Black Ferns Sevens captain Sarah Hirini has trumped her male counterparts to collect three major prizes at this year's New Zealand Rugby awards including the top honour, the supreme Kelvin R. Tremain Memorial player of the year.
Hirini's recognition capped a memorable night for women's rugby with the Black Ferns Sevens claiming team of the year for a fourth successive season and Anna Richards, the most capped Black Fern in history, becoming the first woman to be awarded the prestigious Steinlager Salver.
As well as being honoured as New Zealand's outstanding overall player in 2021, Hirini was named the Black Ferns Sevens player of the year and became a two-time winner of the Tom French Memorial Māori player of the year award, beating All Blacks halfback Aaron Smith and Hawke's Bay hooker Ash Dixon to the latter gong.
The Manawatū loose forward's individual brilliance was evident for all to see as she led her team to Olympic gold in Tokyo, but her teammates and coaches were not overlooked.
Black Ferns Sevens co-coaches Cory Sweeney and Allan Bunting were jointly named coach of the year for the third season in succession.
To ice an evening where women's rugby shone brightly, Richards, one of the pioneers of female rugby, accepted the Steinlager Salver, an honour reserved for individuals who make a lasting impact on the development and ongoing success of rugby in New Zealand.
Richards, an inductee to World Rugby's Hall of Fame, debuted for the Black Ferns in 1990, going on to play 54 games, including 49 tests, and winning four World Cups. She was also a member of the Auckland Storm side who went undefeated from 1994 through to 2005.
Made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2005, Richards' contribution has continued well past her playing days as a coach, development manager, volunteer and mentor.
Ardie Savea collected the All Blacks player of the year ahead of Jordie Barrett, Will Jordan and Rieko Ioane, setting a trend for loose forwards with Waikato's Kennedy Simon winning Black Ferns player of the year, and Scott Curry securing the All Blacks Sevens player of the year award.
