Auckland's rugby community gathered in style at the prestigious 2023 Auckland Rugby Union Awards night, a celebration of the city's finest talent, dedication, and contributions to the sport. The evening was filled with anticipation and excitement as some of the most accomplished athletes and unsung heroes were recognized for their outstanding achievements during the Bunnings NPC and Farah Palmer Cup (FPC) seasons.

The Pinnacle of Excellence - Sir Fred Allen Supreme Award

Eloise Blackwell's remarkable contributions to the sport earned her the esteemed Sir Fred Allen Supreme Award. Blackwell's leadership, skill, and unwavering commitment on and off the field have made her a true icon of Auckland rugby.

Bunnings NPC Excellence

Bunnings NPC Player of the Year

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck:

Tuivasa-Sheck's exceptional performances throughout the Bunnings NPC season were undeniable. His skill, speed, and rugby IQ set him apart as a standout player in the competition.

Bunnings NPC Defensive Player of the Year

Adrian Choat:

Choat's tenacity and ability to disrupt opposing teams' attacks made him the Defensive Player of the Year. His relentless work rate was a crucial asset for Auckland.

Bunnings NPC Team Man of the Year

Angus Ta’avao:

Ta’avao's selflessness and dedication to the team's success earned him the Team Man of the Year award. His leadership and spirit epitomized the Auckland way of rugby.

Auckland Rugby Union Supports Club 2023 Bunnings NPC Player of the Year

Adrian Choat

Choat's exceptional season continued to be celebrated with this award, recognizing his pivotal role in Auckland's campaign.

Auckland Rugby Union Supports Club 2023 Bunnings NPC Development Player of the Year

Josh Beehre:

Beehre's growth and potential were evident, making him the Development Player of the Year.

Bunnings FPC Brilliance

Bunnings FPC Player of the Year

Chryss Viliko:

Viliko's outstanding performances for the FPC side earned her Player of the Year honours. Her skill and determination were instrumental in Auckland's success.

Bunnings FPC Most Promising Player of the Year

Braxton Sorenson-McGee:

Sorenson-McGee's emergence as a promising talent was duly recognized, making her the Most Promising Player of the Year.

Bunnings FPC Players' Player of the Year

Jessica Dermody:

Dermody's teammates recognized her invaluable contributions, naming her Players' Player of the Year.

Auckland Rugby Union Supports Club 2023 Bunnings FPC - The Auckland Way Award

Eloise Blackwell:

Blackwell's dedication to the Auckland way of rugby was further celebrated with this award.

Emerging Talent

2023 Auckland Thunder Player of the Year

Kaselle Main:

Main's exceptional talent and impact on the Thunder team were acknowledged with this award.

2023 Auckland Bs Player of the Year

Sam Hainsworth-Faafo:

Hainsworth-Faafo's outstanding performances for the B’s team earned him Player of the Year honors.

2023 Auckland U19s Player of the Year

Xavi Taele:

Taele's potential as a future star of Auckland rugby was evident, making him the U19s Player of the Year.

2023 Auckland U85kg Player of the Year

Eamon Reily:

Reily's skill and contributions to the U85kg team earned him Player of the Year recognition.

Club Heroes

2023 Men's Club Player of the Year

Faletoi Peni (Manukau Rovers Rugby Club):

Peni's outstanding performances for his club team were recognized with this prestigious award.

2023 Women's Club Player of the Year

Mel Puckett (College Rifles Rugby Club):

Puckett's dedication to her club team and her outstanding skills on the field made her the Women's Club Player of the Year.

2023 Women's Premier Club Rookie of the Year

Gillian Fa’aumu (College Rifles Rugby Club):

Fa’aumu's promising start to her Premier Club career was celebrated with this award.

2023 Men's Club Rookie of the Year

Xavier Tito-Harris (Manukau Rovers Rugby Club):

Tito-Harris's emergence as a talented newcomer in the club scene earned him Rookie of the Year honors.

2023 Best and Fairest Club Player

Te Ariki Te Puni (Auckland University Rugby Football Club):

Te Puni's sportsmanship and consistent excellence on the field made him the Best and Fairest Club Player.

2023 Club Referee of the Year

Rob Harman:

Harman's dedication to officiating and ensuring fair play was recognized with the Club Referee of the Year award.

2023 Premier Club Coach of the Year

Doug Sanft (Manukau Rovers Rugby Club):

Sanft's coaching prowess and leadership were celebrated with this esteemed award after guiding Manukau to back-to-back Gallaher shield titles

2023 Most Promising Club Coach of the Year

Sani Sanileva (Pakuranga Rugby Club):

Sanileva's potential as a future coaching star was recognized with this award after leading the Pakuranga Undert 21s team to an undefeated title.

Leading the Scoreboard

2023 Top Premier Women's Points Scorer

Sylvia Brunt (Ponsonby Rugby Club):

Brunt's precision kicking and scoring ability made her the top points scorer among women in Premier Club Rugby.

2023 Top Premier Men's Points Scorer

Faletoi Peni (Manukau Rovers Rugby Club):

Peni's remarkable scoring ability earned him the top points scorer title among men in Premier Club Rugby.

2023 Top Premier Women's Try Scorer

Lucia Bolton (College Rifles):

Bolton's speed and try-scoring prowess made her the top try scorer among women in Premier Club Rugby.

2023 Top Premier Men's Try Scorer

Joe Royal (Ponsonby):

Royal's try-scoring ability earned him the top try scorer title among men in Premier Club Rugby.

2023 George Whyte Kicking Trophy - The most points from goal kicking in Premier Club Rugby

Faletoi Peni (Manukau Rovers Rugby Club:

Peni's accurate goal-kicking made him the recipient of the George Whyte Kicking Trophy. Kicking 106 points from the tee. 50 conversions & 2 penalties.

Contributions Beyond the Field

The Ash Edwards Memorial Trophy for Contribution to Auckland Rugby

Don Urquhart (Waitakere City Rugby Club):

Urquhart's significant contributions to the Auckland rugby community, specifically the Waitakere rugby community were honored with this prestigious award.

The Barrie Connell Memorial Trophy for the “Volunteer Club Administrator of the Year”

Craig Cunningham (College Rifles), James (Jimbo) Bailey (Waiheke Rugby Club) & Duana Upchurch (Waiheke Rugby Club):

Cunningham, Bailey and Upchurch's dedication to club administration made them the deserving recipients of this trophy. James has been with Waiheke for 8 years and is an integral part of Waiheke Island Rugby Club.

The Silver Football - Club with the best average Championship points across all grades

Manukau Rovers Rugby Club:

Manukau Rovers Rugby Club's outstanding performance across all grades earned them this prestigious award. Back-to-back Premier titles, runners-up in the Premier Development final and Semi-Finalists in the Under 21s grade.

The 2023 Jordan Rose Bowl - The highest standards in event management, sideline behaviour, on-field discipline, and match official support

Pakuranga Rugby Club:

Pakuranga Rugby Club's commitment to excellence both on and off the field earned them the Jordan Rose Bowl.

The Southland Shield - The best average championship points over the U21 & Restricted 85 grades

Pakuranga Rugby Club:

Pakuranga Rugby Club's success across multiple grades was recognized with the Southland Shield. Their Under 21s winning claiming an unbeaten title and their Black Panthers Under 85kg team finishing runners-up in the Under 85 Final.

The 2023 Auckland Rugby Union Awards night was an unforgettable celebration of rugby excellence and community spirit. Congratulations to all the winners and nominees for their remarkable contributions to the sport, and may Auckland rugby continue to thrive in the years to come.

Article added: Tuesday 03 October 2023