Ardie Savea rewarded with another prestigious award after incredible season

David Skippers 14 Dec 2023 10:40 AM

All Blacks Ardie Savea celebrates after the Rugby World Cup quarterfinal match between Ireland and New Zealand at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis

Just a month after being crowned World Rugby Player of the year, All Blacks back-row star Ardie Savea has also been named as New Zealand Rugby’s Kelvin R Tremain Player of the Year award winner.

It is the second time that the 30-year-old has received the award at New Zealand Rugby’s (NZR) ASB Rugby Awards – after also winning it in 2019 – and he was also named the All Blacks Player of the Year for the third year in a row.

There were also individual awards for players who shone in New Zealand’s other national teams. U20s star Harry Godfrey was crowned as the New Zealand Rugby Age Grade Player of the Year, Akuila Rokolisoa received the Richard Crawshaw Memorial All Blacks Sevens Player of the Year award, while Stacey Waaka was named the Black Ferns Sevens Player of the Year and Liana Mikaele-Tu’u the Black Ferns Player of the Year.

All Blacks and Black Ferns Sevens teams also rewarded

Meanwhile, New Zealand‘s World Series winning All Blacks and Black Ferns Sevens teams were also rewarded with the men’s team named New Zealand Team of the Year and women’s coach Cory Sweeney the New Zealand Coach of the Year.

Crusaders skipper Scott Barrett was named as the Super Rugby Player of the Year for 2023, while veteran scrum-half Aaron Smith was recognised for another excellent season by receiving the Tom French Memorial Māori Player of the Year.

The Sky Fans Try of the Year, decided by public vote, was awarded to All Blacks flyer Will Jordan’s finish after great work from Damian McKenzie in the build-up against Uruguay at the Rugby World Cup.

Other award winners included Steven Li, who won Te Hāpai New Zealand Rugby Community Impact Award. Li’s commitment to increasing participation, ensuring safety and fostering an inclusive environment were highlighted in the Rip Rugby programme he developed to welcome Asian migrants to rugby union.

Meanwhile, the Auckland University Rugby Football Club was named as the inaugural Bunnings Warehouse Rugby Club of the Year.

Auckland University club life member Rob Fisher’s service to the game was also recognised with one of the night’s biggest awards – the Steinlager Salver for outstanding contribution to New Zealand Rugby (NZR).