Bay of Plenty Rugby has celebrated the success, efforts and achievements of its players, coaches, referees and volunteers.
The 2017 Carrus Bay of Plenty Rugby Awards evening was held at the ASB Stadium Lounge last nightin front of a large audience of teammates, family, supporters and sponsors.
Te Puke Sports and Recreation Club's Deborah Keenleyside and Ashley Peat collected the Carrus Bay of Plenty Rugby Supreme Award. Keenleyside and Peat, life members of the club, have completed a term of 21 continuous years in their respective positions as president and club administrator.
Black Ferns and Black Ferns Sevens player Kelly Brazier was voted the Tauranga City Council Sports Person of the year. She was a valuable member of the successful Black Ferns Rugby World Cup campaign and an integral member of the Black Ferns Sevens team.
In continuation of women's success the HOBEC Representative Coach of the Year was awarded to Bay of Plenty Sevens coach Victoria Grant. Recently appointed to the New Zealand Under-17 Sevens coaching position, Grant had delivered a successful 2016/17 sevens campaign to see her side finish a commendable fifth at the Bayleys National Sevens.
The Bay of Plenty Volcanix's confirmation in the Mitre 10 Farah Palmer Cup Championship Final secured the team the Staples Rodway Representative Team of the Year. Having only won one game in the past two seasons the side have drawn with Premiership side Auckland and delivered wins against all their Championship opponents, securing themselves a home final, a first for the side.
Tom Franklin was the standout for the Steamers collecting the Rotorua Central Mall Steamers Player of the Year alongside the Seeka Steamers Players Player and the McFall Steamers Forward of the Year.
The Bayleys Steamers Back of the Year went to elusive winger Monty Ioane, while the BNZ Steamers Rookie of the Year was presented to consistent halfback Richard Judd. Crowd favourite Mike Delany was awarded the Farmer Autovillage Fan FAV.
Elijah Nicholas was presented the Vodafone Community Service award for his contribution to making a change among young men within the community with his Man Up initiative. Fellow teammate Aidan Ross and Volcanix player Julia Buescher were also commended for their services jointly receiving the Highly Commended award.
Two new awards for the Bay of Plenty Volcanix were introduced, the Four Winds Forward and Back of the Year, with co-captain Christie Yule and skilful winger Autumn-Rain Stephens-Daly worthy recipients. The Harvey Norman Volcanix Player of the Year was awarded to co-captain Kaci James.
The Distinction Hotels Men's Sevens Player of the Year and Harvey Norman Women's Sevens Player of the Year respectively went to All Black Sevens player Regan Ware and this year's World Sevens top try scorer Michaela Blyde.
Te Waiariki Tane were presented again with the Te Hiku o te Ika Tournament trophy after a comprehensive victory over North Harbour to claim the title last weekend in Rotorua. Whakataki Cunningham also received the Te Hiku o te Ika Player of the Tournament trophy, while Peter Smith was awarded Highly commended Player of the Year and William Warbrick Te Waiariki Player of the Year.
The Vodafone Men's and Women's players of the year were awarded to Rotoiti's Baden Wardlaw and Whakarewarewa's Kaci James respectively. Waikite Women's Premier side collected the Page Macrae Engineering Club Team of the Year, after the team successfully secured the Baywide Women's Club Rugby title for 2017.
Toi Ohomai Secondary Schools Programme of the Year was presented to Rotorua Girls' High School and Bethlehem Coachlines Secondary School Coach of the Year was Steve Orr of John Paul College.
Vodafone Service to Sport Awards saw five volunteers awarded for their services within the rugby community. These worthy recipients included supreme award winners Deborah Keenleyside and Ashley Peat, Judea's Gary Lonergan, Mark Edmonds and Mount Maunganui Sport's Matt Welsh.
Vodafone Club Coach of the Year was awarded to Mount Maunganui's Premier winning coach Rodney Voullaire following his sides Baywide Premier Club Rugby winning performance for the 2017 title.
2017 Carrus Bay of Plenty Rugby Awards
Community Awards:
Vodafone Service to Sport
Gary Lonergan - Judea Rugby Club, Ashley Peat & Deborah Keenleyside - Te Puke Sports and Recreation Club, Mark White Edmonds QSM - Rotorua Girls' High School, Rangiuru, Bay of Plenty Under-18s and Matt Welsh - Mount Maunganui Sports
Secondary School Awards:
Toi Ohomai Secondary School Programme of the Year: Rotorua Girls' High School
Bethlehem Coachlines Secondary School Coach of the Year: Steve Orr (John Paul College)
Club Awards:
Craig's Investment Partners Administrator of the Year: Jodi Hepburn and Debra Mikaere - Whakarewarewa JAB
Vodafone Female Club Player of the Year: Kaci James - Whakarewarewa
Vodafone Male Club Player of the Year: Baden Wardlaw: Rotoiti
Page Macrae Club Team of the Year: Waikite Women's
Cooney Lees Morgan Club Coach of the Year: Rodney Voullaire - Mount Maunganui Sports
Cooney Lees Morgan Highly Commended Club Team of the Year: Edgecumbe Rugby Club
Cooney Lees Morgan Club of the Year: Arataki
Referee Awards:
Lawrence Award Best Premier Referee as voted by the Premier Team Coaches: Jamie Bell
Martin Toe Shield-Best Referee as voted by the Referee Coaches: Jamie Bell
Bill Sparks Memorial Award-Best Assistant Referee as voted by the Premier Referees: Cameron Russell
Allan Oates Memorial Trophy-Best Referee Coach as voted by the referees: Pat Rae and John Donnelly
John Cormack Trophy for Most Improved Referee: Nick Burton
George Woodroffe Trophy for highest exam result: Ryan Waite and Cameron Russell
Flays Cup-Best Referee up to Division 1: If Seumanutafa
Representative Awards:
Rotorua Lakes Council Bay of Plenty Pasifika Player of the Year: Joe Toai-Key
Te Hiku o te Ika Team of the Tournament Trophy: Te Warariki Tane
Te Hiku o te Ika Tournament Player of the Year: Whakataki Cunningham
Te Waiariki Highly Commended Player of the Year: Peter Smith
Te Waiariki Player of the Year: William Warbrick
New Zealand Community Trust 2017 Under-16 Player of the Year: Kahi Borrel
NZCT Under 18 Male Player of the Year: Bailey Williams
Body in Motion Under 19 Player of the Year: Stan Van Den Hoven
Bethlehem Coachlines Bay of Plenty Under-18 Female Player of the Year: Tynealle Fitzgerald
Harvey Norman Women's Sevens Player of the Year: Michaela Blyde
Distinction Hotel Men's Sevens Player of the Year: Regan Ware
Four Winds Foundation Volcanix Forward of the Year: Christie Yule
Four Winds Foundation Volcanix Back of the Year: Autumn-Rain Stephens-Daly
Harvey Norman Volcanix Player of the Year: Kaci James
Farmer Autovillage Fan Favourite: Mike Delany
McFall Fuel Steamers Forward of the Year: Tom Franklin
Bayleys Steamers Back of the Year: Monty Ioane
Steamers Rookie of the Year: Richard Judd
Seeka Steamers Players Player Award: Tom Franklin
Rotorua Central Mall Steamers Player of the Year: Tom Franklin
Highly Commended Vodafone Community Player Award: Julia Buescher and Aidan Ross
Vodafone Award for Player Community Service: Elijah Nicholas
WASPS Emerging Representative Player of the Year: Tynealle Fitzgerald
Staples Rodway 2017 Representative Team of the Year: Volcanix
HOBEC Representative Coach of the Year: Victoria Grant
Tauranga City Council Sports Person of the Year Award: Kelly Brazier
Carrus Supreme Award: Ashley Peat & Deborah Keenleyside - Te Puke Sports and Recreation