NZ player of year nominees

Rugby World Cup winners Ruahei Demant, Theresa Fitzpatrick, Stacey Fluhler and Sarah Hirini will vie for the Black Ferns player of the year trophy at the national rugby awards.

The four are among a swath of nominations released yesterday for the awards, which will be held on Thursday, December 8, and broadcast on Sky Sport and Prime Sky Sport 1, starting at 8pm.

Demant, the Black Ferns cocaptain, was named women’s 15s player of the year at the World Rugby awards in Monaco last week, but will still face strong competition for the New Zealand award, with Fitzpatrick, Fluhler and Hirini all having an outstanding World Cup.

Fluhler (Nga¯i Tu¯hoe) and Demant (Te¯ Wha¯nau a¯ Apanui/Te Whakato¯ hea/Nga¯ ti Awa) are also up for the Tom French Memorial Ma¯ ori Player of the Year, vying for honours with Ma¯ori All Blacks and All Blacks halfback TJ Perenara (Nga¯ti Rangitihi/Te Arawa).

The All Blacks player of the year nominees are Jordie Barrett, Sam Whitelock, Samisoni Taukei’aho and Ardie Savea, whose omission from the World Rugby 15s player of the year awards has proved controversial.

The major awards for the Kelvin R Tremain Memorial player of the year, team of the year and coach of the year, as well as the Steinlager Salver for outstanding service to rugby, will be announced at the function.

The public vote for fans’ try of the year is open until tomorrow, with the winner also being announced at the awards night.

Hirini has also been nominated for the Black Ferns Sevens player of the year, alongside Michaela Blyde and Risaleaana (Risi) PouriLane. The Richard Crawshaw Memorial All Blacks Sevens player of the year nominees are Sam Dickson, Caleb Tangitau and Ngarohi McGarvey-Black.