Hore takes New Zealand's best gong
Thu, 04 Dec 2008 11:54
All Black hooker Andrew Hore took top prize, Player of the Year, at this year's New Zealand premier rugby awards - beating off strong challenges from Richie McCaw and Piri Weepu to take out the prestigious Kelvin R. Tremain Memorial trophy.
Hore's disappointment at coming home early from the All Blacks' year-end tour may have been tempered by him also winning the Super 14 Player of the Year, reflecting a magnificent year for the Hurricanes No.2.
Other All Blacks to pick up awards were Southland captain Jamie Mackintosh, who won the Air New Zealand Cup Player of the Year, and Piri Weepu, who won the Tom French Memorial Maori Player of the Year Award.
The All Blacks took out the Team of the Year for a hugely successful year in which they beat all comers in the June internationals, retained the Bledisloe Cup, while winning the Tri-Nations, beat the Wallabies in Hong Kong and European champions Munster in Ireland, and completed a Grand Slam tour of the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Coach of the Year was awarded to All Blacks coach Graham Henry for masterminding this outstanding series of results which saw the team win 14 out of the 16 matches played this year.
New Zealand Sevens Captain DJ Forbes can add the Richard Crawshaw Memorial Sevens Player of the Year to the International Rugby Board Sevens Player of the Year Award he won last month.
In other Awards, a trio of wings were among the winners.
Auckland speedster Victoria Grant was awarded the New Zealand Rugby Union Women's Player of the Year, Wanganui youngster Cameron Crowley the Heartland Championship Player of the Year and Hawke's Bay's rising star Zac Guildford the NZRU Age Grade Player of the Year.
The Salver, a special presentation to a person who has made an outstanding contribution to New Zealand rugby, was presented to former All Blacks captain Tane Norton at the awards function.
Prior to serving as President to both the Canterbury and New Zealand Rugby Unions Norton had a distinguished playing career, representing Mid-Canterbury, Canterbury and New Zealand Maori before making his All Blacks debut in 1971.
He captained the All Blacks nine times in his 61 games for them, which included 27 tests (four as Captain).
Ken Swain won the Volunteer of the Year for his loyal dedication and service to the Horowhenua Kapiti Rugby Union.
The judges for the awards were former All Blacks captain and former NZRU President John Graham, NZRU Board member and former New Zealand Maori captain Paul Quinn, Sport commentator Grant Nisbett and NZRU General Manager Professional Rugby Neil Sorensen.
The full list of winners:
Age Grade Player of the Year: Zac Guildford (New Zealand Under-20, Hurricanes, Hawke's Bay)
Sevens Player of the Year: DJ Forbes (Counties Manukau)
Referee of the Year: Bryce Lawrence
(Bay of Plenty)
Women's Player of the Year: Victoria Grant (nee Blackledge) (Auckland)
Volunteer of the Year: Ken Swain (Horowhenua Kapiti)
Super 14 Player of the Year: Andrew Hore (Hurricanes)
Maori Player of the Year: Piri Weepu (Wellington)
Heartland Championship Player of the Year: Cameron Crowley (Wanganui)
Air NZ Cup Player of the Year: Jamie Mackintosh (Southland)
Team of the Year: All Blacks
Coach of the Year: Graham Henry (All Blacks)
Outstanding Contribution to New Zealand Rugby: Tane Norton
Player of the Year: Andrew Hore
