History made as woman wins top rugby award:
On a night when women’s rugby shaded their men counterparts, Kendra Cocksedge was the big winner at the annual New Zealand Rugby awards in Auckland.
The Canterbury halfback became the first woman to win the Kelvin R Tremain Memorial Player of the Year gong, beating out All Blacks Brodie Retallick, Richie Mo’unga and Codie Taylor.
Cocksedge, a 47-test Black Fern, also won the Women’s Player of the Year award, and the Fiao’o Faamausili Medal – for best Farah Palmer Cup player. The 30-year-old guided Canterbury to consecutive titles in October.
In claiming the top award, Cocksedge joins an impressive alumnus of previous winners, including Sam Whitelock, Beauden Barrett, Ma’a Nonu, Retallick, Kieran Read and Richie McCaw.
The Black Ferns Sevens were crowned New Zealand Team of the Year, edging out the All Blacks and men’s sevens team on the back of a remarkable year in which they won the World Cup, and Commonwealth Games title.
Speedster Michaela Blyde, a key component of the team, edged Sarah Goss and Kelly Brazier to be named Black Ferns Sevens Player of the Year.
‘‘It has been another positive year for women’s rugby, particularly for the Black Ferns Sevens and their continued dominance on the world stage,’’ NZ Rugby chairman Brent Impey said.
In the first year separate categories were created for National Team of the Year and New Zealand Team of the Year, the Crusaders won the latter on the back of their ninth Super Rugby title.
First five-eighth Mo’unga, a key figure in the Christchurchbased side bagging a second consecutive title, trumped Crusaders team-mate Matt Todd and Chief Solomon Alaimalo to be named Super Rugby Player of the Year.
Crusaders and All Blacks hooker Codie Taylor was named the Tom French Memorial Ma¯ ori Player of the Year, while Crusaders and Canterbury lock Luke Romano was awarded the Duane Monkley Medal for best Mitre 10 Cup player.
New Zealand men’s sevens coach Clark Laidlaw was named New Zealand Coach of the Year over All Blacks coach Steve Hansen, and Black Ferns Sevens coach Allan Bunting.
Auckland coach Alama Ieremia was rewarded for winning the province’s first NPC title in 11 years. He won National Coach of the Year over Crusaders coach Scott Robertson and Canterbury women’s coach Kieran Kite.