1st March 2010
Each year our members honour their best and brightest in the NZRPA annual players awards - the players choice. From peer to peer, these are the players who you thought shone in the 2009 season.
And the winners are...
Players’ Young Player of the Year
Zac Guildford
2009 was what many could consider as a tumultuous year for Hawkes Bay, Crusaders and All Black winger Zac Guildford.
The 2009 NZRPA Players’ Young Player of the Year winner went from the highs of playing for the Hurricanes to winning the World Under 20 championship to suffering the tragic loss of his father, back to highs of propelling Hawkes Bay to the Air New Zealand Cup semi-finals and selection on the end of year All Blacks tour to the northern hemisphere. He made his test debut in the 19-12 win against Wales and followed that up with another strong showing in the 19-6 win over England. He also played a part in the end of tour match against the Barbarians.
Congratulations also go to Zac’s fellow Under 20 World Cup winners Robbie Robinson and Aaron Cruden who were finalists in this award.
Players’ Player of the Year
Brad Thorn
Having played in 13 of the 14 All Blacks 2009 test matches, Crusaders and Canterbury lock Brad Thorn was on the field for over 1,000 minutes of test rugby. Add that to a full Super 14 schedule, with pre season trial matches, Thorn was ‘on the go’ from early January through to the end of November and the final test of the year, a magnificent win over France in Marseille.
After a hectic year for the 2009 NZRPA Players’ Player of the Year, it doesn’t look like being any different in 2010, with another full schedule of Super 14 and test match action ahead for the man All Blacks Coach Graham Henry calls “An Ageless Wonder”.
Brad beat off a challenge from fellow Crusader’s Kieran Read and IRB World Player of the Year Richie McCaw for the award. Richie McCaw was also the recipient of the 2009 Kelvin R. Tremain Memorial Player of the Year.
Players’ Provincial Union Player of the Year
Mike Delany
‘What a Ride” could very well be the catchphrase Mike Delany describes his euphoric rise in 2009.
The Bay of Plenty pivot has risen from being a back up player in the Chiefs squad for 2009 to All Black 1st 5/8th for the test match against Italy at Milan’s famous San Siro stadium in front of 80,000 spectators.
Mike Delany’s rapid rise was mainly a result of his fine performances in the Bay of Plenty shirt during last seasons Air New Zealand Cup, where he also played his 50th game in the blue & gold shirt and is the recipient of the 2009 NZRPA Players’ Provincial Union Player of the Year.
Mike held of strong challenges from two new All Blacks for the award, Otago’s Ben Smith and the 2009 NZRPA Young Players’ Player of the Year winner Zac Guildford.
Players’ Seven’s Player of the Year
Zar Lawrence
According to his player profile, if Zar Lawrence wasn’t a rugby player he would like to be an author or an ice sculptor. Interesting choices for the Bay of Plenty flyer who narrowly edged out his Sevens captain DJ Forbes for the 2009 NZRPA Player’s Seven’s Player of the Year.
2009 was a year of mixed fortunes for Lawrence. Whilst playing magnificently on the Sevens circuit, Lawrence suffered devastating news just prior to the Hong Kong Sevens quarter final that his younger brother had passed away following a car accident. As testimony to Zar’s character, he played on and dedicated the remaining matches in the tournament to his brother.
His Sevens coach Gordon Tietjens was in awe of the courage shown by Zar who starred in the Hong Kong quarter final win over Australia and at the time said "It certainly has been a tough time for Zar and he gave his very best. We saw how good a player he is yesterday and then again today."
Off Field Achievement Winner
Aled de Malmanche
2009 has been a massive year for Aled with an outstanding season with Waikato, the Chiefs and selection into the 2009 All Blacks. He has also excelled of the field managing to balance not only his Rugby commitments but also a combination of study, volunteer work, mentoring coaching and promotional work. Prior to playing professional Rugby he completed a Diploma in Civil Engineering and during 2009, completed first year management studies through Waikato University.
Other nominees for the off field award included Mark Wells, Ali Williams, Andrew Van de Heijden, Tyson Keats, Steven Setephano and the Hurricanes Player Group who travelled to Samoa with the New Zealand Police raising awareness around domestic violence.
