Rugby: All Blacks sweep nominations

Brodie Retallick will be looking to receive yet another accolade. Photo / Getty

After a successful season in which they retained their No 1 world ranking for the fifth consecutive year, the All Blacks unsurprisingly dominate the nominations for the 2014 Steinlager Rugby Awards.

The All Blacks are nominated for the team of the year and Steve Hansen is in line for coach of the year, while Richie McCaw, Brodie Retallick and Aaron Smith will battle it out for the Kelvin R Tremain Memorial player of the year award.

Under Hansen's guidance the All Blacks equalled the record of 17 consecutive victories by a major nation, secured a clean sweep in the June series against England, won the Bledisloe Cup for a 12th year in a row, claimed a third successive Rugby Championship title and returned home undefeated from their northern tour.

Their success was recognised earlier this week by their international peers, when the All Blacks were named world rugby team of the year, while Hansen took out the coach title and Retallick; won player of the year.

Faced with the unenviable task for edging the All Blacks for team of the year are the Auckland Storm, who picked up their seventh straight women's provincial championship title, and this year's ITM Cup victors Manawatu and Taranaki.

Taranaki's fairytale win of their first Premiership title, coupled with the Maori All Blacks' successful two-match tour of Japan, sees Colin Cooper receive a nod for coach of the year, while Tasman coach Kieran Keane is also recognised for propelling the Makos into their first Premiership final.

2014 Steinlager Rugby Awards nominations

New Zealand Rugby Age Grade Player of the Year
Mitchell Karpik
Damian McKenzie
Sio Tomkinson

New Zealand Rugby Referee of the Year
Jessica Beard
Nick Briant
Glen Jackson

Heartland Championship Player of the Year
Josh Clark
James Lash
Gary Redmond

New Zealand Rugby Women's Sevens Player of the Year
Sarah Goss
Kayla McAlister
Tyla Nathan-Wong

Richard Crawshaw Memorial Sevens Player of the Year
Scott Curry
DJ Forbes
Tim Mikkelson

Fans' Try of the Year
Beauden Barrett; Hurricanes v Highlanders
Malakai Fekitoa; Sharks v Highlanders
Alapati Leiua; Crusaders v Hurricanes

ITM Cup Player of the Year
Shane Christie
Nehe Milner-Skudder
Seta Tamanivalu

Super Rugby Player of the Year
Jerome Kaino
Nemani Nadolo
Brodie Retallick

Tom French Memorial Maori Player of the Year
Liam Messam
Charlie Ngatai
Aaron Smith

New Zealand Rugby Women's Player of the Year
Rawinia Everitt
Fiao'o Fa'amausili
Amiria Rule

New Zealand Rugby Coach of the Year
Colin Cooper
Steve Hansen
Kieran Keane

Team of the Year
All Blacks
Auckland Storm
Manawatu
Taranaki

Kelvin R Tremain Memorial Player of the Year
Richie McCaw
Brodie Retallick
Aaron Smith