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Jorja Miller and Black Ferns Sevens win big at New Zealand Rugby Awards
By Ned Lester
New Zealand’s ASB Rugby Awards were held on Thursday night and rewarded the country’s best performers of 2024.
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Naturally, after an Olympic gold-winning campaign, the Black Ferns Sevens took home Team of the Year honours, their 20-year-old star Jorja Miller was awarded Player of the Year and head coach Corey Sweeney landed Coach of the Year for a record-equalling fifth time (former All Blacks head coach Sir Steve Hansen has also won five times).
Stars of the XV game were recognised as well, with Chiefs rookie Wallace Sititi winning All Blacks Player of the Year and fellow 22-year-old Kaipo Olsen-Baker winning Black Ferns Player of the Year.
The Blues swept the respective Men’s and Women’s Team of the Year awards and Super Rugby Player of the Year Awards, with Hoskins Sotutu and Katelyn Vahaakolo crowned. The Auckland region also landed New Zealand Age Grade Player of the Year in the form of midfielder Xavi Taele.
NZR CEO Mark Robinson said: “Congratulations to all the winners and nominees this year.
“There is no doubt the gold medal for the Black Ferns Sevens at the Olympics was a real highlight, so the recognition for Jorja, Cory and the team is thoroughly deserved this evening.
“We had a great year in the community game, with growth across the board in registrations. Seeing the stories of some of our game’s unsung heroes tonight really highlights the heart of rugby.”
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ASB Executive General Manager Business Banking, Rebecca James said:
“ASB congratulates this year’s award winners and nominees for your outstanding achievements. We also celebrate and acknowledge the commitment and hard work of all of the players, volunteers, coaches, referees, and management teams who have each made an important contribution to rugby in Aotearoa New Zealand this year.”
ASB Rugby Award finalists and winners (in bold)
Sky Television Fans Try of the Year
Latrell Smiler-Ah Kiong (King Country)
Katelyn Vahaakolo (Black Ferns)
Jed Melvin (North Harbour )
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New Zealand Rugby Referee of the Year
Ben O’Keeffe
Maggie Cogger-Orr
James Doleman
Charles Monro Rugby Volunteer of the Year
Steve and Lisa Wild (Thames Valley)
Dave Webb (Auckland)
Conor Croke (Waikato)
Bunnings Warehouse Rugby Club of the Year
Foxton Rugby Club (Horowhenua Kapiti)
Green Island Rugby Football Club (Otago)
Ponsonby Rugby Club (Auckland)
Te Hapai New Zealand Rugby Community Impact Award
James Legatt (Tamai Rugby Project)
Lisa Kingi-Bon (New Zealand Rugby Foundation)
Erin Rayner (Sense Rugby NZ)
New Zealand Rugby Age Grade Player of the Year
Xavi Taele (Auckland)
Vernon Bason (Manawat?)
Oli Mathis (Waikato)
Elinor-Plum King (Manawat?)
NZRPA Kirk Award
Dan Carter
Steinlager Salver – outstanding contribution to New Zealand Rugby
Ian Kirkpatrick
Ian Kirkpatrick Medal (Bunnings Warehouse Heartland Championship Player of the Year)
Siu Kakala (South Canterbury)
Declan McCormack (Mid Canterbury)
Alekesio Vakarorogo (Whanganui)
Duane Monkley Medal (Bunnings Warehouse NPC Player of the Year)
Timoci Tavatavanawai (Tasman)
Folau Fakatava (Hawke’s Bay)
Josh Jacomb (Taranaki)
Fiao’o Fa’amausili Medal (Farah Palmer Cup presented by Bunnings Warehouse Player of the Year)
Chelsea Semple (Waikato)
Hollyrae Merekara Mete (Manawat?)
Mia Anderson (Waikato)
ASB National Men’s Coach of the Year
Vern Cotter (Blues)
Clark Laidlaw (Hurricanes)
Alando Soakai (Wellington)
Richard Watt (Bay of Plenty)
ASB National Women’s Coach of the Year
Willie Walker (Blues)
James Semple (Waikato)
Campbell McNeill (Manawat?)
ASB New Zealand Coach of the Year
Cory Sweeney (Black Ferns Sevens)
DHL Super Rugby Pacific Player of the Year
Hoskins Sotutu (Blues)
Damian McKenzie (Chiefs)
Harry Plummer (Blues)
Billy Proctor (Hurricanes)
Sky Super Rugby Aupiki Player of the Year
Katelyn Vahaakolo (Blues)
Layla Sae (Hurricanes Poua)
Kaipo Olsen-Baker (Matat?)
Kennedy Tukuafu (Chiefs Manawa)
Tom French Memorial Maori Player of the Year
Risi Pouri-Lane (Ngati Kuia, Ngati Koata, Ngai Tahu)
Tamaiti Williams (Ngapuhi)
Tyrel Lomax (Ngai Tuhoe, Muaupoko)
Katelyn Vahaakolo (Ngati Whatua, Ngapuhi, Ngati Maniapoto)
Richard Crawshaw Memorial All Blacks Sevens Player of the Year
Fehi Fineanganofo
Tepaea Cook-Savage
Dylan Collier
Black Ferns Sevens Player of the Year
Jorja Miller
Risi Pouri-Lane
Michaela Blyde
Black Ferns Player of the Year
Georgia Ponsonby
Alana Bremner
Kaipo Olsen-Baker
All Blacks Player of the Year
Tyrel Lomax
Tupou Vaa’i
Wallace Sititi
adidas National Men’s Team of the Year
Blues
Wellington Lions
Thames Valley Swamp Foxes
adidas National Women’s Team of the Year
Blues
Waikato
Manawatu Cyclones
adidas New Zealand Team of the Year
Black Ferns Sevens
Kelvin R Tremain Memorial Player of the Year
Jorja Miller
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