All Black flyhalf Mo'unga wins top award...again

NEWS: Crusaders flyhalf Richie Mo’unga has won a second consecutive Player of the Year award, at the franchise’s annual awards ceremony.

Five awards were presented, with the Crusaders Rookie of the Year, Forward of the Year, Back of the Year and Player of the Year all decided by the Crusaders coaching group.

One further award, the Champion Crusader of the Year, is a peer-voted award recognising a player’s overall contribution to the team environment both on and off the field.

The 21-year-old prop Tamaiti Williams was named Rookie of the Year following an impressive debut season for the franchise, while Crusaders vice-captains Codie Taylor and David Havili won Forward and Back of the Year respectively. Taylor, as last year’s Champion Crusader, presented this year’s award to hardworking loose forward, Ethan Blackadder.

Crusaders head coach Scott Robertson said: “It was awesome to connect as an organisation tonight, and acknowledge both the collective effort of everyone involved in our club, as well as some special individual achievements this season.

“While there are a number of players who continue to put their hand up for this team, it was impossible to overlook our award winners this year, who are not only brilliant athletes but they’re great Crusader men as well, who care deeply about this team.

“We also took the time to acknowledge that our season is far from over, and the support we get from our families and the wider Crusaders organisation is so important to what we do, so it was great to have the opportunity to acknowledge that, before we embark on an all-important trip to Sydney later this week,” Robertson said.

Crusaders 2021 award winners:

Rookie of the Year: Tamaiti Williams

Forward of the Year: Codie Taylor

Back of the Year: David Havili

Player of the Year: Richie Mo’unga

Champion Crusader of the Year: Ethan Blackadder