Iron man Kaino caps stellar rugby year (+ red carpet pics)

Jerome Kaino won the Kelvin R. Tremain Memorial Player of the Year award. Photo / Mark Mitchell

A big year for All Black iron man Jerome Kaino just got bigger.

2011 has brought Kaino a Rugby World Cup winner's medal, marriage, the birth of a son - and last night the 28-year-old was named player of the year at the Steinlager Rugby Awards.

Kaino had been widely tipped for the award, which was a reflection of his stellar World Cup form.

The flanker was not present as he is on his honeymoon after marrying wife Diana in Samoa last month.

But teammate and captain Richie McCaw described Kaino, who played all but 55 seconds of the World Cup campaign, as a "rock".

"He's a soldier. But more than that, he was the guy leading the way with his physicality."

Cameras ringed the lobby of the Langham hotel which was full of men in tuxedos and women in their finest dresses. Prime Minister John Key chatted to McCaw, while former All Black coach Graham Henry put an arm around former NZRU chairman Jock Hobbs.

Hobbs, who is battling leukaemia, was later presented with a special award to mark his outstanding contribution to New Zealand rugby.

He took the stage to a standing ovation to say: "This year's been extraordinary. There have been some personal things, and then finishing the year on the Rugby World Cup.

"I was very determined to get there, even though at times it looked that I may not.

"I'm pleased that I'm here, and I'm pleased that I'm part of it."

Kaino beat McCaw and fellow All Black Ma'a Nonu to be named the Kelvin R. Tremain Memorial Player of the Year.

Henry picked up the Coach of the Year award to store alongside the IRB equivalent he won this year.

He said it gave him satisfaction to know what the World Cup win meant for those at the awards and beyond.

"Quite frankly it's great for the country. There've been some hard times, and it's good to be able to put smiles on people's faces."

McCaw said Henry's retirement as All Black coach would leave a hole.

"But he'll go out on top as a world champion coach, and you can't write a script better than that, really."

The All Blacks were named adidas Team of the Year ahead of Super 14 finalists the Crusaders, ITM Cup champions Canterbury and the New Zealand Sevens team.

The 2011 Investec Super Rugby Player of the Year award went to Crusaders and All Black loosehead prop Wyatt Crockett.

Auckland and Black Ferns forward Fiao'o Fa'amausili won the Women's Player of the Year award.

Bay of Plenty flanker Sam Cane picked up the NZRU Age Grade Player of the Year; Waikato's Tim Mikkelson won the Richard Crawshaw Memorial Sevens Player of the Year; and All Black Piri Weepu was the Tom French Memorial Maori Player of the Year.

Manawatu Turbos and All Black first five-eighths Aaron Cruden was named the ITM Cup Player of the Year.