Jerome and Diana Kaino, Hannah Laity and Beauden Barrett. Photo / Norrie Montgomery.
Jerome and Diana Kaino, Hannah Laity and Beauden Barrett. Photo / Norrie Montgomery.
The trophy cabinet at New Zealand Rugby's HQ will be heaving after the men in black - and their coach - scored big at the Halberg Awards.
At a star-studded ceremony in Auckland, the All Blacks were crowned team of the year and won the overall Supreme Halberg Award.
CoachSteve Hansen was named coach of the year.
Tash Marshall and Steve Hansen. Photo / Norrie Montgomery
Stars of the 2015 Rugby World Cup-winning team - including Richie McCaw, Jerome Kaino, Keven Mealamu and Beauden Barrett - helped light up the night. Kaino, Mealamu and Barrett were accompanied by their partners, Diana Kaino, Latai Mealamu and Hannah Laity, McCaw attended on his own as his fiancee Gemma Flynn had training commitments with the Black Sticks.
But 24 hours earlier Flynn was by McCaw's side as he was crowned Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year.
In receiving the All Blacks' trio of Halberg Awards, Hansen thanked the men in black's wives and partners for their special contribution to a stunning 2015. His partner, Tash Marshall, was with him to celebrate.
One of the biggest receptions of the night was reserved for retiring Black Caps legend Brendon McCullum. The cricketing great - who is playing his last international game in the second test against Australia this weekend - and his wife, Ellissa. They made a stunning couple on the red carpet.
Even McCaw, a not-too-shabby captain himself, was among McCullum's fans, saying he admired the cricketer's leadership skills.
Brendon McCullum and Ellissa McCullum. Photo / Dean Purcell.
Also looking-super fab on the red carpet was McCullum's likely replacement as captain, Kane Williamson, and his stunning partner, Sarah Raheem.
Williamson capped a great 12 months by winning the sportsman of the year award.
Kane Williamson and Sarah Raheem.
It was a treat for Spy to rub shoulders with many of New Zealand's sporting elite. Over the past year we've toasted their many successes in their respective sporting arenas. And on Thursday we certainly toasted their fashion successes on the red carpet.
Spy's red carpet-winning couple were Barrett and the stunning Laity, wearing a red Trish Peng gown.
Blair Tuke and Peter Burling at the Halberg Awards. Photo / Instagram
And yachting super-stars Blair Tuke and Peter Burling may have lost out to the All Blacks in the team of the year category, but they certainly got our "Most Dapper Award".
