Inspirational Ardie Savea named New Zealand rugby’s premier performer for 2025

Thursday, 11 December 2025

All Blacks loose forward Ardie Savea has been named New Zealand rugby’s supreme performer for 2025.

Awesome Ardie Savea’s dominant rugby year from go to whoa has been rewarded with the supreme prize at the New Zealand rugby awards.

The 32-year-old Moana Pasifika and All Blacks loose forward won a trio of gongs at the annual awards unveiled on Thursday night, being named Super Rugby Pacific and All Blacks player of the year, and adding the Kelvin R Tremain memorial prize for the game’s supreme performer.

It was a rightful recognition of the now 106-test All Black who, quite simply, never has a bad game, and invariably performs at the very highest level. He was at his inspirational best throughout his first season for Moana as he led the club to a record six victories, including historic upsets of crosstown rivals the Blues and eventual champions the Crusaders.

He then went on to be a consistent and influential presence at No 7 for the All Blacks, featuring in 12 of their 13 tests during their 10-3 season. Savea remains, head and shoulders, the premier performer in the New Zealand game and arguably the All Blacks’ only genuine world XV player, and his awards suitably reflect that.

Savea pipped national team-mates Fabian Holland, Cam Roigard and Quinn Tupaea for the All Blacks award.

“Ardie has a level of consistency that is unmatched, and his three awards tonight demonstrate that,” said departing NZ Rugby chief executive Mark Robinson. “He keeps raising the bar for what’s possible on an individual level, and brings his inspirational leadership to every environment. He is massively respected domestically and internationally.”

Teenage sensation Braxton Sorenson-McGee grabbed two prizes at the New Zealand rugby awards.

It was also an outstanding night for teenage women’s sensation Braxton Sorensen-McGee, following her anointment as World Rugby’s women’s XVs breakthrough player of the year. The 19-year-old was named Black Ferns and New Zealand age-grade player of the year, though was pipped as Super Rugby Aupiki’s standout performer by her veteran Blues team-mate Portia Woodman-Wickliffe who was also, for the first time in her storied career, awarded Tom French Memorial Māori player of the year.

The Black Ferns sevens and coach Cory Sweeney also had plenty to celebrate, retaining the New Zealand team and coach of the year awards they won last year. It was Sweeney’s sixth time named as the country’s top coach.

Jorja Miller added Black Ferns sevens player of the year to her World Rugby title, while new captain Tone Ng Shiu won the men’s equivalent. The late Luke Crawford, former Māori All Blacks Kaumatua and NZR’s Kaihautū Māori, was honoured as the Steinlager Salver recipient. Crawford, who passed away suddenly in December 2024, was recognised for his service to ensuring te reo and te ao Māori were accurately represented in rugby spaces.

Former international players Sam Whitelock and Les Elder were honoured with the NZRPA Kirk Award, for their long tenures on the NZRPA board, while Rob Penney and Willie Walker were named national coaches of the year, while their championship-winning teams, the Crusaders and Blues, took the team prizes.

After taking control of a Rugby World Cup semifinal, Maggie Cogger-Orr was named New Zealand referee of the year for the first time.

NZ Rugby Awards winners:

Fans try of year: Matt Fleming (Westlake Boys High School). Steinlager Salver: Luke Crawford. NZRPA Kirk award: Sam Whitelock, Les Elder. Super Rugby Pacific player of year: Ardie Savea (Moana Pasifika). Super Rugby Aupiki player of year: Portia Woodman-Wickliffe (Blues). Richard Crawshaw Memorial All Blacks sevens player of year: Tone Ng Shiu. Black Ferns sevens player of year: Jorja Miller. Age-grade player of year: Braxton Sorensen-McGee (Auckland). Club of year: Waimate Rugby Football Club (South Canterbury). Charles Monro volunteer of year: Jodi Taylor (Strath Taieri Rugby Club, Otago). Te Hāpai community impact award: Peter Hastings (Bay of Plenty). Duane Monkley Medal (NPC player of year): Josh Jacomb (Taranaki). Fiao’o Faamausili Medal (Farah Palmer Cup player of year): Taufa Bason (Auckland). Ian Kirkpatrick Medal (Heartland Championship player of year): Keanu Taumata (Poverty Bay). Referee of year: Maggie Cogger-Orr (Auckland). National men’s coach of year: Rob Penney (Crusaders). National men's team of year: Crusaders. National women’s coach of year: Willie Walker (Blues). National women's team of year: Blues. New Zealand coach of year: Cory Sweeney. New Zealand team of year: Black Ferns sevens. Tom French Memorial Māori player of year: Portia Woodman-Wickliffe (Ngāpuhi/Ngāti Kahu ki Whaingaroa/Ngāti Porou). All Blacks player of year: Ardie Savea. Black Ferns player of year: Braxton Sorensen-McGee. **Kelvin R Tremain Memorial *player of year:*** Ardie Savea.