Finalists announced for 2018 Community Rugby Awards
The finalists for the 2018 Wellington Rugby Football Union Community Rugby Awards have been announced.
The awards, which will be held on Wednesday, September 19, are a great opportunity to celebrate and recognise those involved in our community game at junior and senior levels.
It is the second year the awards, which recognise players, teams, referees and volunteers, have been held after it was decided to separate the community and representative parts of the game in Wellington.
In all, 15 awards will be presented, including the club team and club coach of the year.
The awards are also the right time to recognise some of the many outstanding volunteers we have in the game - both at junior and senior level.
Following that the prestigious Wellington Rugby Football Union Lifetime Contribution Salver will be presented.
The 2018 WRFU Community Rugby Awards finalists are:
Referee of the Year: Richard Gordon, Nick Hogan, Vincent Ringrose
Junior Rugby Volunteer of the Year: Lucy Barry (Wellington), Malcolm Gibbs (Poneke), Craig McFarlane (Upper Hutt Rams)
Club Community Award in conjunction with the NZ Amateur Sports Association: Johnsonville, Oriental-Rongotai, Paremata-Plimmerton
Senior Rugby Volunteer of the Year: Ian Cuff (Old Boys University), Glenn Kennedy (Avalon), Walker Manaena (Wellington)
Club Coach of the Year: Gerard Faasavalu (Northern United Premier), Makea Pokere (Avalon Under 85kg), Matt Poutoa (Northern United Women), Jamie Williams (Old Boys University)
Club Team of the Year: Hutt Old Boys Marist Barbarians, Marist St Pats Premier Reserve, Northern United Premier, Northern United Women, Old Boys University Premier
Age Grade Player of the Year: Nick Apikatoa (Hutt Old Boys Marist), Caleb Delaney (Old Boys University), Denzel Leota (Northern United)
Women's Club Player of the Year: Dora Laupola (Norths), Ayesha Leti-l'iga (Oriental-Rongotai), Dayna Taramai (Hutt Old Boys Marist)
Other awards to be presented on the evening but without nominees are the WRFU Lifetime Contribution Salver, the Billy Wallace Memorial Trophy, the Burger King Positive Sidelines Award, and the Club Awards based on performance on-field.