Savea wins Kelvin R Tremain Memorial for the third time

Oriental-Rongotai loose forward Ardie Savea’s dominant performances across the rugby season have been reflected in the New Zealand Rugby Awards, with the 32-year-old acknowledged as the best player in the country in 2025 – for the third time.

In the season where he brought up his 100th Test, Savea has been named as the Kelvin R Tremain Memorial Player of the Year and All Blacks Player of the Year. His commanding performances and inspiring leadership for his new team Moana Pasifika saw him crowned Super Rugby Pacific Player of the Year as well.

NZR CEO Mark Robinson praised Savea: “Ardie has a level of consistency that is unmatched, and his three awards tonight demonstrate that. He keeps raising the bar for what’s possible on an individual level, and brings his inspirational leadership to every environment. He is massively respected domestically and internationally.

This is the third time that Savea has won the Kelvin R Tremain Memorial Player of the Year award, and also follows on from his club teammate Ma’a Nonu winning it in 2015.

The full winners of this award have been:

1994 Zinzan Brooke Auckland
1995 Jonah Lomu Counties M
1996 Sean Fitzpatrick Auckland
1997 Jeff Wilson Otago
1998 Josh Kronfeld Otago
1999 Andrew Mehrtens Canterbury
2000 Tana Umaga Wellington
2001 Todd Blackadder Canterbury
2002 Chris Jack Canterbury
2003 Richie McCaw Canterbury
2004 Dan Carter Canterbury
2005 Dan Carter Canterbury
2006 Richie McCaw Canterbury
2007 Daniel Braid Auckland
2008 Andrew Hore Taranaki
2009 Richard McCaw Canterbury
2010 Kieran Read Canterbury
2011 Jerome Kaino Auckland
2012 Richie McCaw Canterbury
2013 Kieran Read Canterbury
2014 Brodie Retallick Waikato
2015 Ma’a Nonu Wellington
2016 Beauden Barrett Taranaki
2017 Samuel Whitelock Canterbury
2018 Kendra Cocksedge Canterbury
2019 Ardie Savea Wellington
2020 Sam Cane Bay of Plenty
2021 Sarah Hirini Manawatu
2022 Ruahei Demant Auckland
2023 Ardie Savea Wellington
2024 Jorja Miller Black Ferns 7’s
2025: Ardie Savea Oriental-Rongotai