All Blacks Win Supreme Halberg As Ko, Williamson Also Honoured

The spoils from All Blacks' 2015 Rugby World Cup victory keep coming for the team, with tonight's Halbergs Awards ceremony turning into somewhat of an All Blacks benefit.

Just 24 hours after being named New Zealander of the Year, Richie McCaw was back on centre stage to accept the supreme Halberg Award on at a lively awards ceremony in Auckland.

To win the nation's top sporting honour the All Blacks, who took out the team of the year category, headed off four other contenders - golfer Lydia Ko, who claimed the sportswoman of the year, Black Caps' batsman Kane Williamson, who collected the sportsman of the year award and disabled sportsperson of the year Sophie Pascoe.

Earlier in the evening McCaw, who retired from all rugby following the All Blacks triumph in London, said he was enjoying the opportunity to get together with his former teammates one last time.

"I actually thought it was before Christmas at the New Zealand Rugby awards, but I managed to pull out the blazer one last time," said McCaw, as he took to the red carpet without his new fiancee Gemma Flynn, who was unable to get out of training commitments with the Black Sticks to attend the awards dinner.

Steve Hansen was also honoured at tonight's function at Vector Arena, claiming the coach of the year award after masterminding the All Blacks' World Cup defence.

In accepting his award, Hansen paid tribute to the "good buggers and buggeresses" in the room, reserving special mention for retiring Black Caps skipper Brendon McCullum, who was honoured with the Sport NZ Leadership award.

"Brendon, I know it's your last test match coming up. Just relax and enjoy it old son, just like having a bet," Hansen quipped.

Hosted by the Halberg Disability Sport Foundation, a charity set up by Olympic champion Sir Murray Halberg, the annual awards evening is the nation's pre-eminent event to honour and celebrate sporting excellence by New Zealand teams and athletes. Sir Murray was unable to attend tonight's ceremony as he was recovering from a recent surgery.

The All Blacks won the team of the year ahead of last year's supreme winners, rowing pair Hamish Bond and Eric Murray. The Black Caps and men's 49er sailing crew of Peter Burling and Blair Tuke, who attended the ceremony fresh from claiming their fourth consecutive world championship in Florida earlier this week, were also up for the hotly contested category.

Ko, who won five LPGA tournaments and finished 2015 ranked number one in the world, won the top sportswoman award for a third consecutive year. And for the third consecutive year Ko was not on hand to collect her award, with the 18 year-old competing at the Australian Open in Adelaide this weekend. Ko edged out road cyclist Linda Villumsen, swimmer Lauren Boyle and double world champion canoeist Lisa Carrington.

Williamson's win in the sportsman of the year category came after a brilliant 2015 season, in which he rose to the top of the ICC test rankings. Williamson won the award ahead of golfer Danny Lee, All Black Dan Carter and IndyCar champion Scott Dixon.

Pascoe won the disabled sportsperson of the year ahead of Para-Skiier Corey Peters, Para-Shooter Michael Johnson and fellow Para-Swimmer Nikita Howarth.

Pole vaulter Eliza McCartney, who broke a world junior record in December, won the Emerging Talent award and a $10,000 sporting scholarship.

Grant Elliott's massive six that sent the Black Caps through to the World Cup final was named the Radio Sport Sporting Moment of the year winner, in the only category that was put to a public vote.

Black Caps coach Mike Hesson, who accepted the award on behalf of Elliott, gave his recollections of the moment that is destined to live on fondly in sports fans' memories for years to come.

"It'd be fair to say there was a bit of man love, it was great."

The winners are...

Halberg Award: All Blacks (rugby)
Team of the Year: All Blacks (rugby)
Sportsman of the Year: Kane Williamson (cricket)
Sportswoman of the Year: Lydia Ko (golf)
Disabled Sportsperson of the Year: Sophie Pascoe (para-swimming)
Emerging Talent: Eliza McCartney (athletics)
Coach of the Year: Steve Hansen (rugby)
Sport New Zealand Leadership Award: Brendon McCullum
New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame induction: Lance O'Sullivan (horse racing), Sir Don Rowlands (rowing), Lesley Rumball (netball) and Mark Sorenson (softball)
Lifetime Achievement Award: Ashley Taylor (athletics)

NZ Herald