Braid named rugby player of the year

Sunday Star-Times

OUTFLANKING: Auckland flanker Daniel Braid has pciked up the supreme prize at the 2007 New Zealand rugby awards.

Relevant offers

Current All Blacks were notable for their absence as Auckland flanker Daniel Braid won the supreme prize at the 2007 New Zealand rugby awards in Auckland tonight.

Braid was rewarded for a consistent season with Air NZ Cup champions Auckland, Super 14 semifinalists the Blues and the Junior All Blacks.

The 26-year-old, who was presented with the Kelvin R Tremain Trophy at the end of the awards show, was earlier named Maori player of the year.

He headed off provincial teammate Isa Nacewa and All Blacks No 8 Rodney So'oialo for the major award.

The All Blacks' rugby World Cup quarterfinal failure meant they were never likely to make a trek to the podium tonight.

Team of the year was Auckland and their flamboyant first five-eighth Nacewa was named player of the Air NZ Cup.

Super 14 player of the year was nuggety Highlanders halfback Jimmy Cowan while hard-working North Otago flanker Ross Hay won the Heartland championship player of the year.

Peter Russell was coach of the year, acknowledged for guiding an unheralded Hawke's Bay to the semifinals of the Air NZ Cup.

One of Russell's emerging stars, winger Zac Guildford, was named age grade player of the year for his performance with the world champion national under-19 side..

The New Zealand sevens team also claimed the world title and their captain DJ Forbes was named sevens player of the year.

It was fourth time lucky for lock Victoria Heighway, who had been nominated three times previously for women's player of the year and finally snared the silverware tonight.

Referee of the year went to Steve Walsh, who controlled the World Cup semifinal between South Africa and Argentina.

A special presentation was made to former All Blacks manager and long-time Auckland and New Zealand Rugby Union administrator Ron Don, for his outstanding contribution to the sport.

The awards judges were NZRU president John Graham, board member Paul Quinn, television commentator Grant Nisbett, journalist Bob Howitt and NZRU professional rugby manager Neil Sorensen.

Braid said it was an honour to have won the player of the year award given the amount of rugby talent in New Zealand.

"Look at the guys who have won in the last few years such as Daniel Carter, (All Blacks skipper Richie) McCaw, real superstars - it's a great honour.

"This year has been great for myself and the teams I have played (Auckland, the Blues and New Zealand A) in have done exceedingly well."

He attributed his improved performances this year to taking a different approach to his openside flanker role and taking more of a leadership role in his teams.

As well, he had added a bit more weight to his frame to withstand the heavier demands on his position for ball winning.

The winners of the 2007 New Zealand rugby awards are:

Age grade player of the year: Zac Guildford (New Zealand under-19).

Richard Crawshaw Memorial sevens player of the year: DJ Forbes (Auckland)

Referee of the year: Steve Walsh (North Harbour).

Women's player of the year: Victoria Heighway (Auckland).

Volunteer of the year: Robbie Ball (Northland).

Super 14 player of the year: Jimmy Cowan (Highlanders)

Team of the year: Auckland.

Tom French memorial Maori player of the year: Daniel Braid.

Heartland Championship player of the year: Ross Hay (North Otago).

Air New Zealand Cup player of the year: Isa Nacewa (Auckland).

Coach of the year: Peter Russell (Hawke's Bay).

Outstanding contribution to New Zealand rugby: Ron Don

Kelvin R Tremain Memorial player of the year: Daniel Braid (Blues, Junior All Blacks, Auckland).

-NZPA