Canterbury Rugby Awards - Episode 2 Representative Winners

In Episode 2 of the End of Season Awards, we celebrated our representative winners, following another successful season for our Canterbury representative sides.

Women’s U18 Player of the Year – Loren Edwards (HSOB/CGHS) 

Loren Edwards is an exciting up and coming tighthead prop, who has played an important role in the success of her school, club and the Canterbury U18 Red side she represented in the representative season.  

Loren has gone from strength to strength this season, and has also played an important role of the field, continuously looking to help her teammates and improve her own game. We can’t wait to see Loren continue her progression on the rugby field in the future!  

Dennis Young U19 Player of the Year – Johnny Lee (Lincoln University) 

The Dennis Young U19 Player of the Year for 2022 is Lincoln University’s Johnny Lee. Formally of Christ’s College, Johnny has led by example in everything he does, and has embodied everything that comes with being a Canterbury representative.  

Wearing the famous red and black number 7, Johnny was honoured to be awarded this year’s cup, “It’s pretty surreal, just hearing some of those big names that have won this trophy before, it’s pretty cool to see my name as a part of that now too.” 

FPC Development Player of the Year – Samantha Spence (University of Canterbury) 

University’s Samantha Spence is the deserved winner of the FPC Development Player of the Year. Playing a key role in the Development side, Samantha impressed throughout games and trainings, eventually earning herself her Canterbury debut against Manawatu in the team’s successful Farah Palmer Cup campaign.  

“It’s pretty cool for me, especially as it’s my first year down in Canterbury” said Spence, “It’s felt like all the walls have fallen down, and now I’ve got the ball and running with it!” 

Stan “Tiny” Hill Men’s B Player of the Year – Mitch Gibson (HSOB) 

The Men’s B Player of the Year is HSOB’s Mitch Gibson. Named after “Tiny” Hill, Mitch embodies all the aspects once shown by the great man, and has performed amicably during Canterbury’s B campaign, leading the side as captains and letting his actions on the field do the talking.  

“Being a part of a team like (Canterbury B) is pretty special” said Gibson. “We had a great range in the team with the youth....and the older heads which was pretty cool.”

“It was great to get a little taste of NPC last year, and that’s the goal for me, to get myself back in the NPC arena and showcase myself there.” 

Māori Player of the Year – Billy Harmon (New Brighton) 

NPC captain Billy Harmon is this year’s Māori Player of the Year, a cherry on top for what has been a special season for the New Brighton boy, who has since also received his first All Blacks call up following selection in the All Blacks XV side.  

Billy has not only been in mercurial form, he has also demonstrated a number of the core values that play a key role for Waitaha, and has also incorporating Te Reo Māori into his post match interviews this season.  

Starting his representative journey with Waitaha, winning this year’s reward is special for Billy, following in the footsteps of older brother Louis, who is a past recipient of the award. 

“I didn’t really come through the age grades team, and my first representative break was with Waitaha” said Harmon.  

“To be rewarded with this taonga is pretty awesome, and to win the same award as Louis is pretty special.”