Last night (Wednesday 31st October) Waikato Rugby Union celebrated their end of season awards at the Wintec Atrium.

Waikato Mitre 10 Cup head coach Jono Gibbes received two awards. Firstly winning the Kukri Representative Coach of the Year followed by the top award in the form the prestigious Ian Clarke Trophy. The Ian Clarke Trophy is awarded to a Waikato person who has achieved the most outstanding results over the past 12 months.

Gibbes, took over as head coach for the 2018 season and in one season he guided the team to a Ranfurly Shield win over Taranaki, followed by two successful shield defences, a Chiefs Country Cup win to lift the trophy from Bay of Plenty and a Mitre 10 Cup Championship division win to gain promotion back into the Premiership in 2019.

With all of the team’s successes this season it was no surprise the Mitre 10 Cup squad was named the Hendl & Murray Representative Team of the Year.

Hamilton Old Boys Rugby and Sports Club again had another great night by collecting three awards. Head Coach, Mark McConnell, again won the Grassroots Trust Senior Club Coach of the Year for the second consecutive year after collecting back to back titles with Hamilton Old Boys Senior A team. Their title also saw the team claim the Vodafone Club Team of the Year and player, Raniera Takarangi claimed the Waikato Draught Club Player of the Year award.

Melville Rugby and Sports club would pick up the Waikato Draught Club of the Year award as both their Women’s Premiership and Under 85kgs sides won their competitions. Melville women’s player Karli Faneva would pick up the PIC Women’s Club Player of the Year.

Waikato Women’s vice captain Chelsea Alley claimed the SKYCITY Hamilton Women’s Representative Player of the Year after another great season that saw her as the top point scorer for the team and captain Sosoli Talawadua collected the inaugural Manatiaki Award. The Manatiaki award is awarded to the team member who best personified the values of the team, similar to the Aaron Hopa award for the men, which was won by Kylem O’Donnell.

The future of Waikato Rugby was also on display during the evening with breakout players Quinn Tupaea and Jazmin Hotham collecting the two Emerging Players of the Year awards.

The Gallagher Waikato Rugby awards recognise people and teams that have made an outstanding contribution to Waikato Rugby in 2018. The evening covered the entire spectrum of the game including coaches, players, referees, volunteers and administrators from junior, school, club and representative levels.

The finalist and winners are listed below:

Gallagher Administrator of the Year

Finalists: Willie Berkers, Robbie Hewitt, John Peel

Winner: Willie Berkers

Grassroots Amateur Referee of the Year

Finalists: Larissa Collingwood, Aaron Paterson, Michael Winter, Ben Woolerton

Winner: Michael Winter

WRU Service to Rugby

Recipients: Jim Barrett, Patrick Harridge, Sean O’Neill, Malcolm Sankey

PIC Women’s Club Player of the Year

Finalists: Ariana Bayler, Natalie Delamere, Karli Faneva,  

Winner: Karli Faneva

Waikato Draught Club Player of the Year

Finalists: Murray Iti, Raniera Takarangi, James Tucker

Winner: Raniera Takarangi

WEL Networks Junior coach of the Year

Finalists: Tony Su’a, Elliott Tiffany, Graham Wallace

Winners: Elliott Tiffany & Graham Wallace

Kukri Secondary School Coach of the Year

Finalists: Will Helu, Nigel Hotham, Sharleen Nathan

Winner: Sharleen Nathan

Grassroots Trust Senior Club Coach of the Year

Finalists: Hutana & Phil Coffin, Honey Hireme, Mark McConnell

Winner: Mark McConnell

Vodafone Club Team of the Year

Finalists: Hamilton Old Boys Senior A, Melville Women’s, Melville Under 85kgs, Morrinsville Sports Colts

Winner: Hamilton Old Boys Senior A

Waikato Draught Club of the Year

Finalists: Hamilton Old Boys, Melville, Morrinsville Sports

Winner: Melville

Kukri Representative Coach of the Year

Finalists: Jono Gibbes, Steve Ketu, Wayne Maxwell

Winner: Jono Gibbes

Hendl & Murray Representative Team of the Year

Finalists: Waikato Farah Palmer Cup, Waikato Mitre 10 Cup, Waikato Men’s Sevens

Winner: Waikato Mitre 10 Cup

University of Waikato Emerging Player of the Year

Winner: Quinn Tupaea

SKYSCITY Hamilton Women’s Representative Player of the Year

Finalists: Chelsea Alley, Ariana Bayler, Tania Kalounivale

Winner: Chelsea Alley

Waikato Draught Mitre 10 Cup Player of the Year

Finalists: Josh Iosefa-Scott, Sevu Reece, Fletcher Smith, Quinn Tupaea

Winner: Fletcher Smith

Emerging Player of the Year - Womens

Finalists: Nyesha Hamilton, Jazmin Hotham, Lonita Ngalu-Lavemai, Calista Wihone

Winner: Jazmin Hotham

Gallagher Sportsperson of the Year

Finalists: Chelsea Alley, Damian McKenzie, Stacey Waaka

Winner: Stacey Waaka

Aaron Hopa Memorial Trophy

Recipient: Kylem O’Donnell

Manatiaki Award

Recipient: Sosoli Talawadua

Ian Clarke Trophy

Recipient: Jono Gibbes

View photos from the evening here:

Article added: Thursday 01 November 2018