Braxton Sorensen-McGee along with fellow World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year Fabian Holland are finalists in the NZ Rugby Awards PHOTO: RUGBY WORLD CUP
New Zaland’s World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year winners Fabian Holland and Braxton Sorensen-McGee have been named as finalists for the national rugby awards.
Lock Holland, who played 12 of the All Blacks 13 tests this year, is up for All Blacks Player of the Year alongside Ardie Savea, Quinn Tupaea and Cam Roigard.
Back Fern try-scoring star Sorensen-McGee Ferns was an instrumental memebr of the team which finished third at the Rugby World Cup. She is a finalist for Black Ferns Player of the Year along with Jorja Miller, Kaipo Olsen-Baker and Georgia Ponsonby.
The winners will be announced on December 11.
The Kelvin R Tremain Memorial Player of the Year will be awarded to one of the winners of the major Player of the Year categories.
The New Zealand Coach of the Year and New Zealand Team of the Year will be announced on the night, with all teams in black and their respective coaches eligible.
Interestingly the National Women’s Coach nominees are all men – Matt Direen (Otago),
Reuben Samuel (Waikato), Willie Walker (Blues).
The men’s nominees are all from the South Island – Marty Bourke (Canterbury)
Mark Brown (Otago), Rob Penney (Crusaders),
The men’s National Team of the Year nominees are all from the great Canterbury region – Canterbury, Crusaders, Mid-Canterbury.
The Steinlager Salver, the most prestigious award in New Zealand rugby, will acknowledge someone who has given sustained service to the game. Previous recipients include: Sir Colin Meads, Jock Hobbs, Waka Nathan, Sir Tuifa’asisina Bryan Williams and Dr Deb Robinson.
2025 New Zealand Rugby Awards finalists:
Super Rugby Pacific Player of the Year
Du’Plessis Kirifi (Hurricanes)
Ardie Savea (Moana Pasifika)
Super Rugby Aupiki Player of the Year
Braxton Sorensen McGee (Blues)
Portia Woodman-Wickliffe (Blues)
Richard Crawshaw Memorial All Blacks Sevens Player of the Year
Black Ferns Sevens Player of the Year
New Zealand Rugby Age Grade Player of the Year
Braxton Sorensen-McGee (Auckland)
National Men’s Coach of the Year
Marty Bourke (Canterbury)
National Women’s Coach of the Year
New Zealand Rugby Referee of the Year
Maggie Cogger-Orr (Auckland)
Ben O’Keeffe (North Harbour)
National Men’s Team of the Year
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
Black Ferns Player 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 (NPC Player of the Year)
Folau Fakatava (Hawke’s Bay)
Fiao’o Faamausili Medal (Farah Palmer Cup Player of the Year)
Grace Houpapa-Barrett (Waikato)
Holly Williams (North Harbour)
Ian Kirkpatrick Medal (Heartland Championship Player of the Year)
Declan McCormack (Mid Canterbury)
Keanu Taumata (Poverty Bay)
Sam Walton-Sexton (Wairarapa Bush)