Women break through into Almanack’s lists
The New Zealand Rugby Almanack has broken tradition and named women in its annual players of the year and promising players of the year lists for the first time.
The 81st edition of the annual book, which lists the records and results of first-class rugby in New Zealand, features two women on its lists, usually reserved for All Blacks and potential future All Blacks.
In a sign of the growing stature of women’s rugby in the country, Black Ferns captain Fiao’o Fa’amausili was named in the book’s five players of the year.
Fa’amausili led the Black Ferns in an unbeaten season in 2016 and is now just three games away from being the first woman to bring up a century of matches in provincial rugby.
‘‘[She] was the top tryscorer in the Farah Palmer Cup competition with 10 tries in eight games, a remarkable achievement considering her position is at hooker and that she celebrated her 36th birthday two days prior to leading her team in the final against Counties Manukau,’’ it states in the book.
Joining Fa’amausili on the list are World and New Zealand Rugby player of the year Beauden Barrett, TJ Perenara, Ryan Crotty and Wyatt Crockett.
The first-time selection of the quartet of All Blacks and Fa’amausili mark a change in selection criteria from editors Clive Akers, Geoff Miller and Adrian Hill. They have gone back to the publication’s original policy, which was in place between 1935 and 1983, where players could only be selected for player of the year honours once in their careers.
‘‘In recent years we have chosen a player several times, most notably Richie Mccaw, and because current players have longer careers at the top level than in the amateur era we have decided to revert to the original policy of honouring an individual only once. This allows the editors to look wider, even beyond the All Blacks squad, for our future Players of the Year,’’ they wrote in the editorial.
Mccaw was one of the Almanack’s players of the year eight times (2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2011 and 2013).
A woman also made the cut for the five promising players of the year.
Counties Manukau prop Aotearoa Mata’u was the youngest member of the Black Ferns’ 2016 squad.
‘‘[She] made a big impression in the powerful Counties Manukau front row during a season in which her team was undefeated and claimed the championship title,’’ they wrote.
Tasman lock Quinten Strange, who is now in the Crusaders, was included after impressing for the New Zealand Under 20s and his province.
Crusaders teammate wing George Bridge joined him and sticking with the Crusaders theme, Southland back Jaye Thompson-te Muunu, who spent preseason training with the Christchurchbased franchise were also named.
Taranaki-bound Jordie Barrett was the other player selected.
Barrett’s performance for the New Zealand Under 20s and Canterbury earned him selection for as an apprentice for the All Blacks’ end of season tour.
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