Year. Demant’s outstanding skills were there for all to see as she led her team to the Rugby World Cup title in New Zealand, and her teammates were also recognised with the Black Ferns awarded Adidas New Zealand Team of the Year.
On an evening where the Black Ferns performances this year took centre stage, midfielder Stacey Fluhler was awarded Sky Television Fans Try of the Year as voted by fans for her stunning finish against England in the Rugby World Cup final. And it wasn’t just the Black Ferns players who were recognised with head coach Wayne Smith named as ASB New Zealand Coach of the Year, a nod to the huge impact he made after being appointed as director of coaching in April this year.
For outstanding contribution to New Zealand Rugby, the Steinlager Salver has been awarded to Dr Deb Robinson. ‘Dr Deb’, as she is known to many, has dedicated decades to rugby, as the team doctor for Canterbury and the Crusaders, the Black Fern Sevens, the All Blacks and the Black Ferns. Most recently, Dr Robinson joined the World Rugby Council as New Zealand Rugby’s first female representative.
For the second year in a row, All Blacks loose forward Ardie Savea was named All Blacks Player of the Year, while Ngarohi McGarvey-Black won the Richard Crawshaw Memorial All Blacks Sevens Player of the Year, and Michaela Blyde took home the Black Ferns Sevens Player of the Year.
Following an outstanding season, the Wellington Lions have been awarded the Adidas National Men’s Team of the Year after breaking Hawke’s Bay’s 14-match Ranfurly Shield reign, then proceeding to take out the Bunnings Warehouse NPC title. Canterbury have won Adidas National Women’s Team of the Year after winning the Farah Palmer Cup (FPC) presented by Bunnings Warehouse.
The Canterbury region featured heavily at the awards, with Crusaders fullback Will Jordan named as DHL Super Rugby Pacific Player of the Year and head coach Scott Robertson winning ASB National Men’s Coach of the Year, after guiding the Crusaders to the DHL Super Rugby Pacific title.
The inaugural Sky Super Rugby Aupiki season kicked off with Covid restrictions forcing the competition to be played in a tournament format across two and half weeks. Chiefs Manawa hooker Luka Connor has won the Sky Super Rugby Aupiki Player of the Year. Young Otago halfback and first five Maia Joseph has won the Fiao’o Faamausili Medal, to be recognised as the FPC Player of the Year. Canterbury Head Coach Blair Baxter has been awarded the ASB National Women’s Coach of the Year.
In the men’s competition, North Harbour first-five eighth Bryn Gatland won the Duane Monkley Medal as the NPC’s best player. Up-and-coming loose forward Peter Lakai has won the New Zealand Rugby Age Grade Player of the Year. Ngati Porou East Coast halfback Sam Parkes received the Ian Kirkpatrick Medal for outstanding contribution on behalf of professional players both on and off the field.
Horowhenua-Kapiti’s Ben O’Keeffe is the 2022 New Zealand Rugby Referee of the Year for the second year in a row, while Cathy Charles – former Otago Rugby player, coach, and volunteer – was recognised with the Charles Monro Rugby Volunteer of the Year award for her 20 year contribution to the game.
“Congratulations to all the winners and nominees this evening,” said NZR CEO Mark Robinson. “We have seen outstanding performances on the rugby field in 2022, none more memorable than the Black Ferns Rugby World Cup winning performance in front of a sold-out Eden Park. A record-breaking milestone for women’s rugby internationally.
“It’s fitting that the Black Ferns were named as our Adidas New Zealand Team of the Year and that their co-captain Ruahei Demant has been deservedly recognised for her outstanding contribution to her team, to Maori rugby and to the game in Aotearoa. Ruahei and the Black Ferns team have epitomised the values of our game in 2022.
“I would also like to acknowledge Dr Deb Robinson, whose immense contribution to rugby has been recognised with the Steinlager Salver. Deb has been an asset to all the teams she’s been involved with and has earned the unquestioned trust of her players and management through the professionalism, knowledge and care she has maintained throughout.”
2022 ASB Rugby Awards (winners in bold):
New Zealand Rugby Referee of the Year:
Maggie Cogger-Orr (Auckland)
Brendon Pickerill (North Harbour)
Ben O’Keeffe (Horowhenua-K?piti)
Charles Monro Rugby Volunteer of the Year:
Cathy Charles (Otago)
Andrew Gemmell (Thames Valley)
Allen Grainger (Waikato)
New Zealand Rugby Age Grade Player of the Year:
George Bell (Canterbury)
Peter Lakai (Wellington)
Payton Spencer (Auckland)
Steinlager Salver – Outstanding contribution to New Zealand Rugby:
Dr Deb Robinson
Ian Kirkpatrick Medal:
Siu Kakala (South Canterbury)
Sam Parkes (Ngati Porou East Coast)
Semi Vodosese (Whanganui)
Duane Monkley Medal:
Bryn Gatland (North Harbour)
Emoni Narawa (Bay of Plenty)
Peter Lakai (Wellington)
Fiao’o Faamausili Medal:
Luka Connor (Bay of Plenty)
Maia Joseph (Otago)
Charmaine Smith (Northland)
ASB National Men’s Coach of the Year
Leo Crowley (Wellington)
Scott Robertson (Crusaders)
Nigel Walsh (South Canterbury)
ASB National Women’s Coach of the Year:
Blair Baxter (Canterbury)
Allan Bunting (Chiefs Manawa)
Blair Cross (Hawke’s Bay)
ASB New Zealand Coach of the Year:
Wayne Smith (Black Ferns)
DHL Super Rugby Pacific Player of the Year:
Will Jordan (Crusaders)
Stephen Perofeta (Blues)
Ardie Savea (Hurricanes)
Sky Super Rugby Aupiki Player of the Year:
Luka Connor (Chiefs Manawa)
Liana Mikaele-Tu’u (Blues)
Joanah Ngan-Woo (Hurricanes)
Sky Try of the Year:
Sam Blackburn (Petone v Hutt Old Boys Marist)
Stacey Fluhler (Black Ferns v England)
Will Jordan (All Blacks v Australia)
Tom French Memorial Maori Player of the Year:
Ruahei Demant (Te Whanau a Apanui / Te Whakatohea / Ngati Awa)
Stacey Fluhler (Ngai Tuhoe)
TJ Perenara (Ngati Rangitihi / Te Arawa)
Richard Crawshaw Memorial All Blacks Sevens Player of the Year:
Ngarohi McGarvey-Black
Sam Dickson
Caleb Tangitau
Black Ferns Sevens Player of the Year:
Michaela Blyde
Sarah Hirini
Risaleaana (Risi) Pouri-Lane
Black Ferns Player of the Year:
Ruahei Demant
Theresa Fitzpatrick
Stacey Fluhler
Sarah Hirini
All Blacks Player of the Year:
Jordie Barrett
Ardie Savea
Samisoni Taukei’aho
Sam Whitelock
Adidas National Men’s Team of the Year:
Crusaders
Ng?ti Porou East Coast
South Canterbury
Wellington
Adidas National Women’s Team of the Year:
Canterbury
Chiefs Manawa
Hawke’s Bay
Adidas New Zealand Team of the Year:
Black Ferns
Kelvin R Tremain Memorial Player of the Year:
Ruahei Demant (Auckland)
Comments on RugbyPass
best news and very helpful
4 Go to commentsA year ago Ireland and France looked impressive. In this 6N neither looked special. Both have lost good players, but more importantly teams have figured out how to shut them down. In particular the Irish loss to a rebuilding England and the home game struggle against a brave Scotland did nothing to prove that the Irish RWC result was undeserved. If the Scots can shut down the Irish attack, then SA can do so with interest. Rassie will have watched that game with confidence. Farrell is smart, and the Irish team is talented, so we should expect a more creative game plan in SA. But if all they bring is what they showed against Scotland then Ireland is going to struggle against the Boks. It was a fun 6N tournament, but the win for Ireland was as much about weak competition as about Irish brilliance. It was mostly due to France being off the boil, Wales and Italy not being contenders, and Scotland being a home game. England are looking much better, but “much better” should not be enough to topple a team that is supposed by some to be The Best in the World. I hope that Ireland can bump it up a notch or two for the Bok tour. A year ago they were fantastic to watch. It would be great to see that again.
24 Go to commentsLooking forward to the Wallabies being competitive again. No doubt that Joe can get them back on track.
1 Go to commentsThanks, Nick, not only for this fine article, but for all the others during 6N 2024. I really enjoyed this 2024 tournament, and felt it was one of the best for many years. That final match in Lyons was really good. England were certainly unlucky when that speculative hack by Ramos lead to a French try. It could just so easily have landed in English hand.s, and they score at the other end. I did think though that the French played some great rugby, and some of their driving play in the forwards was just fearsome. I watched Meafou with interest, and he has a good start to his career. It is interesting to compare him with Will Skelton. Lot of similarities, though so far Meafou has not shown any offloading threat. All credit to Borthwick for being prepared to change, and what great result, even if that last game was lost at the death. I feel they are a real chance to cause the AB’s problems this winter/summer. Finally a comment on Ireland. I thought their last game was their worst, and they did not look like the world’s No 2 side at all. What really worries me is that the loss to England was, in my view, down to poor decision making by the coaching group, and ofc Andy Farrell wears that. It was a big mistake to move JGP away from scrum half. Murray should have been the one to go to the wing. And the “finishers” should have been on the field earlier. And this is the second time this has happened. The RWC Qf against the AB’s, and not getting Crowley onto the field was a huge mistake. Finally, finally, watching Italy play was a joy. How wonderful that they are no longer the punchbag of the 6 N.
42 Go to commentsGreat story. Rugby needs new investment in teams like Brussels another pro league in Europe would be great.
1 Go to commentsAlso, looking at the data from last year, it seemed like by far the two biggest predictors of success were (1) kicking more than your opponents, and (2) having a higher rate of line-out wins than your opponents. I haven’t gone through the stats this year with a fine tooth comb, but the increase in kicks per game and the increase in tries from lineouts would suggest that these two metrics are only getting more important. England’s move away from a kick-heavy game to win against Ireland was seen by some as evidence that running rugby is on the rise. Alternatively it could be taken as evidence that if one team kicks more, and the other team wins more lineouts (as England did) a match is bound to be close to a draw.
2 Go to commentsI have been finding it odd that points per 22 entry has become such a talked about stat, given that your points per entry can be driven down by having more entries. These data would seem to confirm that it isn’t a useful metric, or at any rate is less useful than total entries.
2 Go to commentsI think the last two games England have played is some of their best rugby they have played under Borthwick. There has been a lot more attacking instinct and as a reward have created some well worked tries. Ollie Lawrence is a good foil at 12 as he offers the hard direct lines whilst the rest of the backs can play open. As much as it pains me to say but I do hope England keep playing this way. On a side note my favourite try of the weekend was Lorenzo Pani’s for the nice loop play that put him away and his finish was excellent. Thanks as always Nick.
42 Go to commentsMost exciting player on the planet right now, worth the price of a ticket.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith and Ireland live rent free in Safa’s heads. Their comments only triggers because its true. If the Boks had dismantled a 14 man AB’s, then there would be more respect. But they didnt, in fact quite the opposite, the 14 man NZ were clearly better. And the Bok have always been ordinary between RWC’s, thats why their supporters are now ‘only RWC’s matter’. They know thats BS. Its BS to both AB’s and Bok’s due to their history. But now its all the Safas have. Now we’ll hear excuses when they lose “oh we didnt have all our players available, the ABs/France/Eng/Irel were at full strength”, forgetting for a minute that its because of their own dumb policy. Oh well, makes a change from blaming ‘cheating refs’.
24 Go to commentsNo Nick, they did not, in fact, justify any ‘probables’ label. At no time did they seriously compete for the championship. Ireland led from start to finish and in the end, as a result of glaring referee errors, were never under serious pressure to lose their crown.
42 Go to commentsMoney for him, and his family, has been the sole motivator since he signed for Queensland aged 17. Why else sign for Melbourne. Tupou is poorly advised. If he’d stayed and developed in NZ he would have had a long Test career. If Leinster offer him a few more coins than he’s currently earning, he’s goneburger.
4 Go to commentsFinn. No one would say Ford had played well up until the last game. One standout performance in 5 is hardly in form . It should be a given that a 10 will control play . Not in Fords case be praised for suddenly doing so. Where was he against Scotland ,Italy. The pundits were saying how far away from play he was standing and one even said that the Ireland game was his last chance saloon to perform . Not exactly top form catching anyones eye. If he can play like this game after game then great. Keep him in . But after 90 odd caps we all know he just doesnt keep it going . By all means keep him there but the issue is that Borthwick will persist even when he plays poorly. Which is more often than not. Thats why i am concerned that Smith ,despite fab form , cannot get a game at his preferred spot. Can you imagine Ford at full back .
5 Go to commentsI do not really get why put Ollivon at 6 when he’s a 7, while Cros was the best Frenchman of the tournament, playing at…6. His only game replacing Aldritt at 8 doesn’t change much in terms of his impact. Lamaro was also outstanding in that brilliant Italian side, probably better than Reffell. So putting 2 Welsh players from the wooden spoon holders, and none of the 4th nation (Scotland) is also strange. Is it about showing that in this harsh transition Wales is, there were some standouts…?
6 Go to commentsThe events at this year’s six nations should undermine many of the arguments made against promotion and relegation between the six nations and the REC. If Italy had been allowed to yo-yo between divisions it conceivably could have really hurt their development, but if Italy, Wales, and Scotland are all at risk of relegation, with none of them being relegated more often than once every 3 or 4 years, you’d have to back all of them to muddle on through it, especially when you factor in the likelihood they’ll still be guaranteed world league matches against tier 1 opponents. Another way of looking at italys resurgence would be to say that the development model of adding an extra team to the six nations has worked, and now must be done again. Georgia could join to make it a 7 team round robin, and if and when Georgia demonstrate an ability to consistently win games, Portugal can also be added to make it an 8 team 2 conference competition. Frankly at this point I think it falls to world rugby to demand that the 6N act in the interests of the game. If the 6N won’t commit to expansion then the 6N teams should be handicapped in world cup draws (i.e. world cup seedings would not be based on their ranking points, but on their ranking points minus a 5 point penalty).
6 Go to commentsSteve Borthwick deserves credit for releasing the shackles on his England side and letting them play in a manner that somewhat resembles the top sides in the Gallagher Premiership. Will they revert to type in New Zealand in July.?
42 Go to commentsJames Lowe wouldn't get in any other 6N team. He's a great example of Farrell’s brilliance, and the Irish system. He is slow. His footwork is poor. But he fits perfectly in that Irish system, and has a superb impact. But put him in another team, and he'll look bang average.
6 Go to commentsCrusaders reached their heights through recruitment of North Island players, often leaving those NI teams bereft of key players. Example: Scott Barrett and Sam Whitelock robbed the Canes of their lineout and AB locks. For years the Canes have struggled at lock. This rabid recruitment was iniated by rule changes by a Crusader dominated NZR Head Office. Now this aggressive recruitment has back-fired, going after young inside back Hamilton Boys stars. They now have 4 Chiefs region 10s and not one with the requisite experience at Super level. Problems of their own making!
4 Go to commentsOver rated for a long time…exposed at scrum time too.
4 Go to comments“Firing me” should have been Gatland’s answer.
2 Go to comments