Cruden crowned IRB 'Junior of the Year'
New Zealand Captain Aaron Cruden has been named the International Rugby Board Junior Player of the Year 2009, the second of the prestigious IRB Awards in association to be presented this year.
Cruden follows in the footsteps of countryman Luke Braid, who scooped the Award in 2008 and continues the dominance of New Zealand players in the IRB Junior Player of the Year Award category in recent years.
The 20-year-old guided New Zealand to their second successive IRB Junior World Championship final against England and then led by example, scoring two tries and creating another three as they triumphed 44-28 in Tokyo.
He had produced a similar performance in the semi-final against Australia four days earlier, creating two tries in as many minutes to turn the match in New Zealand’s favour and kicking 11 points in the 31-17 victory.
Cruden’s composure, vision and inspirational leadership of a new-look New Zealand squad at the IRB Junior World Championship 2009 in Japan were the outstanding qualities which saw him claim the coveted Award ahead of his New Zealand team-mate Winston Stanley, England No 8 Carl Fearns and scrumhalf Richard Kingi of Australia.
He is the latest New Zealander to win the IRB Age Grade Award with previous winners Isaia Toeava, Jerome Kaino and Luke McAlister all having gone on to play for the All Blacks.
“It is a huge honour to be named the best player for this age group at the Under 20 level and I am just extremely honoured and I suppose the hard work that I have put in has paid off now,” said Cruden.
New Zealand coach Dave Rennie labelled Cruden “worth his weight in gold to us” before adding: “I have been lucky enough to have a lot to do with Aaron. He is a very special player. He was very good against Australia and sensational today.
‘He is fairly inspirational, so he can put people in space around him or spot space in behind or an opportunity to run and it gives the team a lot of confidence having a guy like him at No 10.”
Mike Miller, the IRB Chief Executive in Japan to present the Award, added: “The IRB unior World Championship has shown just how good the next group of senior international players could be, and the IRB Junior Player of the Year Award is essential in recognising achievement at this level. Aaron Cruden can be very proud to have won the Award with so many excellent players taking part here.”
England captain Ollie Phillips was named IRB Sevens Player of the Year last month, leaving 11 of the 13 coveted IRB Award categories still to be announced. In the exciting new format for the IRB Awards, winners will be named throughout the year, culminating in the announcement of the prestigious IRB Player, Coach and Team of the Year in November.
