NZRPA Player Awards

The NZRPA Player Awards are New Zealand’s only awards voted on by the players themselves, for the players. Held for the first time in 2005, the Inaugural ING Player Awards featured two awards: ING Players’ Young Player of the Year, won by Piri Weepu; and ING Players’ Player of the Year, won by Daniel Carter. The awards represent the ultimate recognition a player can receive, the respect of one’s peers.

Voting is open to all ITM Cup players and in 2008 saw the introduction of yet another new award for Players' Seven's Player of the Year.

The 2010 award winners were:

Players' Young Player of the Year - Julian Savea (Wellington)

Players' Provincial Union Player of the Year - Jason Rutledge (Southland)

Players' Player of the Year - Hosea Gear (Wellington)

Players' Seven's Player of the Year - Sherwin Stowers

Off the Field Performance - Onasai Auva'a (Auckland)

The 2009 award winners were:

Players' Young Player of the Year - Zac Guildford (Hawkes Bay)

Players' Provincial Union Player of the Year - Mike Delany (Bay of Plenty)

Players' Player of the Year - Brad Thorn (Canterbury)

Players' Seven's Player of the Year - Zar Lawrence

Off the Field Performance - Aled de Malmanche (Waikato)

The 2008 award winners were:

Players' Young Player of the Year - Israel Dagg (Hawkes Bay)

Players' Provincial Union Player of the Year - Hosea Gear (Wellington)

Players' Player of the Year - Hosea Gear (Wellington)

Players' Seven's Player of the Year - Victor Vito (Wellington)

Off the Field Performance - Jason Rutledge:

 

The awards themselves have been designed and crafted by Brent Sutcliffe of Sutcliffe Fine Jewellers of Parnell and made from New Zealand pounamu (greenstone) and rimu and blessed by a local kaumatua. The design and materials reflect a unique New Zealand flavour which captures the essence of the awards: quintessentially Aotearoa.