Border feature strongly in rugby awards

Roman Tutauha was named Steelform Wanganui player of the year at the inaugural Wanganui Rugby awards. Photo/ Bevan Conley

The stars of Wanganui rugby have been acknowledged at the end of what has been a stellar season for the union.

The inaugural Wanganui Rugby Awards were held at the Racecourse on Saturday night.

Border featured heavily among the winners on the back of a successful season, with the premiership title earning them the President's Rosebowl while they also took home the Weekes Cup for overall champion club.

Kaveni Dabenaise picked up best premier club back in what was a 20-try club season while the club's premier team coach Ross Williams picked up coach of the year.

Roman Tutauha was named Steelform Wanganui's player of the year after an outstanding season while Taihape's Tremaine Gilbert was premier club player of the year.

Jaye Flaws also bagged a double with the Wanganui Toyota Development team player of the year and Wanganui men's 7s player of the year.

Award winners:

BEST SENIOR CLUB FORWARD
Steven Karehana (Marton)

BEST SENIOR CLUB BACK
Stu Wright (Ngamatapouri)

SENIOR CLUB PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Reid Belton (Ngamatapouri)

BEST PREMIER CLUB FORWARD
Campbell Hart (Ruapehu)
B
EST PREMIER CLUB BACK
Kaveni Dabenaise (Border)

PREMIER CLUB PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Tremaine Gilbert (Taihape)

CLUB INCENTIVE AWARD - Ruapehu

OVERALL CHAMPION CLUB (Competition points) - Weekes Cup - Border

BEST & FAIREST TEAM (Referee Points) - Gordon Thompson Memorial - Ruapehu Premier Team

PREMIER CHAMPIONSHIP WINNERS - President's Rosebowl - Border

CLUB COACH OF THE YEAR
Ross Williams (Border Premier Team)

REFEREE AWARDS

EMERGING REFEREE - Rakei Hina

REFEREE OF THE YEAR - Ben Lourie

REPRESENTATIVE AWARDS

AG CHALLENGE WANGANUI U16
Team Member of the Year - Tyler Guinea
Player of the Year - Toby Lennox

AIR CHATHAMS WANGANUI U18
Team Member of the Year - Luke Foster
Player of the Year - Dylan Bowater

WANGANUI U18 GIRLS 7'S
Player of the Year - Terri Kingi

NZCT WANGANUI U20
Team Member of the Year - Isaiah Graham-Hooper
Player of the Year - Harerangi Meihana

WHANGANUI MAORI TEAM
Player of the Year - Gabriel Hakaraia

WANGANUI TOYOTA DEVELOPMENT TEAM
Team Member of the Year - Jaye Flaws
Player of the Year - Jack Yarrall

WANGANUI MENS 7'S
Player of the Year - Jaye Flaws

STEELFORM WANGANUI HEARTLAND TEAM
Team Member of the Year - Asalemo Malo
Player of the Year - Roman Tutauha

VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR
Darrell Robinson (Kaierau)