More than 300 guests came together at One NZ Stadium for a night to remember, as Canterbury Rugby celebrated the people, teams and achievements that make our game so special.

The first awards evening of its kind at our new home brought together the very best of our rugby whānau, recognising those who have gone above and beyond in our community, reached the highest levels of representative rugby and achieved significant milestones both on and off the field.

From our grassroots volunteers and school teams to our representative players and high-performance squads, it was a chance to celebrate the people behind the Red & Black and the collective contribution they make to Canterbury Rugby.

Speaking on the significance of the occasion, CEO Tony Smail highlighted just how special it was to connect our rugby and high performance communities together.

“It's been a huge part of our new era that we launched at the start of the year with our refreshed brand. Grassroots to Grandstands isn’t just a marketing campaign, it’s a philosophy that we are living and breathing, and this event is a prime example of that.”

Our Community Rugby Manager echoed those sentiments, highlighting the outstanding quality of nominations received and the value of uniting our community and high-performance environments.

“We were very impressed with the volume and high calibre of nominations for these awards, and to have them announced alongside our high performance teams was incredibly special. We can’t do what we do without these people so to have them acknowledged on such an occasion meant a lot to our wider Community.”

And that feeling was evident throughout the room. With all the glitz and glamour of an awards night, balanced by the genuine warmth and grounded community spirit that makes Canterbury Rugby what it is, the evening was a reminder of what makes our game so special.

Different journeys, different achievements, but one shared passion for rugby and the Red & Black.

Congratulations to all our award winners and milestone recipients. Your contribution to Canterbury Rugby is something to be celebrated, and we're proud to recognise the people who continue to make our rugby whānau stronger.

Keep an eye on our socials over the coming weeks as we share photos of our award recipients and celebrate the legends of our community.

Community Awards

• Coach of the Year: Jack Hyde (Glenmark-Cheviot)
• Team of the Year: St Andrew's College 1st XV
• Rugby School of the Year: Rolleston College Horoeka Haemata
• Club of the Year: Southbridge
• Volunteer of the Year: Jodi Uluakiafua (Burnside)

Representative Awards

• Under 18 Girls Red Player of the Year: Katie Pain
• Under 18 Girls Black Player of the Year: Lilyana Cullen
• Dennis Young Under 19 Player of the Year: Louis Treacy
• Under 20 Player of the Year: Will Hadley
• Waitaha Māori Player of the Year: Tyson Belworthy
• Stan “Tiny” Hill Men's Canterbury B Player of the Year: Phoenix Abbott

Farah Palmer Cup (FPC)

Congratulations to the following players on receiving their 12 game cap.

• Louise Blyde
• Harriet Cochrane
• Sophie Kerr
• Binky Muamua
• Fiaali'i Solomona

Special Awards

• Patterson Cup Most Promising FPC Player of the Year: Paris Lokotui
• FPC Players' Player of the Year: Maisy Allen

National Provincial Championship (NPC)

Congratulations to the following players on receiving their 12 game cap.

• Cap 1743: Nick Hyde
• Cap 1746: Isaac Hutchinson
• Cap 1755: Shun Miyake
• Cap 1758: Liam Jack
• Cap 1759: Louie Chapman

Special Awards

• 100 Games Milestone: Daniel Lienert-Brown
• Rookie of the Year: Max Fale
• Players' Player of the Year: Dominic Gardner
• Canterbury Rugby Supporters Club Player of the Year: Chay Fihaki

Here's to celebrating our people, our achievements and the future of the Red & Black.