Ardie Savea Dominates New Zealand Rugby Awards with Three Major Wins

Ardie Savea has made headlines once again by clinching three prestigious awards at the New Zealand Rugby Awards held on March 15, 2024. The accomplished 32-year-old loose forward, who achieved his 100th test cap this year, was honored with the Kelvin R Tremain Memorial player of the year, a recognition he also received in 2019 and 2023. This milestone places him alongside rugby legend Richie McCaw, who has won the award multiple times.

In addition to this supreme accolade, Savea was named All Blacks player of the year. His outstanding performance and leadership at Moana Pasifika earned him the title of Super Rugby Pacific player of the year as well. Former New Zealand Rugby chief executive Mark Robinson praised Savea’s consistency and leadership, stating, “Ardie has a level of consistency that is unmatched, and his three awards tonight demonstrate that. He keeps raising the bar for what’s possible on an individual level.”

Recognition for Volunteerism and Other Achievements

The awards ceremony also celebrated the contributions of volunteers in the sport. Jodi Taylor from the Strath Taieri club was honored as the volunteer of the year, following Cathy Charles from Alhambra-Union, who received the same accolade in 2022. Taylor’s tireless efforts have made a significant impact in her community.

Despite the recognition for many, some Otago finalists fell short in their respective categories. Dylan Pledger, a promising halfback, lost the age grade player of the year award to Braxton Sorensen-McGee, a talented winger for the Black Ferns. Sorensen-McGee also received the Black Ferns player of the year award, complementing her earlier achievement as the World Rugby women’s breakthrough player.

The Otago Spirit, a prominent women’s rugby team, missed out on the women’s team of the year award, which went to the Blues. Coach Matt Direen was also edged out by Willie Walker from the Blues for the women’s team coaching award.

Celebrating Outstanding Performances Across the Board

In other notable results, Mark Brown saw his first year as coach end with Otago reaching the NPC final, while Rob Penney of the Crusaders was named men’s coach of the year. Testing referee James Doleman lost out on the referee award to Maggie Cogger-Orr. Additionally, Lucas Casey, a standout flanker from Otago, was bested for try of the year by schoolboy sensation Matt Fleming from Westlake.

The NPC player of the year accolade went to Josh Jacomb for his impressive displays with Taranaki. Black Ferns icon Portia Woodman-Wickliffe received two awards: Super Rugby Aupiki player of the year and the Tom French Memorial Māori player of the year. The awards recognized Taufa Bason as the best Farah Palmer Cup player, while Keanu Taumata was named Heartland player of the year.

Cory Sweeney, coach of the Black Ferns Sevens, secured the New Zealand coach of the year title for a record sixth time. Jorja Miller and Tone Ng Shiu were honored as the sevens players of the year. The Black Ferns Sevens and Crusaders were acknowledged as the top teams in their respective categories, while Waimate was named club of the year.

Lastly, the late Luke Crawford, a former Māori All Blacks kaumatua, was posthumously honored with the Steinlager Salver for his contributions to rugby in New Zealand. The awards night celebrated not only individual excellence but also the spirit of community and volunteerism that underpins the sport.