KEO News Wire

Super Rugby Pacific names its first ever TEAM of the YEAR

Published

1 year ago

2nd June 2025

Keo

Super Rugby Pacific’s relevance in its first ever TEAM of the YEAR is that it is voted for by the coaches and captain’s of all 11 teams. And Australia’s rugby revival is emphasised in the Aussies having more players in the XV than New Zealand.

Moana Pasifika captain, the inspirational Ardi Savea, was an unanimous choice for PLAYER OF THE YEAR.

Savea collected enough points to be crowned PLAYER OF THE YEAR with two rounds still to play. His 46 points is the benchmark, with Chiefs (and All Blacks) flyhalf Damian McKenzie the next highest with 36 points.

Savea is the only player to exceed 40 points and just three players got more than 20 points on the voting from coaches and captains.

Savea has been magnificent in his first season with Moana, inspiring with performances on the field, and being equally big with his presence off the field.

Moana won six from 14 matches, with historic wins against the Crusaders in Christchurch and the Blues at Albany’s North Harbour Stadium.

While the Team of the Year will become an official annual award alongside Player of the Year from next season, this 2025 honorary lineup recognises the best players in each position based on Player of the Year votes throughout the campaign.

‘This is another opportunity to honour the most outstanding performers in our competition,’ said Super Rugby Pacific CEO Jack Mesley. ‘Importantly, it celebrates players across every position — recognising the respect and admiration they’ve earned from opponents week in, week out.’

A notable quirk: Carlo Tizzano, Fraser McReight, and Langi Gleeson all finished tied for the final back-row slot with 29 votes each. The tie-breaker compared the number of maximum ‘three-vote’ games, with Gleeson edged out. Remarkably, Tizzano and McReight were deadlocked even at the next level, so both were honoured in the final selection.

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Australia has two teams in the final six, with the Brumbies finishing third and the Reds fifth.

Australia hosts the British and Irish Lions in the sport’s biggest event of the year. The tour will take in nine matches, including three Test matches and it was vital for the sport that the Australian teams performed competitively in Super Rugby Pacific. They did this – and more.

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To illustrate just how outstanding a season Timoci Tavatavanawai experienced, the Highlanders No 12 received the most votes (32) among No 12s and his team finished last in the league.