Black Ferns captain triumphs as World Cup winners sweep rugby awards
Black Ferns co-captain and World Cup winner Ruahei Demant has collected three major prizes, including the supreme player of the year, at the New Zealand Rugby Awards.
As well as being recognised as New Zealand’s outstanding overall player in 2022, Demant was also named Black Ferns and Māori player of the year on Thursday night to cap off a season which also saw her named world rugby’s women’s player of the year last month.
Demant’s outstanding skills were on show as she led her team to the World Cup title in New Zealand. Her teammates were also recognised, with the Black Ferns awarded New Zealand team of the year.
On an evening when the Black Ferns’ performances this year took centre stage, midfielder Stacey Fluhler claimed the fans’ try of the year for her stunning finish against England in the World Cup final. And it wasn’t just the Black Ferns players recognised, with director of rugby Wayne Smith named coach of the year, a nod to the huge impact he made after being appointed in April and transforming the team in a brilliant recovery mission.
For the second year in a row, outstanding loose forward Ardie Savea was named All Blacks player of the year, while Ngarohi McGarvey-Black won the All Blacks Sevens player of the year, and Michaela Blyde took home the Black Ferns Sevens player of the year.
Following an outstanding season, Wellington claimed the national men’s team of the year title after breaking Hawke’s Bay’s 14-match Ranfurly Shield reign, and kicking on to win the NPC.
Canterbury were the national women’s team of the year after winning the Farah Palmer Cup.
The Canterbury region featured heavily at the awards, with Crusaders fullback Will Jordan named Super Rugby Pacific player of the year and head coach Scott Robertson winning national men’s coach of the year after guiding the Crusaders to the title with a crushing defeat against the Blues in the Eden Park final.
The award for outstanding contribution to New Zealand Rugby was given to Dr Deb Robinson who recently joined the World Rugby Council as NZ Rugby’s first female representative.