The New Zealand (NZ) All Blacks have been awarded ‘World Team of the Year’ at the Laureus World Sports Awards held in Berlin this week.
The prestigious Laureus World Sports Awards were held at a glittering ceremony in Berlin where the worlds best sports men and women gathered for the annual awards. The All Blacks were nominated for Team of the Year for their back-to-back Rugby World Cup victories [winning the final 34-17 against Australia] and Captain Richie McCaw and coach Steve Hansen accepted the award on behalf of the team–the first win by the All Blacks after many times being nominated previously.
All Blacks Rugby Team Receive Laureus World Sports Award
Also on the night, first-five Dan Carter won the ‘Comeback of the Year’ for his part in winning and defending the Webb Ellis Cup. Carter, who was in preparations with his Racing92 side for the European Rugby Champions Cup was his ever-humble self in being recognized for the efforts he made in 2014/2015, to return to the All Blacks role, battling injury and form fluctuations to help his team triumph on the world stage in October of last year.
In a video message played after he won his category commented “A huge honour receiving the Laureus ‘Comeback of the Year’ award. Would of loved to be in Berlin to receive it but got a huge week of preparation for our European semi final this weekend. Thanks to everyone for all their kind messages.”
The accolades are an outstanding achievement, as the team faced some stiff competition in both categories. World Team of the Year nominees included Barcelona Football team, the NBA’s Golden State Warriors, Great Britian’s Davis Cup team, German F1 motor racing team Mercedes-Petronas and the United States Women’s football team.
Coach Steve Hansen has told local television channel TV One it’s a fantastic honour. “Just to be nominated was fantastic, and you know to be able to win and put New Zealand on the map is great.” Watch footage of the awards ceremony here.
McCaw reinforced that same sentiment “We’re a little country from a long way away but to be nominated and sitting amongst [the other nominees] tonight is pretty amazing and to win this award is pretty special,” he said. “This is a special moment for All Blacks history.”
To be chosen above those sides of that caliber is terrific testament to the All Blacks winning performances, and the same would apply to Dan Carter–he was nominated alongside Jessica Ennis-Hill (athletics), Mick Fanning (surfing), Michael Phelps (swimming), David Rudisha (athletics) and Lindsey Vonn (skiing)
After being awarded ‘man of the match’ in the Rugby World Cup final, the 33-year-old was named both World Rugby ‘Player of the Year’ and BBC Sport ‘Overseas Sports Personality of the Year’ so this continues a rich vein of rewards for the player, who also holds the world record for test points.
Former All Blacks captain Sean Fitzpatrick was present to hand over the award to McCaw and Hansen, in his role as Deputy Chairman of the Laureus ‘Sport for Good’ Foundation. The 92 test hooker has been on the campaign trail for the 2015 World Cup winning All Blacks, in lobbying fellow academy members and educating them on the game of rugby, and on the accomplishment of this group.
“When you say team, it’s about the 31 that went to the World Cup plus the management. You can even take it further into New Zealand Rugby, in terms of what Steve Tew’s [CEO] has done, and the rest of New Zealand who got behind them. It’s a phenomenal effort.” Fitzpatrick was reported as saying.
In World Rugby, the All Blacks are the number one ranked team so this award underlines that position. Proudly accepting the award, McCaw and Hansen were dressed for the occasion, even wearing their favorite sneakers in a nod from the organisers who have promoted the campaign ‘Sneakers for Good’.
The #SneakersforGood campaign is a way for some of the biggest names in sport–including many of those nominated for the main awards–to tell their stories about how sport can change lives: both through the work of Laureus Sport For Good foundation and also the impact sport had on their own life.
Other winners from the evening included World Sportsman Novak Djokovic and World Sportswoman Serena Williams, while the ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ went to Motorsport legend Nikki Lauda.
After such a great event, McCaw and Hansen will return now to NZ with their award in toe. Hansen to begin preparations for the upcoming June Steinlager Test series between the All Blacks and Wales, while McCaw will return to his role with Christchurch Helicopters in which he is a share holder and pilot. His fiancee Gemma Flynn is deep into Olympic preparations for her NZ Black Sticks hockey team, as they focus on the 2016 Rio games, so it is a role reversal for the former test player (holder of the World Record of 148 test matches)
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