The finalists for New Zealand’s yearly awards ceremony have been announced.
Player of the Year nominations honour Super Rugby players.
Hoskins Sotutu, Harry Plummer, and Katelyn Vahaakolo are all in the running for the Blues’ championship.
Billy Proctor and Damian McKenzie complete the list of Super Rugby Pacific nominees.
Kennedy Tukuafu, co-captain of the Black Ferns, and Kaipo Olsen-Baker and Layla Sae, both loose forwards, are nominated for Super Rugby Aupiki Player of the Year.
Nominated for Black Ferns Player of the Year alongside Georgia Ponsonby and Alana Bremner, Olsen-Baker’s stellar season continued in the black jersey.
The All Blacks Player of the Year nominations are dominated by forwards as well.
The three contenders are Wallace Sititi, who was been named World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year, Tyrel Lomax, and Tupou Vaa’i.
Along with Olympic gold champion Risi Pouri-Lane, Black Fern Katelyn Vahaakolo, and fellow front row player Tamaiti Williams, Lomax is also acknowledged as a candidate for the Tom French Memorial Māori Player of the Year award.
Pouri-Lane, who spent a large portion of 2024 as captain of the Black Ferns Sevens, is nominated for Player of the Year alongside Jorja Miller and Michaela Blyde.
Fehi Fineanganofo, Tepaea Cook-Savage, and skipper Dylan Collier are all vying for the Richard Crawshaw Memorial All Blacks Sevens Player of the Year award for the All Blacks Sevens.
James Doleman, Maggie Cogger-Orr, and Ben O’Keeffe, three of New Zealand’s top match officials, have been nominated for the New Zealand Referee of the Year award in recognition of their outstanding domestic and international performances this year.
One of the major winners of the Player of the Year categories will receive the Kelvin R. Tremain Memorial Player of the Year award.
All Black teams and their coaches are eligible to win the New Zealand Coach of the Year and New Zealand Team of the Year awards.
The night will also see the announcement of the award for outstanding contribution to New Zealand rugby, which has been given to Rob Fisher, Dr. Deb Robinson, and Anna Richards in previous years.
A player who has led by example off the pitch and made an exceptional contribution on behalf of other professional players will also receive the NZRPA Kirk Award.
Melodie Robinson was the most recent recipient of this honour in 2021.
The nominees for the award are
Ben O’Keeffe, New Zealand Referee of the Year
Cogger, Maggie, or James Doleman
Hoskins Sotutu (Blues) was named the Super Rugby Pacific Player of the Year.
Billy Proctor (Hurricanes), Harry Plummer (Blues), and Damian McKenzie (Chiefs)
Katelyn Vahaakolo (Blues) was named the Super Rugby Aupiki Player of the Year.
Kennedy Tukuafu (Chiefs Manawa), Kaipo Olsen-Baker (Matatū), and Layla Sae (Hurricanes Poua)
Tom French Memorial Risi Pouri-Lane (Ngāti Kuia, Ngāti Koata, and Ngāi Tahu) was named the Māori Player of the Year.
Williams, Tamaiti (Ngāpuhi)
Tyrel Lomax (Muaupoko, Ngai Tuhoe)
Katelyn Vahaakolo (Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Whātua, and Ngāpuhi)
Player of the Year for the Richard Crawshaw Memorial All Blacks Sevens
Dylan Collier Fehi Fineanganofo Tepaea Cook-Savage
Jorja Miller, Black Ferns Sevens Player of the Year
Pouri-Lane Risi
Blyde, Michaela
Player of the Year for Black Ferns
Carolina Bremner and Georgia Ponsonby
Olsen-Baker Kaipo
Player of the Year for the All Blacks: Tyrel Lomax, Tupou Vaa’i, and Wallace Sititi
Coach of the Year in New Zealand
Every team with Black coaches is qualified.
Team of the Year for New Zealand
Every Black team is eligible.
