Lamborn takes top honours at Rugby Southland Awards

It takes a lot to bring a tear to a grown mans eye, but on Wednesday night SIT Zero Fees Southland Stags Captain Tony Lamborn was visibly honoured with being awarded the title of Stags Player Of The Year. “It was an award I’ve wanted since I was a kid and my dad drove me to come South and give it my all”.

Tony joins a list of players including, Ben Heering, David Hall, Paul Miller and Jason Rutledge to name a few.

See a full list of winners below

Jonty Carran U16 Most Promising Player presented by Craig Hall

Ryley Macrae.

U16 Player Of The Year presented by Joe Walsh

Liam Mcintosh

U18 Most Promising Player presented by Flynn Thomas

Hunter Fahey.

U18 Player Of The Year (Bruce Robertson Memorial Cup) Presented by Scott Eade

Jackson Bevin and Mitchell Tinnock.

U19 Player of the year presented by Leicester Rutledge

Osika Kaufononga

Southland B Player Of The Year presented by Greg Pleasants-Tate

Matt McKenzie

PGG Wrightson Ack Soper Shield grade Player Of The Year presented by Tony Rabbitt

Isaac Wairau.

Judy Holland Secondary School Girls Most Promising Player presented by Judy Holland

Ella Wilson

Secondary School Girls Player Of The Year presented by Georgia Mason

Lucy Hall

Womens Sevens Player Of The Year presented by Isaac Te Tamaki

Cassie Yee

Mens Sevens Player Of The Year (Bernie McKone Cup) presented by Donald Hay

Brad Kooman

Country Player Of The Year presented by Mike McKee

Jacob Coghlan

Most Improved Club Team Southland Wide (Bill Foster Trophy) presented by Bob Cullen

Te Anau Earthworks Te Anau

Galbraith Shield Winners Hughes Contracting Woodlands presented by Tony Rabbitt

Hughes Contracting Woodlands

Kennards Hire Coach Of The Year presented by Andrew Sherriff

Collegiates Jason McIntosh and Colin Roberts

Most Improved Referee presented by ILT Board Member Paddy O’Brien

Sam Nicholson

SIT Zero Fees Southland Stags Awards

Stags Debutants

Tevita Latu- Marist

Sabastian Siataga- Canterbury

Kieran Lee- Woodlands

Jacob Coghlan- ENC Barbarians

Amanaki Nicole- NZ Sevens

Arese Poliko- Invercargill Blues

Glenn Preston- North Harbour

Niko Manaena- Marist/Petone

Siate Tokolahi- Highlanders

Raniera Takarangi- Marist

Penikolo Latu- Hawkes Bay

Matthew McKenzie- Woodlands

Joe Robins- Midlands

Nathan Vaátusili- Woodlands

Brad Armstrong- Star

Brad Kooman- Invercargill Blues

The following players received their Southland Blazer in 2020 for playing their 15th game for Southland.

Tony Lamborn- Auckland Blues

Ethan de Groot- Highlanders/Invercargill Blues

Rory van Vugt – ENC Barbarians

Matt James – Woodlands

Greg Pleasants-Tate – Star

Josh Moorby – Woodlands

Logan Crowley – Coastal

Chris Apoua – Star

Greg Dyer – Pirates Old Boys

Charles Alaimalo – Woodlands

Jaye Thompson – Pirates Old Boys

Super Rugby

Congratulations to Manaaki Selby-Rickit, Ethan de Groot, Siate Tokolahi, Joe Walsh and Tony Lamborn who all played Super Rugby in 2020, in particular Manaaki Selby-Rickit who went on to earn a selection for the All Blacks North South match.

McKnight and Brown Best Dressed Stag presented by Bernie Brown

Josh Moorby

Southland Supporters Club Most Promising Player presented by Tony Rabbitt

Tevita Latu

Rookie Of The Year presented by Leicester Rutledge

Tevita Latu

Most Improved Back presented by Peter Tetai

Rory van Vugt

Most Improved Forward presented by David Hall

Matt James

NZRPA Speights Personal Development Award presented by Steve Mitchell

Liam Howley