Otago coaches Mark Brown and Matt Direen are finalists for the national men’s coach of the year and national women’s coach of the year, respectively.
Direen led the Spirit to victory in the second-tier Championship. They played some sparkling rugby and are finalists for the women’s national team of the year.
Brown had a golden first year with Otago. Under his watch, they wrestled the Ranfurly Shield from Canterbury and have secured it for the summer.
Otago also made the final of the NPC for the first time since 2005 but were beaten by Canterbury.
Star Otago halfback, Dylan Pledger, who was such a key member of the Otago squad, is a contender for New Zealand age-grade player of the year.
World Rugby’s breakthrough men’s player of the year and Otago’s favourite Dutch-born lock Fabian Holland has been named as a finalist for All Black of the year.
And Otago referee James Doleman is up for New Zealand referee of the year.
The winners will be announced on December 11.
There will be some stiff competition for the Otago contingent.
Crusaders coach Rob Penney shapes as the favourite for the national men’s coach of the year, while Canterbury coach Marty Bourke got one up on Brown during the NPC final.
Direen has some tough competition in national women’s coach of the year category in Waikato coach Reuben Samuel and Blues coach Willie Walker.
The Spirit are also up against Waikato and the Blues.
Pledger is up against two other exciting young talents in Oli Mathis (Waikato) and Braxton Sorensen-McGee (Auckland), who made a big splash on a global stage.
Sorensen-McGee and fellow Black Ferns Portia Woodman-Wickliffe and Amy du Plessis (Matatū) are finalists for the Super Rugby Aupiki player of the year.
In the men’s competition, Hurricanes flanker Du’Plessis Kirifi, Will Jordan (Crusaders) and Moana Pasifika captain Ardie Savea are nominated for Super Rugby Pacific player of the year.
Savea also features as a nominee for All Blacks player of the year, alongside Cam Roigard, Quinn Tupaea and Holland.
Four players are in consideration for Black Ferns player of the year: Sorensen-McGee, Jorja Miller, Georgia Ponsonby and last year’s winner, Kaipo Olsen-Baker.
Dylan Collier, Tone Ng Shu and Frank Vaenuku are in the running for the All Blacks Sevens player of the year, with Michaela Brake, Risi Pouri-Lane and Miller receiving the nod for Black Ferns sevens player of the year.
Woodman-Wickliffe earns a second nomination in the Tom French Memorial Māori player of the year category, alongside Māori All Blacks captain Kurt Eklund and Quinn Tupaea.
The finalists this year are Maggie Cogger-Orr (Auckland), Ben O’Keeffe (North Harbour) and Doleman.
The Kelvin R. Tremain Memorial player of the year will be awarded to one of the winners of the major player of the year categories.
