Source: Radio New Zealand
Fabian Holland of New Zealand Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz
World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year winners Fabian Holland and Braxton Sorensen-McGee have been named among the finalists for New Zealand’s top rugby awards.
Second rower Holland, who played 12 of the All Blacks 13 tests this year, is up for All Blacks Player of the Year alongside Ardie Savea, Quinn Tupaea and Cam Roigard.
Back Sorensen-McGee was a try-scoring star performer for the Black Ferns as they finished third at the Rugby World Cup. She is a finalist for Black Ferns Player of the Year along with Jorja Miller, Kaipo Olsen-Baker and Georgia Ponsonby.
The winners will be announced on 11 December.
The Kelvin R Tremain Memorial Player of the Year will be awarded to one of the winners of the major Player of the Year categories. The New Zealand Coach of the Year and New Zealand Team of the Year will be announced on the night, with all teams in black and their respective coaches eligible.
The Steinlager Salver, the most prestigious award in New Zealand rugby, will acknowledge someone who has given sustained service to the game. Previous recipients include: Sir Colin Meads, Jock Hobbs, Waka Nathan, Sir Tuifa’asisina Bryan Williams and Dr Deb Robinson.
Braxton Sorensen-McGee scores for the Black Ferns against Ireland, RWC, 2025. www.photosport.nz
2025 New Zealand Rugby Awards finalists:
Super Rugby Pacific Player of the Year
Will Jordan (Crusaders)
Du’Plessis Kirifi (Hurricanes)
Ardie Savea (Moana Pasifika)
Super Rugby Aupiki Player of the Year
Amy du Plessis (Matatū)
Braxton Sorensen McGee (Blues)
Portia Woodman-Wickliffe (Blues)
Richard Crawshaw Memorial All Blacks Sevens Player of the Year
Dylan Collier
Tone Ng Shiu
Frank Vaenuku
Black Ferns Sevens Player of the Year
Michaela Brake
Jorja Miller
Risi Pouri-Lane
New Zealand Rugby Age Grade Player of the Year
Oli Mathis (Waikato)
Dylan Pledger (Otago)
Braxton Sorensen-McGee (Auckland)
National Men’s Coach of the Year
Marty Bourke (Canterbury)
Mark Brown (Otago)
Rob Penney (Crusaders)
National Women’s Coach of the Year
Matt Direen (Otago)
Reuben Samuel (Waikato)
Willie Walker (Blues)
New Zealand Rugby Referee of the Year
Maggie Cogger-Orr (Auckland)
James Doleman (Otago)
Ben O’Keeffe (North Harbour)
National Women’s Team of the Year
Blues
Otago Spirit
Waikato
National Men’s Team of the Year
Canterbury
Crusaders
Mid-Canterbury
Tom French Memorial Māori Player of the Year
Kurt Eklund (Ngāti Kahu)
Quinn Tupaea (Ngaati Tiipa, Ngaati Amaru)
Portia Woodman-Wickliffe (Ngāpuhi/Ngāti Kahu ki Whaingaroa/Ngāti Porou)
All Blacks Player of the Year
Fabian Holland
Cam Roigard
Ardie Savea
Quinn Tupaea
Black Ferns Player of the Year
Jorja Miller
Kaipo Olsen-Baker
Georgia Ponsonby
Braxton Sorensen-McGee
Rugby Club of the Year
Hunterville Rugby Football Club (Whanganui)
Rangataua Sports and Cultural Club (Bay of Plenty)
Waimate Rugby Football Club (South Canterbury)
Charles Monro Volunteer of the Year
Glen Devenie (Auckland Rugby Referee Association, Auckland)
Stacey Kobus (Cambridge Junior Rugby and Community Sports Club, Waikato)
Jodi Taylor (Strath Taieri Rugby Club, Otago)
Te Hāpai Community Impact Award
Cian Byrne-Hansen (Counties Manukau)
Peter Hastings (Bay of Plenty)
Sosoli Talawadua (Whanganui)
Duane Monkley Medal (NPC Player of the Year)
Sam Darry (Canterbury)
Folau Fakatava (Hawke’s Bay)
Josh Jacomb (Taranaki)
Fiao’o Faamausili Medal (Farah Palmer Cup Player of the Year)
Taufa Bason (Auckland)
Grace Houpapa-Barrett (Waikato)
Holly Williams (North Harbour)
Ian Kirkpatrick Medal (Heartland Championship Player of the Year)
Declan McCormack (Mid Canterbury)
Keanu Taumata (Poverty Bay)
Sam Walton-Sexton (Wairarapa Bush)
– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
