BOPRU 2016 awards announced

The Bay of Plenty Steamers 2016 Player of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year Joe Tupe. Photo: Chris Callinan.

Whakatāne Marist's Steven Mapu won the inaugural Bay of Plenty Rugby Union Supreme Award at the 2016 Bay of Plenty Rugby Union Awards.

The annual BOPRU awards celebrate and recognise the efforts and achievements of players, coaches, referees and volunteers across the region and took at Club Mount Maunganui on Wednesday night.

In February Mapu achieved 500 official Senior A grade games for Whakatāne Marist. He commenced his senior career with Whakatāne Marist in 1989, at the start of the Bay of Plenty Baywide Competition and has played continuously for the past twenty seven years, ant looking likely to hang up his boots just yet.

Rotorua Boys' High School student Kaleb Trask won BOPRU Sports Person of the year following his achievements with the New Zealand Barbarians Schools and Chiefs Under 18's teams. Trask recently secured a spot in the Bay of Plenty Rugby Union Steamers Academy for 2017 and 2018.

While Steamers loose forward Joe Tupe was the stand out of the team, winning both the Steamers Player of the Year and the Steamers Players Player of the Year awards.

Joe acknowledges the support from the coaching team of Clayton McMillan, Rodney Gibbs and David Hill, and the BOPRU. He thanks and recognises the contribution from team mates and support from his young family.

The Steamers Forward of the Year is Aidan Ross, and Steamers Back of Year is the illusive Lalakai Foketi, while Isaac Te Aute is the Steamers Rookie of the Year.

The inaugural Vodafone Award for Player Community Service award has gone to Sabastian Siataga in recognition for his contribution to the community. Fellow Steamers teammate Troy Callander and Volcanix representative Kendra Reynolds were also acknowledged for their contributions off the field.

The Volcanix Player of the Year is Lavinia Gould who has had a successful season. As the vice-captain of the Volcanix squad she brought another level of skill, experience and professionalism into the side.

A number of representative awards were introduced this year, including the WASPS Emerging Representative player - Bay of Plenty Secondary School Girls Player of the Year Tynealle Fitzgerald. Female and Male Maori Player of the Year are Autumn Stephens and Devin Tetai. Bay of Plenty Samoans Player of the Year is Jerry Moli.

The Bay of Plenty Rugby Union Awards not only recognises representative achievements but a number of community awards were presented to recognise the contribution that clubs, coaches and volunteers make to growing and strengthening our game.

In a new initiative this year Bay of Plenty Rugby Union introduced the Service to Sport medal, recognising five volunteers for their service; Mount Maunganui Sports' Terry Hurdle, Waikite's Mike and Moana Miller, Patsy Terry-Rawiri from Arataki Rugby Club, Rangiuru's Dennis Minirapa and long-time Bay of Plenty Rugby Judicial Officer Ian Spraggon.

In other community awards, Rangataua Rugby's Premier side are the Club Team of the Year and their coach Aramahou Ririnui is Club Coach of the Year following the side's Baywide Premier Club Rugby winning performance for the 2016 title.

Te Puna Rugby Club is Club of the Year for its positive contribution to the growth and development of rugby within its community.

Raukura Rugby (Rotorua Boys' High School) and Tauranga Girls' College coaching staff of Jeff Robb and Leo Scott, are the Secondary Schools Programme of the Year and Coach of the Year winners.

BAY OF PLENTY RUGBY UNION AWARDS 2016 WINNERS:

Secondary School Awards:

  • Secondary School Programme of the Year: Rotorua Boys High School – Rukura Rugby
  • Secondary Schools Schools Coach of the Year: Jeff Robb and Leo Scott – Tauranga Girls College

Club Awards:

  • Club Coach of the Year: Aramahou Ririnui – Rangataua
  • Club Team of the Year: Rangataua Premier 1
  • Highly Commended Club Team of the Year: Waikite Junior Rugby Club
  • Club of the Year: Te Puna Rugby Club
  • Highly Commended Club Team of the Year: Matata Rugby Club
  • Female Club Player of the Year: Kendra Reynolds
  • Male Club Player of the Year: Steve Mapu
  • Administrator of the Year: Ngahuia Brown, Lyn Rua and Atawhai Hakiaha – Poroporo Rugby and Sports Club
  • Service to Sport: Terry Hurdle – Mount Maunganui Sports, Mike and Moana Miller – Waikite, Patsy Terry-Rawiri – Arataki, Dennis Minirapa – Rangiuru, Ian Spraggon.

Bay of Plenty Referee Awards:

  • Martin Teo Shield Referee of the Year: George Haswell
  • John Cormick Trophy for Most Improved Referee: Neco Blank
  • Allan Oates Memorial Trophy for Referee Coach of the Year: John Donnelly
  • Dave Edwards Trophy for Frist Year Referee of the Year: Reece Uerata
  • Lawrence Medal for Premier Referee of the Year: Shane McDermott

Bay of Plenty Representative Awards:

  • Representative Coach of the Year: Nick Leask
  • Representative Team of the Year: Roller Mills Under 13
  • Bay of Plenty Samoan's Player of the Year: Jerry Moli
  • Bay of Plenty Samoan's Recognition Award: Ai Aaifou-Olive
  • Bay of Plenty Female Maori Player of the Year: Autumn Stephens
  • Bay of Plenty Male Maori Player of the Year: Devin Tetai
  • Bay of Plenty Women's Sevens Player of the Year: Parekura Whareaorere
  • Bay of Plenty Men's Sevens Player of the Year: Jason Heatherly
  • Bay of Plenty Ellis Shield Under 13's Player of the Year: Ngakohu Walker
  • Roller Mills Under 13's Player of the Year: Dawson Smith
  • Bay of Plenty Under 16's Player of the Year: Taitua Woller
  • Bay of Plenty U18 Secondary School Girls' Player of the Year: Tynealle Fitzgerald
  • Bay of Plenty Under 18's Player of the Year: Matt Leppard
  • Bay of Plenty Under 19's Player of the Year: Angus McDonald
  • Bay of Plenty Development Player of the Year: Nick Evemy
  • WASPS Emerging Representative Player of the Year: Tynealle Fitzgerald
  • Bay of Plenty Volcanix Player of the Year: Lavinia Gould
  • Bay of Plenty Steamers Player of the Year: Aidan Ross
  • Bay of Plenty Steamers Back of the Year: Lalakai Foketi
  • Bay of Plenty Steamers Rookie of the Year: Isaac Te Aute
  • Bay of Plenty Steamers Players Player: Joe Tupe
  • Bay of Plenty Steamers Player of the Year: Joe Tupe
  • Vodafone Award for Player Community Service: Sabastian Siataga
  • Highly Commended for Service to the Community: Kendra Reynolds
  • Highly Commended for Service to the Community: Troy Callander

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