New Zealand Sevens coach Gordon Tietjens has been named the New Zealand Rugby Union Coach of the Year.
Tietjens was recognised for guiding his team to a fourth consecutive Commonwealth Games gold medal.
He headed off a field which included All Black coach Graham Henry, New Zealand Under 20s coach Dave Rennie, New Zealand Maori coach Jamie Joseph and Black Ferns coach Brian Evans.
Kieran Read was named the Kelvin R. Tremain Memorial Player of the Year in New Zealand for the first time at the Steinlager Rugby Awards.
Read pipped two of his Crusaders and All Blacks team mates – 2010 IRB Player of the Year, Richie McCaw, and dual international Brad Thorn – to collect the award, which was presented by Pam Tremain and the Prime Minister, the Rt Hon John Key, in Auckland.
In another close contest, the Black Ferns emerged as the adidas Team of the Year after collecting their fourth successive Women’s Rugby World Cup title in England in September.
It was the first time the team has won this prestigious award which was presented by the Minister for Rugby World Cup and Sport and Recreation, the Hon Murray McCully.
Try-scoring sensation Carla Hohepa took the Women’s Player of the Year reflecting her try-scoring exploits for the Black Ferns which had earlier earned her the IRB Women’s Personality of the Year award.
