New Zealand Rugby Team Watch

[waiopehu oldboy]

July Series doesn't have a sponsor: RadioNZ reporting that NZR are in discussions with Lion Nathan wrt whether Steinlager will be staying on.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Ford terminating their AB sponsorship in the new year according to a story behind the NZHurld paywall.

 

[Wilson]

Ford terminating their AB sponsorship in the new year according to a story behind the NZHurld paywall.

LOL:

The Grinch has come early for New Zealand’s elite rugby players after many were informed they must return their sponsored vehicles as Ford’s longstanding partnership prepares to end.

In a move that has sent ripples through the professional playing ranks, Ford’s 30-year sponsorship of New Zealand rugby will end on January 31 after the parties could not reach a new agreement.

While in recent years Ford’s partnership has been watered down from its heyday of prime naming-rights sponsor, the company this year provided New Zealand Rugby with a fleet of about 80 vehicles for their high-profile players and coaches. Those vehicles were generally turned over once each year.

The Herald understands that every player named in Scott Robertson’s 36-man All Blacks Rugby Championship squad received a Ford vehicle to use for the year.

This agreement extended to All Blacks coaches as well as the five New Zealand Super Rugby head coaches – and five NZ Rugby contracted assistants. Some NZ Rugby staff also had the use of sponsored vehicles.

...

That partnership drawing to a close has, however, caught many All Blacks by surprise and caused angst among some who did not envision having to return their vehicles in the new year.

Gonna have a tough time collecting Sevu Reece's though...

 

[Dan54]

Ford terminating their AB sponsorship in the new year according to a story behind the NZHurld paywall.

Heard that was coming up, seems Ford were getting a reasonably cheap deal, same as Steinlager.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

LOL:


Gonna have a tough time collecting Sevu Reece's though...

Was somebody else's car he dinged up, wasn't it?

 

[Wilson]

Was somebody else's car he dinged up, wasn't it?

Oh right, I missed the charges of "taking a car dishonestly" amongst the rest.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

ASB Rugby Award Nominees are;

New Zealand Rugby Referee of the Year
Ben O’Keeffe
Maggie Cogger-Orr
James Doleman

DHL Super Rugby Pacific Player of the Year
Hoskins Sotutu (Blues)
Damian McKenzie (Chiefs)
Harry Plummer (Blues)
Billy Proctor (Hurricanes)

Sky Super Rugby Aupiki Player of the Year
Katelyn Vahaakolo (Blues)
Layla Sae (Hurricanes Poua)
Kaipo Olsen-Baker (Matatū)
Kennedy Tukuafu (Chiefs Manawa)

Tom French Memorial Māori Player of the Year
Risi Pouri-Lane (Ngāti Kuia, Ngāti Koata, Ngāi Tahu)
Tamaiti Williams (Ngāpuhi)
Tyrel Lomax (Ngai Tuhoe, Muaupoko)
Katelyn Vahaakolo (Ngāti Whātua, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Maniapoto)

Richard Crawshaw Memorial All Blacks Sevens Player of the Year
Fehi Fineanganofo
Tepaea Cook-Savage
Dylan Collier

Black Ferns Sevens Player of the Year
Jorja Miller
Risi Pouri-Lane
Michaela Blyde

Black Ferns Player of the Year
Georgia Ponsonby
Alana Bremner
Kaipo Olsen-Baker

All Blacks Player of the Year
Tyrel Lomax
Tupou Vaa’i
Wallace Sititi

ASB New Zealand Coach of the Year
All Teams in Black coaches eligible

Adidas New Zealand Team of the Year
All Teams in Black eligible


Charles Monro Rugby Volunteer of the Year
Steve and Lisa Wild (Thames Valley)
Dave Webb (Auckland)
Conor Croke (Waikato)

Bunnings Warehouse Rugby Club of the Year
Foxton Rugby Club (Horowhenua Kapiti)
Green Island Rugby Football Club (Otago)
Ponsonby Rugby Club (Auckland)

Te Hāpai New Zealand Rugby Community Impact Award
James Leggat (Tamai Rugby Project)
Lisa Kingi-Bon (New Zealand Rugby Foundation)
Erin Rayner (Sense Rugby NZ)

New Zealand Rugby Age Grade Player of the Year
Xavi Taele (Auckland)
Vernon Bason (Manawatū)
Oli Mathis (Waikato)
Elinor-Plum King (Manawatū)

Duane Monkley Medal (Bunnings Warehouse NPC Player of the Year)
Timoci Tavatavanawai (Tasman)
Folau Fakatava (Hawke’s Bay)
Josh Jacomb (Taranaki)

Fiao’o Faamausili Medal (Farah Palmer Cup presented by Bunnings Warehouse Player of the Year)
Chelsea Semple (Waikato)
Hollyrae Merekara Mete (Manawatū)
Mia Anderson (Waikato)

Ian Kirkpatrick Medal (Bunnings Warehouse Heartland Championship Player of the Year)
Siu Kakala (South Canterbury)
Declan McCormack (Mid Canterbury)
Alekesio Vakarorogo (Whanganui)

ASB National Men’s Coach of the Year
Vern Cotter (Blues)
Clark Laidlaw (Hurricanes)
Alando Soakai (Wellington)
Richard Watt (Bay of Plenty)

ASB National Women’s Coach of the Year
Willie Walker (Blues)
James Semple (Waikato)
Campbell McNeill (Manawatū)

adidas National Men’s Team of the Year
Blues
Wellington Lions
Thames Valley Swamp Foxes

adidas National Women’s Team of the Year
Blues
Waikato
Manawatū Cyclones

Awards night is 12 December.

And the winners were:

Kelvin R Tremain Memorial Player of the Year winner - Jorja Miller (Black Ferns)​

All Blacks Player of the Year nominees​

Tyrel Lomax
Tupou Vaa’i
Wallace Sititi WINNER

Black Ferns Player of the Year nominees​

Georgia Ponsonby
Alana Bremner
Kaipo Olsen-Baker WINNER

New Zealand Rugby Referee of the Year nominees​

Ben O’Keeffe WINNER
Maggie Cogger-Orr
James Doleman

Super Rugby Pacific Player of the Year nominees​

Hoskins Sotutu (Blues) WINNER
Damian McKenzie (Chiefs)
Harry Plummer (Blues)
Billy Proctor (Hurricanes)

Super Rugby Aupiki Player of the Year nominees​

Katelyn Vahaakolo (Blues) WINNER
Layla Sae (Hurricanes Poua)
Kaipo Olsen-Baker (Matatū)
Kennedy Tukuafu (Chiefs Manawa)

Tom French Memorial Māori Player of the Year nominees​

Risi Pouri-Lane (Ngāti Kuia, Ngāti Koata, Ngāi Tahu)
Tamaiti Williams (Ngāpuhi)
Tyrel Lomax (Ngai Tuhoe, Muaupoko) WINNER
Katelyn Vahaakolo (Ngāti Whātua, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Maniapoto)

Richard Crawshaw Memorial All Blacks Sevens Player of the Year nominees​

Fehi Fineanganofo
Tepaea Cook-Savage
Dylan Collier WINNER

Black Ferns Sevens Player of the Year nominees​

Jorja Miller WINNER
Risi Pouri-Lane
Michaela Blyde

New Zealand Coach of the Year winner​

Cory Sweeney (Black Ferns Sevens)

New Zealand Team of the Year winner​

Black Ferns Sevens

Charles Monro Rugby Volunteer of the Year ​

Steve and Lisa Wild (Thames Valley)
Dave Webb (Auckland)
Conor Croke (Waikato) WINNER

Rugby Club of the Year​

Foxton Rugby Club (Horowhenua Kapiti)
Green Island Rugby Football Club (Otago) WINNER
Ponsonby Rugby Club (Auckland)

Te Hāpai New Zealand Rugby Community Impact Award ​

James Leggat (Tamai Rugby Project)
Lisa Kingi-Bon (New Zealand Rugby Foundation)
Erin Rayner (Sense Rugby NZ) WINNER

New Zealand Rugby Age Grade Player of the Year ​

Xavi Taele (Auckland) WINNER
Vernon Bason (Manawatū)
Oli Mathis (Waikato)
Elinor-Plum King (Manawatū)

Duane Monkley Medal (NPC Player of the Year)​

Timoci Tavatavanawai (Tasman) WINNER
Folau Fakatava (Hawke’s Bay)
Josh Jacomb (Taranaki)

Fiao’o Faamausili Medal (Farah Palmer Cup presented by Bunnings Warehouse Player of the Year)​

Chelsea Semple (Waikato)
Hollyrae Merekara Mete (Manawatū) WINNER
Mia Anderson (Waikato)

Ian Kirkpatrick Medal (Heartland Championship Player of the Year)​

Siu Kakala (South Canterbury)
Declan McCormack (Mid Canterbury)
Alekesio Vakarorogo (Whanganui) WINNER

National Men’s Coach of the Year ​

Vern Cotter (Blues) WINNER
Clark Laidlaw (Hurricanes)
Alando Soakai (Wellington)
Richard Watt (Bay of Plenty)

National Women’s Coach of the Year​

Willie Walker (Blues)
James Semple (Waikato) WINNER
Campbell McNeill (Manawatū)

National Men’s Team of the Year ​

Blues WINNER
Wellington Lions
Thames Valley Swamp Foxes

National Women’s Team of the Year ​

Blues WINNER
Waikato
Manawatū Cyclones

 

[Dan54]

Pretty hard to argue with any of those really . Really thought any of the 3 nominees could of one AB of the year, and may of gone Vai'i but then I would of probably thought Lomax was hard done by, and similar with Sititi. Would of loved the Swamp Foxes to win team of the year, but Blues certainly deserved it.

 

[RebelYell]

And the winners were:

New Zealand Rugby Referee of the Year nominees​

Ben O’Keeffe WINNER
Maggie Cogger-Orr
James Doleman

I don't know who Maggie Cogger-Orr is, but she should have been $1.01 against those two haha! Geez... talk about slim pickings.

 

[Dismal Pillock]

couple more GIF warehouse finds:

 

[Dan54]

Interesting thing . I a member of Taranaki supporters club etc, and figure show crowds were up 44% this NPC season. I haven't seen a any of other unions figures, but Naki one kind of goes with impression I got during season. Pretty sure tv viewership was up for season. Certainly hope the new NZR board take note!
Just out of interest seems record crowds in NH for URC too, which is good I think.