Nonu wins supreme accolade; Stokes Valley pair volunteer award

Ma’a Nonu (Oriental-Rongotai) has won the Kelvin R Tremain Player of the Year award at tonight’s 2015 New Zealand Rugby Awards.

Nonu, who played his 100th Super Rugby game for the Hurricanes earlier this year, brought the curtain down on his 103-Test All Blacks career in the 34-17 Rugby World Cup final win over the Wallabies.

Always dangerous on attack, he scored five Super Rugby tries, an incredible double against Australia to secure the Bledisloe Cup in Auckland and a phenomenal try in the World Cup Final.

Meanwhile, Stokes Valley club pair Tania Karaitiana and Vio Ugone won the Charles Monro Rugby Volunteers of the Year award. They were recognised for helping to revive the club by recruiting volunteers, improving its finances and upgrading facilities. 

2015 Steinlager Rugby Awards winners

New Zealand Rugby Age Grade Player of the Year
Akira Ioane (Auckland)

Charles Monro Rugby Volunteers of the Year
Tania Karaitiana and Vio Ugone (Wellington)

New Zealand Rugby Referee of the Year
Glen Jackson (Bay of Plenty) 

Pink Batts Heartland Championship Player of the Year
Lindsay Horrocks (Wanganui)

New Zealand Rugby Women’s Sevens Player of the Year
Tyla Nathan-Wong (Auckland) 

Richard Crawshaw Memorial All Blacks Sevens Player of the Year
Scott Curry (Bay of Plenty)

Sky Television Fans Try of the Year 
Samu Kubunavanua (Wanganui)

ITM Cup Player of the Year
George Moala (Auckland)

Investec Super Rugby Player of the Year
Lima Sopoaga (Highlanders)

Tom French Memorial Maori Player of the Year)
Nehe Milner-Skudder (Ngāti Porou/Tapuika)

New Zealand Rugby Women’s Player of the Year
Kendra Cocksedge (Canterbury)

Steinlager Salver for an Outstanding Contribution to New Zealand Rugby
Mike Eagle (Canterbury)

New Zealand Rugby Coach of the Year
Steve Hansen (All Blacks)

adidas Team of the Year
All Blacks

Kelvin R Tremain Player of the Year
Ma’a Nonu (Wellington, Hurricanes and All Blacks)