Marist St Pats Big Winners at the Tui Awards
The 2012 Wellington Rugby Tui Awards were held this evening at the Embassy Theatre to celebrate the last 12 months of rugby in the capital.
Marist St Pats succeeded to claim the Club Coach and Club Team of the Year awards. Whilst, the Volunteer of the Year, a Rugby Academy Award and the overall Tui Player of the Year also hail from Marist St Pats. The 2012 Jubilee Cup winners had a strong club season, with a number of players going on to play for the Ricoh Wellington Lions or other representative teams.
The Wellington Under 16A team, who went undefeated in winning the Hurricanes Under 16 Tournament in Wellington last month, won Representative Team of the Year. Their head coach, Earl Va'a picked up Representative Coach of the Year after claiming his second consecutive title with the Under 16A side.
While looking back over the past 12 months of rugby in the Capital, Wellington Rugby CEO James Te Puni noted that interest in rugby in Wellington is growing. "The number of registered players is the highest it has been since 2002, with over 11,200 playing the game in Wellington."
"The level of involvement we have within our rugby community at present is impressive. Hundreds of coaches, managers, administrators and volunteers are putting in the hard yards to ensure our game can be the best it can be, which is exciting for the future."
"Tonight's nominees and winners are credit to that hard work and are worthy representatives of the more than 13,000 people involved in our game in Wellington. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank those who contribute hours each week to ensure rugby is alive and well in the capital."
2012 Wellington Rugby Tui Awards Winners
Junior Merit Award Trophy - Petone RFC
AJ Griffiths Memorial Trophy - Johnsonville RFC Senior 1 Team
Sir William Perry Memorial Trophy - Wellington FC
Dewar Shield - College Old Boys-Victoria University RFC
Club Coach of the Year - Clayton McMillan and Murray Tocker (Marist St Pats Premiers)
Club Team of the Year - Marist St Pats Premiers
Billy Wallace Memorial Trophy - Joint winners
Shahn Eru (Wainuiomata RFC) and Ardie Savea (Oriental-Rongotai FC)
Wellington Rugby Supporters Club Award - Jeremy Thrush
Al Keown Memorial Cup - Matt Proctor
Ken Comber Memorial Cup - Donald Brighouse
Most Promising Player of the Year - Ardie Savea
Women's Player of the Year - Kiri Mei
Dominion Post WRFU Volunteer of the Year - Mary Ann Spillane
Referee of the Year - Ben O'Keeffe
Representative Coach of the Year - Earl Va'a
Representative Team of the Year - Wellington Under 16A
Tui Player of the Year - Jeffery Toomaga-Allen
