Canterbury recognised amongst 2023 ASB Rugby Award Nominees

Seven Cantabrians have been nominated for awards in New Zealand Rugby’s ASB Rugby Awards, with recognition stretching across the rugby fraternity, with community, Farah Palmer Cup and NPC members all recognised for their outstanding achievements this season.  

Outstanding individual provincial seasons for University’s Fergus Burke and Linwood’s Laura Bayfield sees them nominated for Duane Monkley Medal (NPC) and Fiao’o Faamausili Medal (FPC) Player of the Year honours.  

Tirelessly working hard for her West Melton community is Club Captain Sharlene Wiseman, who received due recognition in being nominated for the Charles Monro Rugby Volunteer of the Year, while a junior player of West Melton’s, Christchurch’s Lucy Jenkins, has been nominated for Super Rugby Aupiki Player of the Year, with her Matatū campaign seeing the side secure their maiden title and her own maiden Black Ferns call up. 

NPC captain and proud New Brighton man Billy Harmon (Ngāi Tahu) has been nominated for the Tom French Memorial Māori Player of the Year recognising his own superb season of leadership on the field, while for the teams in black, Christchurch’s Amy Du Plessis and HSOB’s Jorja Miller have been nominated for Black Ferns and Black Ferns 7’s Player of the Year respectively, as both had stellar seasons representing our country and province at the highest level.  

2023 ASB Rugby Award Canterbury nominees:

Charles Monro Rugby Volunteer of the Year
Chris Fife (Northland)
John Hume (Counties Manukau)
Sharlene Wiseman (Canterbury)
Allen Grainger (Waikato)

Duane Monkley Medal (Bunnings Warehouse NPC Player of the Year)
Etene Nanai-Seturo (Counties Manukau)
Adrian Choat (Auckland)
Fergus Burke (Canterbury)
Timoci Tavatavanawai (Tasman)

Fiao’o Faamausili Medal (FPC presented by Bunnings Warehouse Player of the Year)
Krysten Cottrell (Hawke’s Bay)
Laura Bayfield (Canterbury)
Kaipo Olsen-Baker (Manawatu)

Sky Super Rugby Aupiki Player of the Year
Renee Holmes (Matatū)
Lucy Jenkins (Matatū)
Luka Connor (Chiefs Manawa)
Tanya Kalounivale (Chiefs Manawa)

Tom French Memorial Māori Player of the Year
Aaron Smith (Ngāti Kahungunu, Manawatu)
Billy Harmon (Ngāi Tahu)
Stacey Waaka (Ngāi Tūhoe)
Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu (Nga Puhi, Ngai Tahuhu)

Black Ferns Sevens Player of the Year
Jorja Miller
Stacey Waaka
Risaleaana Pouri-Lane

Black Ferns Player of the Year
Maiakawanakaulani Roos
Liana Mikaele-Tu’u
Amy Du Plessis