Ardie Savea leads starstudded lineup as New Zealand Rugby honours its best

All Blacks and Moana Pasifika star Ardie Savea was the standout at Thursday night’s New Zealand Rugby Awards, taking home three major titles after one of the strongest seasons of his career.

The 32-year-old loose forward won the Kelvin R Tremain Memorial Player of the Year, All Blacks Player of the Year, and Super Rugby Pacific Player of the Year.

The awards cap off a year in which he also reached the milestone of 100 Test caps for New Zealand.

Although Savea has not made a public statement since the event, New Zealand Rugby CEO Mark Robinson praised the veteran for his leadership and consistency.

“Ardie has a level of consistency that is unmatched, and his three awards tonight demonstrate that,” Robinson says in a statement.

“He keeps raising the bar for what’s possible on an individual level, and brings his inspirational leadership to every environment.”

2025 Super Rugby Player of the Year Ardie Savea led Moana Pasifika to finish their season at seventh place, their best finish since they made their debut in 2022. Photo/Photosport/Elias Rodriguez

Young talent shines

It was also a big night for Braxton Sorensen-McGee, who continued her rapid rise in the game.

The 19-year-old added two national awards to her growing list of achievements, being named Black Ferns Player of the Year and New Zealand Age Grade Player of the Year.

She already holds the title of World Rugby Women’s 15s Breakthrough Player of the Year.

Portia Woodman-Wickliffe collected two awards, including Super Rugby Aupiki Player of the Year and Māori Player of the Year, the latter is for the first time in her career. Photo/Photosport/Matthew Impey

Woodman-Wickliffe makes history

Rugby legend Portia Woodman-Wickliffe (Ngāpuhi/Ngāti Kahu ki Whaingaroa/Ngāti Porou) collected two awards on the night, including Sky Super Rugby Aupiki Player of the Year.

She also won the Tom French Memorial Māori Player of the Year for the first time in her career, in recognition of her on-field impact and her role as a Māori leader in rugby.

Sevens teams continue success

The Black Ferns Sevens were named the New Zealand Team of the Year, while their coach Cory Sweeney took out ASB Coach of the Year.

Sweeney has now won the top coaching award six times, making him the most successful coach in the category’s history.

World Rugby Women’s Sevens Player of the Year Jorja Miller picked up the Black Ferns Sevens Player of the Year, and new captain Tone Ng Shiu was named All Blacks Sevens Player of the Year.

Braxton Sorensen-McGee won the Junior Māori Sportswomen Award/Te Tamāhine-ā-Papatūānuku at the 2025 Maori Sports Awards at Turangawaewae Marae, Ngaruawahia, on 29 November. Photo/Photosport/Stephen Parker

Honouring Māori leadership

The late Luke Crawford, former Māori All Blacks Kaumatua and NZR’s Kaihautū Māori, was remembered with the Steinlager Salver.

He was honoured for his lifelong work ensuring te reo and te ao Māori were respected and represented across all levels of the game.

Grassroots rugby celebrated

Community rugby was also in the spotlight.

• Peter Hastings won the Te Hāpai Community Impact Award for his mental health work.

• Jodi Taylor of Strath Taieri Rugby Club was named Volunteer of the Year.

• Waimate Rugby Football Club took home Rugby Club of the Year, along with $5,000 in Bunnings products to upgrade their facilities.

Josh Jacomb, centre, during the New Zealand All Blacks XV vs England A at The Recreation Ground, Bath, England, on 8 November 2025. Jacomb won the NPC Player of the Year award. Photo/Photosport/Anthony Hanc

Provincial and national winners

• Josh Jacomb (Taranaki) won the NPC Player of the Year.

• Taufa Bason (Auckland) claimed the Farah Palmer Cup Player of the Year.

• Keanu Taumata (Poverty Bay) was named Heartland Player of the Year.

• Maggie Cogger-Orr received Referee of the Year for her strong performances, including at the Rugby World Cup.

The NHRU Youth Rugby 1st XV between Westlake Boys 1st XV vs Rosmini 1st XV at Westlake Boys High School, Auckland, on 6 June 2025. Westlake's Matt Fleming won the Sky TV Fans’ Try of the Year award. Photo/Photosport/Brett Phibbs

The full list of finalists, with winners in bold:

Sky TV Fans Try of the Year

Lucas Casey (Otago)
Matt Fleming (Westlake Boys High School)
Damian McKenzie (All Blacks)

DHL Super Rugby Pacific Player of the Year

Will Jordan (Crusaders)
Du'Plessis Kirifi (Hurricanes)
Ardie Savea (Moana Pasifika)

Sky Super Rugby Aupiki Player of the Year

Amy du Plessis (Matatū)
Braxton Sorensen-McGee (Blues)
Portia Woodman-Wickliffe (Blues)

Richard Crawshaw Memorial All Blacks Sevens Player of the Year

Dylan Collier
Tone Ng Shiu
Frank Vaenuku

Black Ferns Sevens Player of the Year

Michaela Brake
Jorja Miller
Risi Pouri-Lane

New Zealand Rugby Age Grade Player of the Year

Oli Mathis (Waikato)
Dylan Pledger (Otago)
Braxton Sorensen-McGee (Auckland)

Bunnings Warehouse Rugby Club of the Year

Hunterville Rugby Football Club (Whanganui)
Rangataua Sports and Cultural Club (Bay of Plenty)
Waimate Rugby Football Club (South Canterbury)

Charles Monro Volunteer of the Year

Glen Devenie (Auckland Rugby Referee Association, Auckland)
Stacey Kobus (Cambridge Junior Rugby and Community Sports Club, Waikato)
Jodi Taylor (Strath Taieri Rugby Club, Otago)

Te Hāpai Community Impact Award

Cian Byrne-Hansen (Counties Manukau)
Peter Hastings (Bay of Plenty)
Sosoli Talawadua (Whanganui)

Duane Monkley Medal (Bunnings Warehouse NPC Player of the Year)

Sam Darry (Canterbury)
Folau Fakatava (Hawke’s Bay)
Josh Jacomb (Taranaki)

Fiao’o Faamausili Medal (Farah Palmer Cup presented by Bunnings Warehouse Player of the Year)

Taufa Bason (Auckland)
Grace Houpapa-Barrett (Waikato)
Holly Williams (North Harbour)

Ian Kirkpatrick Medal (Bunnings Warehouse Heartland Championship Player of the Year)

Declan McCormack (Mid Canterbury)
Keanu Taumata (Poverty Bay)
Sam Walton-Sexton (Wairarapa Bush)

New Zealand Rugby Referee of the Year

Maggie Cogger-Orr (Auckland)
James Doleman (Otago)
Ben O'Keeffe (North Harbour)

ASB National Men’s Coach of the Year

Marty Bourke (Canterbury)
Mark Brown (Otago)
Rob Penney (Crusaders)

Adidas National Men's Team of the Year

Canterbury
Crusaders
Mid-Canterbury

ASB National Women’s Coach of the Year

Matt Direen (Otago)
Reuben Samuel (Waikato)
Willie Walker (Blues)

Adidas National Women's Team of the Year

Blues
Otago Spirit
Waikato

ASB New Zealand Coach of the Year

Cory Sweeney

Adidas New Zealand Team of the Year

Black Ferns Sevens

Tom French Memorial Māori Player of the Year

Kurt Eklund (Ngāti Kahu)
Quinn Tupaea (Ngaati Tiipa, Ngaati Amaru)
Portia Woodman-Wickliffe (Ngāpuhi/Ngāti Kahu ki Whaingaroa/Ngāti Porou)

All Blacks Player of the Year

Fabian Holland
Cameron Roigard
Ardie Savea
Quinn Tupaea

Black Ferns Player of the Year

Jorja Miller
Kaipo Olsen-Baker
Georgia Ponsonby
Braxton Sorensen-McGee

Kelvin R Tremain Memorial Player of the Year

Ardie Savea