Ardie Savea crowned Kelvin R Tremain Player of the Year at 2019 ASB Rugby Awards

• Savea wins supreme award after winning Investec Super Rugby, All Black Player of the Year accolades
• Black Ferns Sevens captain Sarah Hirini first woman to win Tom French Māori Player of the Year
• Crusaders’ Scott Robertson named ASB National Coach of the Year and Crusaders take adidas National Team of the Year
• Black Ferns Sevens win ASB New Zealand Coach of the Year and adidas New Zealand Team of the Year
• Outgoing New Zealand Rugby Chief Executive Steve Tew presented NZR Steinlager Salver for services to rugby

Ardie Savea collected three awards at this year’s ASB Rugby Awards in Auckland tonight, including the supreme Kelvin R Tremain Memorial award for the overall Player of the Year, bookending a year of consistently remarkable performances from the All Blacks and Hurricanes loose forward.

Savea, who underwent knee surgery today and was not able to attend the award ceremony, was named the Investec Super Rugby Player of the Year, the All Blacks Player of the Year (new award), before being crowned as the Kelvin R Tremain Player of the Year award which was won last year by Black Fern Kendra Cocksedge.

Savea reached a new level of play in 2019, starting eight of the All Blacks 10 Test matches, and he showed strength and versatility across the back row.  Savea was a monster presence on the field in attack – often taking defenders for a ride – and on defence – he displayed a freakish ability to turnover crucial ball at the breakdown. 

In another night for the history books, Black Ferns Sevens captain Sarah Hirini won the Tom French Cup for Māori Player of the Year, the first woman to do so in the 70 year history of the award.

Three-peat Crusaders Head Coach Scott Robertson won his first ASB National Coach of the Year Award, while the 10-time champions won a consecutive adidas National Team of the Year award.

Black Ferns Sevens Co-Coaches Allan Bunting and Cory Sweeney were named ASB New Zealand Coaches of the Year, and the Black Ferns Sevens were crowned the adidas New Zealand Team of the Year for a second consecutive year.

Tyla Nathan-Wong was named Black Ferns Sevens Player of the Year, while her skipper Sarah Hirini (Ngāti Kahungunu) was named the Tom French Memorial Māori Player of the Year.

Tone Ng Shui (Tasman) was named the Richard Crawshaw Memorial All Blacks Sevens Player of the Year. Charmaine McMenamin (Auckland) collected her first Black Ferns Player of the Year Award following a prolific try-scoring 2019. 

This year’s Steinlager Salver, the New Zealand Rugby tradition of recognising an outstanding contribution to rugby, went to a shocked Steve Tew who leaves New Zealand Rugby at the end of the year. The award is determined by the NZR Board and event staff were forced to ingenious means to keep the award secret from Tew who would normally have full visibility of all awards.

NZR Board Chair Brent Impey noted Tew’s 25-year service to rugby administration including 18 years with New Zealand Rugby. Tew was appointed Chief Executive in 2008.

The NZRPA Kirk Award was presented to Josh Blackie, Seilala Mapusua and Hale T-Pole for their contributions to the game off the field.

Canterbury’s Chelsea Bremner was presented with the the Fiao’o Faamausili Medal for Player of the Farah Palmer cup, and Chase Tiatia (Bay of Plenty) took out the Duane Monkely Medal for his thrilling form during the Mitre 10 Cup.

Canterbury’s Fletcher Newell won New Zealand Age Grade Player after he was named player of the Jock Hobbs Memorial Under 19 tournament and was selected for the New Zealand Under 20.  North Otago’s 2019 stand-out Josh Clark won Mitre 10 Heartland Championship Player for his consistent efforts with the Meads Cup winning side.

Rugby World Cup 2019 referee Paul Williams won his first New Zealand Referee of the Year Award. Ian Spraggon from Bay of Plenty won the Charles Monro Rugby Volunteer of the Year recognising 11 years of voluntary work with the Union.  His nomination form noted he worked tirelessly behind the scenes, he never asked for recognition but has been responsible for changing kids’ lives through rugby and has been the ultimate role model. A part of the Disciplinary Committee, this year the union has seen a decline in incidents – a testament to the work Spraggon and the committee have invested. 

TJ Perenara’s thrilling sideline-skating try during Rugby World Cup 2019 was voted by fans as the Sky Fans Try of the Year.

New Zealand Rugby Chair Brent Impey congratulated all award winners.

“It has been a wonderful and successful year right across rugby. It has been a remarkable year again for the Black Ferns Sevens and the Crusaders who have won coach and team awards.

“I am delighted that 70 years after the Maori Player of the Year award was first presented in 1949 to Johnny Smith of North Auckland, Sarah Hirini becomes the first woman to lift the Tom French Cup. She is a player whose strength and leadership on the field, make her an appropriate winner of this award.

“As for Ardie, what an absolute pleasure he has been to watch this year.  Both as a Hurricane and an All Black, this young man has been in sublime form and we hope to see much more of him next year."

“Congratulations to all winners this evening – they deserve their accolades and we welcome them to the history books.”

ASB head of community and sponsorship Mark Graham said the awards recognised the effort and accomplishments of everyone involved in the sport.

“We know from previous years that the calibre of finalists for these awards is always impressive, and this year is no different. We would like to congratulate all of the winners on their achievements, from the players themselves through to the volunteers, coaches and referees who make this sport what it is in New Zealand. It’s been a huge year for rugby and to be able to celebrate all of the hard work and success is incredibly important,” said Graham.

The ASB Rugby Awards judging panel is: Mike Eagle, Graham Mourie, Tony Johnson, Dr Farah Palmer

ASB Rugby Award Winners 2019

Sky Television Fan’s Try of the Year
TJ Perenara

New Zealand Rugby Referee of the Year
Winner: Paul Williams
•    Rebecca Mahoney (Wairarapa Bush)
•    Ben O’Keeffe (Wellington)

Charles Monro Rugby Volunteer of the Year
Winner: Ian Spraggon (Bay of Plenty)
•    Sue Mitchell (Taranaki)
•    Kevin Pulley (Wellington)

NZRPA Kirk Award
Winners: Josh Blackie, Seilala Mapusua & Hale T-Pole

Steinlager Salver for an Outstanding Contribution to New Zealand Rugby
Steve Tew

New Zealand Rugby Age Grade Player of the Year
winner: Fletcher Newell (Canterbury)
•    Zach Gallagher (Canterbury)
•    Tupou Vaa’i (Taranaki)

Mitre 10 Heartland Championship Player of the Year
Winner: Josh Clark (North Otago)
•    Campbell Hart (Whanganui)
•    Robbie Smith (North Otago)

Duane Monkley Medal
Winner: Chase Tiatia (Bay of Plenty)
•    Gareth Evans (Hawke’s Bay)
•    Salesi Rayasi (Auckland)
•    Fletcher Smith (Waikato)

Fiao’o Faamausili Medal
Winner: Chelsea Bremner (Canterbury Women)
•    Ayesha Leti-I’iga (Wellington)
•    Patricia Maliepo (Auckland)

ASB National Coach of the Year
Winner: Scott Robertson (Crusaders)
•    Andrew Goodman (Tasman, Crusaders) and Clarke Dermody (Tasman)
•    Kieran Kite (Canterbury)

ASB New Zealand Coach of the Year
Winner: Cory Sweeney and Allan Bunting (Black Ferns Sevens)
•    Steve Hansen (All Blacks)
•    Glenn Moore (Black Ferns)

Investec Super Rugby Player of the Year
Winner: Ardie Savea (Hurricanes)
•    Scott Barrett (Crusaders)
•    Brad Weber (Chiefs)

Tom French Memorial Māori Player of the Year
Winner: Sarah Hirini (Ngāti Kahungunu)
•    Ash Dixon (Ngāti Tahinga)
•    TJ Perenara (Te Arawa / Ngāti Rangitihi)

Richard Crawshaw Memorial All Blacks Sevens Player of the Year
Winner: Tone Ng Shiu (Tasman)
•    Dylan Collier (Waikato)
•    Andrew Knewstubb (Horowhenua Kapiti)

Black Ferns Sevens Player of the Year
Winner: Tyla Nathan-Wong (Auckland)
•    Kelly Brazier (Bay of Plenty)
•    Sarah Hirini (Manawatu)

Black Ferns Player of the Year
Winner: Charmaine McMenamin (Auckland)
•    Kendra Cocksedge (Canterbury)
•    Ayesha Leti-I’iga (Wellington)

All Blacks Player of the Year
Winner: Ardie Savea (Hurricanes)
•    Beauden Barrett (Hurricanes)
•    Anton Lienert-Brown (Chiefs)

adidas National Team of the Year
Winner: Crusaders
•    Canterbury Women
•    Tasman Mako

adidas New Zealand Team of the Year
Winner: Black Ferns Sevens
•    All Blacks
•    Black Ferns

Kelvin R Tremain Memorial Player of the Year
Ardie Savea

Previous Kelvin R Tremain award winners (last 10 years):
2018   Kendra Cocksedge
2017   Samuel Whitelock
2016   Beauden Barrett
2015   Ma’a Nonu
2014   Brodie Retallick
2013   Kieran Read
2012   Richie McCaw
2011   Jerome Kaino
2010   Kieran Read
2009   Richie McCaw
2008   Andrew Hore