Club Rugby Awards of the Year 2025

• By Scott MacLean, Steven White & Adam Julian

The final piece of our club season coverage for this year is our Annual Awards. A mix of the serious and silly, here’s ours for 2025.

 Team of the Year: The Upper Hutt Rams Colts. Melding any age-group team together is a skillful operation, dealing with players coming in and those ageing-out, and the core from the past year. The team at Maidstone Park did a masterful job of that, doing the Paris Memorial-Kelly Memorial double with just one defeat all year, while bringing together a diverse mix of players who’s college experience varied from Premiership frontrunners to Premier 3 also-rans. A hat-tip from us for a terrific season.

Achievement of the Year: The Oriental Rongotai Premier Men. Their first-ever Swindale win was nothing short of historic as they won all 13 matches and all with a bonus point to reach the Holy Grail of all 65 available competition points. Sure, it got close a couple of times and they were bounced out in successive weeks in the playoffs, but that shouldn’t detract from a remarkable season.

Men’s Player of The Year and MVP: Paremata-Plimmerton’s sparkplug Esi Komaisavai. 70’s Yankees baseball star Reggie Jackson described himself as “the straw that stirs the drink” and when it came to the Hammerheads this season the little Fijian wizard was exactly that. Starting each of their 16 games at halfback, he set a Swindale Shield-record with 19 tries and was the deserving runaway winner of the Best & Fairest at seasons end. It caps a remarkable 12 months, starting with a stellar campaign with Horowhenua Kapiti in the Heartland Championship and was their representative Player of the Year, National triumph with Pare-Plim’s 7s squad, and a well-overdue debut with the Lions. Someone who seemingly never has a bad game, his influence on not just his team, but the competition as a whole, can’t be understated

Women’s Player of the Year: Petone winger Harmony Kautai. When you score tries at a rate that even Ayesha Leti-l’iga has seldom matched with 30 in just nine matches, people do more than just take notice. Sure, the Villagers might be very dominant at present, but you still have to get the job done and no one was better at that than Kautai this season and you can’t fault Petone for making use of their best weapon. It didn’t quite carry over to the Pride season for her where she was still very good, but 2025 was her season in club colours.

Women’s MVP: Norths playmaker Arene Landon-Lane was absent last season and the Porirua side struggled somewhat for direction. With her back at the helm in 2025 Norths were a different side, and MSP’s upset win over Petone aside (something which looks even more bizarre considering the other results between the two) they were the only ones to challenge the eventual champions particularly in the decider at Rugby League Park. Without her, Norths don’t even come close to that.

Rookie Forward: Going into the season the eyes were on MSP’s Cazna Logovae-Sale – a destructive hooker out of Palmy Boys – and towering OBU lock Johnny Falloon who made the NZ Schools side out of Rathkeale College, but Logovae-Sale struggled after a fast start and Falloon had his issues adapting to the senior game. Coming through on the rail was another MSP player, Preston Moananu from Silverstream, who quickly got into his stride and firmly established himself in the Evans Bay pack with a series of strong, consistent performances and deservedly made our Best & Fairest side.

Rookie Back: The contingent of first-year backs wasn’t as large as those up front, but our pick was clearly above the rest. Poneke’s Mike Brown trod the same path from Gisborne Boys as Charlie Ngatai and Isaia Walker-Leawere before him, and didn’t disappoint. After spending the early weeks learning off the bench, he earned his shot in Ross Bond’s starting side and never looked back with his tandem with Jimmy-Lee Hongara proving effective for the Kilbirnie club as they won the Hardham Cup.

Men’s Next Big Thing: Is there a more impressive young forward going around than Petone’s Braith Ingram. Out of Gisborne Boys, the openside was forged in the environment of a struggling team in the tough Super 8 competition, and it shows. Built much like Australian great David Pocock he plays in much the same way, a fearless tackler and a menace at the breakdown. But defence isn’t all he offers as he’s dynamic with ball in hand, including a memorable moment against Norths where he skittled several defenders in a 40m rampage to the line.

Women’s Next Big Thing: Keira Su’a-Smith gets a lot of plaudits (and deservedly so), but her teammate and fellow youngster Litia Bulicakau is underrated by comparison. The St Mary’s product as already played a number of positions across college and club in her career and after running at fullback last year switched to centre in 2025. That seemed to unlock more parts of her already skillset, and being in a position where option-taking is vital sharpened her decision-making.

Scott MacLean’s Match of the Year: Colts Final: Upper Hutt Rams vs Tawa. There was plenty of excitement out in the eastern suburbs for the conclusion of the club season, but the best of the bunch came over on Kilbirnie Park’s #2 field. The Rams youngsters were looking to do the double, and when they lead 29-13 well into the second half it seemed like a done deal. But Tawa – looking for redemption having lost out on the round-robin Paris Memorial crown to the Maidstone side – produced furious comeback in the final quarter to score twice and close the margin right up, but were unable to land the winning score.

Steven White’s Match of the Year: There were several thrillers at Ngati Toa Domain this year involving home team Paremata-Plimmerton, such as close results against Marist St Pat’s, Tawa and Petone (twice), but an early season game – or rather finish to a game –  from 2025 that sticks out is the Upper Hutt Rams’s 32-29 Ted Connolly Cup win over Petone on the Rams’ Old Timers’ Day at Maidstone Park. The Rams won with a last-play try. Having previously fumbled their big chance and Petone having almost scored down the other end, the Rams harried Petone inside the 22  for a minute and then went wide to wing Josh Love who scored to bring the house down.

Tries of the Year:  There were numerous outstanding tries scored this season as always, but to single one out it is hard for us to go past Esi Komaisavai’s Swindale Shield single season record-breaking try here:

Another that stood out for as a personal favourite in the Swindale Shield was in Johnsonville’s 51-26 win over Old Boys University, finished off by Japanese player Ken Kurihara in the clubrooms corner (footage is a bit ropey as we were looking straight into the sun):

A favourite try from Finals Day. Pare-Plim’s Premier 2 side produced this at a decisive moment of the HD Morgan final against Tawa:

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And Porirua College came up with this in their unsuccessful challenge for the Beard Trophy against Tawa College under the Jerry Collins Stadium lights:

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Milestone of the Year: 200 games of Premier rugby is quite the statement, grinding away week on week, season on season. Greg Lealofi has done that and been through plenty including breaking an ankle in a Jubilee Cup final, and while it had to wait a couple of weeks longer than he hoped the Wainuiomata captain and stalwart reached that number this season. And by the looks he’s still got plenty in the tank to go on.

The CUP (Consistently Underrated Player) Award: There are those players that stand out when they’re on the field, and there are those who you notice when they aren’t. One of the latter is midfielder Faraimo Nofoaiga, with the 100-gamer back at Tawa after a stint with Norths and a season off. The Lyndhurst backline might have had some more well-known names at various stages of their careers, and while any hopes he had of representative honours are firmly in the past he remains a steady, constant, and consistent force in Premier rugby.

Captain of the Year: Petone colts skipper Archie Schrader belies the fact he was in his first season of senior rugby with a level of maturity beyond his age. It can take years for captains to work out the best way to approach referees and develop a rapport with them, but the young villager seems to have already have that sorted. He’s a heck of a talent too, so maybe Premier rugby isn’t too far from his future either.

Upset of the Year: It’s the final round of the Harper Lock Shield, and at Ian Galloway Park OBU are looking to line up a possible home berth for the first round of the playoffs against an Avalon side that had won only twice all year and had lost 62-3 to MSP the previous week. Except that’s not what happened as the Wolves took a chunk out of the Goats’ plans by winning 17-12, dropping OBU to fourth and perhaps leading to them dropping their next two matches as well to exit the season.

It’s an 80-minute game: Let’s just say things were seldom dull when the Paremata-Plimmerton Premiers took the field, especially in the closing moments. Consider this list of late drama:

• Round 3: Cough up a late lead at home and ultimately lose when MSP’s Cazna Logovae-Sale scores in the 80^th minute
• Round 5: Lead OBU 28-10 with eight minutes but concede twice, hanging on to win 28-24 despite one further late Goats assault
• Round 7: Lead Wellington 24-14, then trail 24-28 before two late tries get them home at Hataitai
• Round 11: In a delayed kickoff allowing for players to attend the funeral of Adam Vardey, Leni Apisai crashes over in the corner under the Maidstone lights to beat Upper Hutt 33-31
• Round 12: A late Dale Sabbagh penalty proves the winner 27-25 over Petone
• Round 13: Tawa score twice late at Ngati Toa to win 26-23 over the home side seemingly had things in hand
• Playoffs Round 1: Tawa does it again a week later, this time at Lyndhurst to win 28-26
• Playoffs Round 2: Replacement Mika Cooper-Finau darts over in front of “Cooper’s Corner” at Ngati Toa in the 86^th minute to beat Petone 15-14
• Jubilee Cup Semi-Final: Leading 37-19 over HOBM at the Hutt Rec soon after halftime their lead is slowly whittled away until in a reverse of the previous week they concede with time up to go down 42-45 in an epic encounter.

Dinner Table Discussion: There’s a few father-son combinations going around in our game, but as far as we know there’s only one mother-daughter one. For the record, Keira Su’a-Smith’s Petone did the double once again, including beating mum Monique’s Wainuiomata side 76-5 in their Rebecca Liua’ana Trophy clash. And while talking about the family, good to see dad Daniel back in Premier coaching next year as Dan Farani and he resume the reins at William Jones Park.

Ummm…. That IS NOT a try: Even with preseason, there’s still some rust to be thrown off in the early weeks; even for the referees. So when Ollie Michie awarded a try in the Petone vs Wellington Swindale clash there were plenty of bemused faces, Why, because the ball was only over the 5m line and not the goalline. Fortunately humour and sanity prevailed with the young whistler realising his problem.  It also earned Michie the highly-(un)prestigious “Danny Cameron Award” at the WRRA’s own Awards night.

Ummm… That IS a try: Same venue (Petone Rec) as above, and a few weeks later. Norths’ veteran prop Dan Filemoni throws into an attacking lineout for his Premier 2 side in their match against the eventual Harper Lock Shield winners. It’s a give and go at the front, Filemoni is tackled, goes to ground, and places the ball behind him only to hear Scott MacLean’s whistle. Looking up somewhat bemused at the referee signalling with his arm up and then pointing to the posts which are behind him, Filemoni realises he’s actually crossed the goalline and not the 5m, and scored a try. Cue much laughter.

Master of a Lost Art: Goes to Tawa’s James So’oialo for reminding us all that the drop-goal still exists as a legitimate scoring option and for kicking two in consecutive weeks for the first time in Premier rugby since (probably) Fa’atonu Fili did it way back when. The first proved the difference in their epic Jubilee Cup semi win over neighbours Johnsonville, while the other came the following week in the final loss to HOBM.

Lady Luck award: The WRFU for hosting Finals Day on the best possible weather day possible at Kilbirnie Pak and Evans Bay Park. If the weather had even been slightly rubbish it would have been a tough day out there for spectators. But a full house on Kilbirnie Park in the winter sunshine showed that club rugby is where it is at.

College Player of the Year: Fletcher Cooper (St. Patrick’s College, Silverstream). The precocious first five-eighth would have been in the frame to follow in the footsteps of Todd Miller, Ben Atiga, and Nico Stanley by being selected for the New Zealand Schools as a Year 11 although he ultimately wasn’t selected. Cooper scored a mammoth 234 points for Premiership winners St Patrick’s College, Silverstream, breaking the previous record of 233 points set by All Black Simon Mannix in 1989. Cooper demonstrates a maturity well beyond his years, scored 11 tries, and is proficient at kicking with both feet. In the coming two seasons, he could surpass Murray Tocker’s record total of 601 points for Silverstream. Later, Tocker won eight Jubilee Cups as both a player and coach with Marist St. Pat’s, and also played for Wellington and Hawke’s Bay.

Moment of the Year: Cooper’s late drop goal in a quagmire from 35 meters to clinch a 16-15 triumph over Wellington College in the Ken Gray Memorial Trophy is the stuff of legend. Cooper stepped aside a puddle and the invading defence to emulate Archie Sims’ drop goal from the season before.

Forward of the Year: Ioane Aukusitino (St Pat’s Town). The rampant tighthead prop was the anchor of a St Pat’s Town scrum that rarely went backwards and was a rampager with ball in hand. Very similar in approach to Wellington Lions, Hurricanes and former St Pat’s Town bookend Siale Lauaki.

Let Down of the Year: Scots College’s default to Wellington College was shockingly disappointing from a school that has won five Premierships since 2014. Scots failed to front with a contested scrum in many matches yet were permitted to compete in the top flight while a very competitive Hutt Valley High School, who qualified legitimately for the Premiership was consigned to Premier Two after they were told that three players who had played 114 games combined for the school couldn’t compete in the Premiership because they weren’t enrolled at school.

Referee Milestones: Steve Newson joined the ranks of WRRA Premier centurions late in the season, while over the Remutaka’s Alistair Payne racked up his 200^th top-flight outing in Wairarapa-Bush. Congrats to both.

The Pinball Award: Occasionally, referees end up where they probably shouldn’t be. Richard Gordon might have refereed Premier rugby in the capital 130 times, but that didn’t make the now London-based whistler immune from getting spectacularly steamrolled as he did early in the opening day clash between OBU and Tawa at Rugby League Park. Matt Perry also showed an affinity for eating turf, ending up under one ruck at a match at Evans Bay and then again on the goalline under Hugo Plummer at Ngati Toa in the hectic final round match between Pare-Plim and Tawa.

Have Whistle, Will Travel: To our own Scott MacLean and his mad dedication to the game, who racked up some serious kilometres this season as he splits his time between Wellington and the Wairarapa where he now lives. One particular week saw him in Whareama (on the road to Riversdale Beach) for a Wairarapa Premier match, Tuesday in Porirua at the Maori U18 camp, and then to Wainuiomata the following Saturday for nearly 500km in a week.

Intrepid Sports Reporter of the Year: Goes to our own Adam Julian, who just last week travelled to the birthplace of both the Moascar Cup (school rugby) and Maadi Cup (school rowing) in his travels through Egypt. This week he is looking to unearth how and why squash is their national sport and why Paul Coll is more known there than here.

Thank you Award: Last but not least, thanks to Club Rugby sponsors and supporters for their commitment this year, without whom this article and many others wouldn’t be happening.