Black Ferns Sevens star Michaela Blyde, dynamic Steamers flanker Mitch Karpik, and the Jock Hobbs Memorial champion under 19s are the big winners at the 2018 Carrus Bay of Plenty Rugby Awards.

Players, coaches, referees and volunteers were recognised for their efforts and achievements at last night's ceremony at the ASB Stadium Lounge.

As a key member of the Black Ferns Sevens Rugby World Cup and Commonwealth Games campaigns, and having already been named as World Sevens Player of Year and DHL Impact Player of the Year, Michaela Blyde was a clear winner of the Carrus Bay of Plenty Rugby Supreme Award along with the Tauranga City Council Sportsperson of the Year.

Due to her Black Ferns Sevens commitments in Colorado she couldn't be at the ceremony, but told the audience in a message she was humbled to pick up the award.

'I'm honoured to have received both of these awards considering the calibre of applicants also nominated. I am proud to represent Bay of Plenty not just on a national stage but internationally as well.”

Mitch Karpik's standout season for the Steamers was recognised with the Good Buzz Player of the Year in addition to the Samurai Steamers Players' Player of the Year gongs.

His consistent performances in the blue and gold hoops have been rewarded with selection in the Maori All Blacks end of year tour.

It was a successful night too for the Bay of Plenty under 19s. Concluding their season with an unbeaten record and the Graham Mourie Cup at the Jock Hobbs Memorial national under 19 tournament, it was no surprise head coach Mike Rogers was named Lion Foundation Representative Coach of the Year and his team NZCT Representative Team of the Year.

The Aquaheat Steamers Forward of the Year went to Samoan international prop James Lay, the Horizon Energy Group Steamers Back of the Year to centre Liam Steel, and Craigs Investment Partners Rookie of the Year to lock Kane Le'aupepe who also picked up the Vodafone Male Club Player of the Year.

Aidan Ross was presented with the Vodafone Community Service award for his contribution to the community, delivering above and beyond. After being sidelined with injury, Ross offered his services as assistant coach of the Bay of Plenty under 16's.

Captain Christie Yule picked up her second straight DVS Bay of Plenty Volcanix Forward of the Year award, while the Back of the Year gong went to halfback Jade Tuilaepa.

The DVS Volcanix Player of the Year was awarded to skillful fullback Sapphire Tapsell.

A new award was introduced for the Volcanix, the Samurai Volcanix Players' Player of the Year, which went to loose forward Kendra Reynolds.

The Distinction Hotels Men's and Women's Sevens Player of the Year awards went to All Blacks Sevens player Ngarohi McGarvey-Black and current Black Fern Les Elder.

New Zealand under 20s and Jock Hobbs under 19 tournament MVP Kaleb Trask was awarded Classic Builders Under 19 Player of the Year.

The WASPS Emerging Representative Player was awarded to One Foundation Te Waiariki Player of the Year winner Bailey Gordon. Samurai Under 15 and Under 16 Player of the Year were awarded to Josiah Lewis and Filipe Vakasiuloa, and the Samurai Under 18 Boys and Under 18 Girls Player of the Year awards to Nikki Jacobs and Julia Florence.

The Bay of Plenty Rugby Awards not only recognised representative achievements but a number of community awards were also presented to recognise the contribution from clubs, coaches and volunteers who play a crucial role in growing and strengthening the game.

Vodafone Service to Sport Awards went to five volunteers for their services in the rugby community. These included Te Puke Sports' Katie and Bryan Meyer, Eastern Districts' Geoff and Viv McNaughton, and Rotorua Girls' High School and Rangiuru Rugby Club's Jimi McLean.

Te Puke Clubs and Te Puke High School collected a number of community awards. Te Puke High made it a clean sweep for the secondary school awards winning Toi Ohomai Secondary Schools Programme of the Year and Bethlehem Coachlines Secondary Schools Coach of the Year awarded to Dean Heybloom.

Te Puke Sports and Recreation Club were named R80 Club of the Year with Le'aupepe named Vodafone Male Club Player of Year. Rangiuru also were rewarded with their premier team named Farmlands Co-operative Club Team of the Year and Youth Olympic sevens champion Tynealle Fitzgerald named Vodafone Female Club Player of the Year.

Selena Syme was awarded Grassroots Trust Administrator of the Year for her work with the Central Bay of Plenty Rugby Sub Union and Kahukura Rugby Club's JAB.

The final community award was awarded to Te Puna's Premier Coach Aidan Kuka as Vodafone Club Coach of the Year.

2018 Carrus Bay of Plenty Awards:
Community Awards:
Vodafone Service to Sport: Katie and Bryan Meyer, Geoff and Viv McNaughton, Jimi McLean.

Secondary School Awards:
Toi Ohomai Secondary School Programme of the Year: Te Puke High School.
Bethlehem Coachlines Secondary School Coach of the Year: Dean Heybloom – Te Puke High School.

Club Awards:
Grassroots Trust Administrator of the Year: Selena Syme - Central Bay of Plenty Rugby Sub-Union, JAB/JMC and Kahukura Rugby JAB.
Vodafone Female Club Player of the Year: Tynealle Fitzgerald - Rangiuru Sports Club.

Vodafone Male Club Player of the Year: Kane Le'aupepe - Te Puke Sports.
Farmlands Co-operative Club Team of the Year: Rangiuru Premier Men's team.
Vodafone Club Coach of Year: Aidan Kuka - Te Puna Premier Men's Coach.
R80 Highly Recommended Club Team of the Year: Ruatoki Sports and Cultural Club.
R80 Club of the Year: Te Puke Sports and Recreation Club.

Representative Awards:
Samurai Under 15 Player of the Year: Josiah Lewis.
Samurai Under 16 Player of the Year: Filipe Vakasiuola.
Samurai Under 18 Boys Player of the Year: Nikki Jacobs.
Samurai Under 18 Girls Player of the Year: Julia Florence.
One Foundation Te Waiariki Player of the Year: Bailey Gordon.
Classic Builders Bay of Plenty Under 19s Player of the Year: Kaleb Trask.

Distinction Hotels Men's Sevens Player of the Year: Ngarohi McGarvey-Black.
Distinction Hotels Women's Sevens Player of the Year: Les Elder.

DVS Volcanix Forward of the Year: Christie Yule.
DVS Volcanix Back of the Year: Jade Tuilaepa.
Samurai Volcanix Team Award (Players' Player): Kendra Reynolds.
DVS Volcanix Player of the Year: Sapphire Tapsell.

Aquaheat Steamers Forward of the Year: James Lay.
Horizon Energy Group Steamers Back of the Year: Liam Steel.
Craigs Investment Partners Steamers Rookie of the Year: Kane Le'aupepe.
Samurai Steamers Team Award (Players' Player): Mitch Karpik.
Good Buzz Steamers Player of the Year: Mitch Karpik.

Vodafone Player Community Service Award: Aidan Ross.
NZCT Representative Team of the Year: Bay of Plenty Under 19s.
Lion Foundation Representative Coach of the Year: Mike Rogers.
WASPS Emerging Representative Player of the Year: Bailey Gordon.
Tauranga City Council Sportsperson of the Year Award: Michaela Blyde.
Carrus Supreme Award: Michaela Blyde.