A successful year of New Zealand Rugby was celebrated last week at the ASB Rugby Awards at SKYCITY in Auckland.

A who’s who of our national game attended the event to acknowledged those who have achieved at the highest level this year.

Three Aucklander’s were recognised with awards. 

A huge year for teenager Rieko Ioane saw him named as the All Blacks Sevens Player of the Year, he was also nominated for Mitre 10 Cup and Maori Player of the Year.

Former Auckland captain Justin Collins was awarded the inaugural Kirk Award by the New Zealand Rugby Players Associations.

The award is given to a person who has made a significant contribution on behalf of professional players. 

Justin Collins has played 16 seasons of first class rugby and is now a long-serving Board member of the Players Association, delivering great outcomes for players and the game.

Suburbs stalwart Gary Donovan was awarded the Charles Monro Volunteer of the Year award, the first time an Aucklander has received this honour.

Earlier in the year, Donovan was recognized at the Auckland Rugby Awards with the Ash Edwards Memorial Trophy for contribution to Auckland Rugby.

He has dedicated over 60 years of his life to rugby. He has committed immense amounts of voluntary time in a number of roles over many years – he has been a delegate to the ARU for the past 42 years at both Junior and senior level, coached and managed Auckland teams as far back as the 8th grade back in in 1976, served on event management, standards, and adult rugby committees and in his spare time continues to set up the fields at Suburbs on game day and acts as the gear custodian for Auckland Rugby. 

Auckland Storm captain Fiao’o Fa’amausili was a finalist for the Women’s Player of the Year and Niall Williams was nominated for Women’s Sevens Player of the Year.

PICTURED: Gary Donovan and his wife Elizabeth at the ASB Rugby Awards, photo courtesy of the ARU Supporters Club.