Ferns’ halfback named player of the year

HISTORY was made last night when Black Ferns halfback Kendra Cocksedge was named the player of the year and the Black Ferns sevens side was named team of the year at the New Zealand Rugby awards in Auckland.

Cocksedge, a 47test cap Black Fern and giant playmaker for the successful Farah Palmer Cup champion side Canterbury, is the first woman to receive the Kelvin R. Tremain Memorial award.

She beat a strong field of nominees featuring All Blacks Brodie Retallick, Richie Mo’unga, and Codie Taylor.

She was also named the New Zealand Rugby women’s player of the year.

The Black Ferns Sevens team won the award after a top year in which it won gold at the Commonwealth Games and at the Rugby World Cup sevens.

The Crusaders won national team of the year and Auckland coach Alama Ieremia was named national coach of the year.

In a big night for the Crusaders, first fiveeighth Richie Mo’unga was picked as Super Rugby player of the year, while Crusaders and All Blacks hooker Codie Taylor was named the Tom French Memorial Maori player of the year.

Crusaders and Canterbury lock Luke Romano was awarded the Duane Monkley Medal for best player in the Mitre 10 Cup.

Commonwealth gold medal and Rugby World Cup seven-swinning All Blacks sevens coach Clark Laidlaw was named New Zealand Coach of the Year.

Scott Curry was named All Blacks Sevens Player of the Year, and Michaela Blyde, who last month was named World Rugby’s top women’s sevens player, was the Black Ferns Sevens Player of the Year.

New Zealand Rugby’s highest recognition of an outstanding contribution to rugby, the Steinlager Salver, was awarded to All Blacks legend Waka Nathan, who was chosen especially by the New Zealand Rugby Board.

The awards judging panel was: Graham Mourie, Matt Sexton, Mike Eagle, Dr Farah Palmer and Tony Johnson.

PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES And the winners are . . . Top: Members of the Black Ferns Sevens, New Zealand Rugby’s team of the year. Above (from left): Kendra Cocksedge poses with the Fiaoo Faamausili Medal; Super Rugby player of the year Richie Mo’unga and fiancee Sophie Vieceli pose on the red carpet; referee of the year Glen Jackson with his trophy; Brett Ranga (left) is presented with the award for Heartland Championship player of the year by All Black captain Kieran Read. The awards were held in Auckland last night.