Mils Muliaina. Photo / Dean Purcell

Mils Muliaina. Photo / Dean Purcell

The nominees for this year's Steinlager rugby awards have been announced.

Recognising the Chiefs' first appearance in a Super 14 final, the nominees for the Super 14 Player of the Year include Chiefs captain Mils Muliaina and hooker teammate Aled de Malmanche. They are joined by Hurricanes midfielder Ma'a Nonu.

The Team of the Year nominees are Air New Zealand Cup winners Canterbury, IRB Junior World Championship winners, the New Zealand Under 20 side, and Heartland Championship Meads Cup winners Wanganui.

The nominees for Air New Zealand Cup Player of the Year are Southland lock Josh Bekhuis and new All Blacks Mike Delany from Bay of Plenty and Hawke's Bay flyer Zac Guildford.

A new name is being introduced for the award which annually recognises the great contribution volunteers make to community rugby. The winner of this year's volunteer award will be honoured with the Charles Monro Rugby Volunteer of the Year trophy, named after the man who introduced rugby to New Zealand.

The judges for the awards are former All Blacks captain and former NZRU President Andy Leslie, NZRU Board member and former All Blacks captain Graham Mourie, SKY Sport rugby commentator Grant Nisbett and former All Black and current NZRU General Manager Community and Provincial Union Rugby Brent Anderson.

The ceremony will be held at the SkyCity Convention Centre, Auckland, on Thursday 17 December and broadcast live on SKY Sport and The Rugby Channel.

********
The 2009 Steinlager Rugby Awards nominees

NZRU Age Grade Player of the Year

Sam Cane (Bay of Plenty)
Aaron Cruden (Manawatu)
Zac Guildford (Hawke's Bay)
Winston Stanley (Auckland)

Richard Crawshaw Memorial Sevens Player of the Year

Carla Hohepa (Otago)
Zar Lawrence (Bay of Plenty)
Julian Savea (Wellington)

NZRU Women's Player of the Year

(to be confirmed)

The Charles Monro Rugby Volunteer of the Year

Blair Crawford (Otago)
David Hickey (Auckland)
Peter Te Tai (Southland)

Rebel Sport Super 14 Player of the Year