return. She is a true role model successful gym in South Award name and a wonderful friend, who never called Fit60. He also plays an forgets where she came from and active role in governance, serving The NZRPA Kirk Award was PLAYER is always proud to represent the on the Auckland Rugby and Drug established in 2005 and Fa’amausili family.” Free Sport boards, and he was named after NZRPA founding The other Kirk Award recipient also part of the NZR Respect and chairman and former All Black captain David Kirk RECOGNITION Keven Mealamu was part of two Responsibility Review Panel. MBE. Kirk, a medical doctor, successful Rugby World Cup The rugby ambassador and skilled Rhodes Scholar and former campaigns and is the second artist has illustrated multiple parliamentary advisor, led the highest capped children’s books for the Starship All Blacks to their first Rugby player of all time. He was also Foundation with the help of one World Cup title in 1987. Fiao’o awarded the New Zealand Order of the game’s great supporters, Previous recipients include , Richie of Merit for services to rugby in Barfoot and Thompson, and has McCaw and , in Fa’amausili 2016. Mealamu said, “I am very also served as an ambassador recognition of their off-field humble to receive this award. for the foundation. Keven also roles in helping establish the and Keven Could I thank David Kirk, the runs empowering leadership commercial and employment NZRPA and my fellow team- programmes in New Zealand and partnership between the mates and players for selecting overseas. players and the game’s Mealamu administrators, which has me for this. This is our way of Speaking on behalf of the underpinned the professional being able to give back to the Mealamu family, Keven’s brother rugby environment and receive Kirk game we love. I also want to thank Luke said: ”We are overwhelmed achievements ever since. my wonderful wife Tai and my at Keven receiving this award The 2016 recipient was Award family their support.” from the players. His merits former long-serving NZRPA Mealamu also took time to speak for themselves. He has so Board Member, Super Rugby centurion and Northland congratulated Fiao’o on her much time for people, which is a FIAO’O FA’AMAUSILI KEVEN MEALAMU stalwart Justin Collins, award saying, “To my fellow sis Fi, special part of his character.” and last year’s winner was WO OF THE MOST RESPECTED Nichol and the team at the NZRPA, been awarded the New Zealand Police congratulations on receiving your Keven’s proud mum Tise the most-capped player in AND HIGHLY CAPPED PEOPLE who have been very supportive and Association Sportsperson of the Year award. It is well deserved.” acknowledged her son’s world Sevens’ rugby history TO PLAY RUGBY, FIAO’O are a strong voice for players and three times. All Blacks captain commitment to his family, DJ Forbes, who was an FA’AMAUSILI AND KEVEN women’s rugby. I love the game and A proud Samoan of strong faith, congratulated both players on culture, faith and people, saying, extremely valuable conduit and voice for the players both TMEALAMU, HAVE BEEN HONOURED will continue to support the players Fa’amausili continues to show great their awards and commented “He does big things in a very throughout his career and BY THEIR PEERS FOR THEIR and the game anyway I can, and am commitment to her community and on his former All Blacks team- quiet way. He gets out there in since his retirement. OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO extremely grateful to the players for her family, who she credits as being mate saying: “Keven is a down- the community and just does his David Kirk biography: THEIR FELLOW PLAYERS ON AND OFF this award.“ her biggest supporters. to-earth, humble bloke. He will thing.” Former All Black, David Kirk, THE FIELD, BY BECOMING THE LATEST NZRPA Chairman David Kirk MBE, Fa’amausili’s brother, Tavita who always put others in front of New Zealand Rugby Players’ captained the All Blacks to RECIPIENTS OF THE NEW ZEALAND after whom the award is named, said: attended the ASB Rugby Awards with himself, so is really true in the Association CEO Rob Nichol said their first Rugby World Cup team enviorment and will always “We are very lucky in our game to title in 1987. A medical doctor, RUGBY PLAYERS’ ASSOCIATION’S ”Fiao’o and Keven are two incredible his partner said of his sister: “She Rhodes Scholar and former KIRK AWARD. people who have made and continue has always been sporty, so we knew be there to look after you if you have such passionate people who advisor to the Prime Minister, The 2017 recipient of the award, DJ to make phenomenal contributions to she would go far. She has always had need a hand or someone to talk care about other players during David was awarded an MBE Forbes presented the Black Ferns our members, their communities and a strength of conviction, which has to. He is highly respected. When and beyond their playing days. for services to rugby in 1988. captain with her award at the ASB the game, so it is fitting that they are held her in good stead for achieving he talks everyone listens and he The leadership that Fi and Kev The former Fairfax Media CEO New Zealand Rugby Awards last night both this year’s recipients.” her goals, and all of our wider family has huge mana, so I am rapt that have showed during their time and chairman of TradeMe, these two special people have playing and the commitment that Kathmandu and Forsyth Barr, in Auckland, whilst Keven Mealamu, Fa’aumausili is highly respected and friends have all taken great joy sits on several boards, is a who was unable to attend the event, for her leadership, motivation and in following her inspirational journey. been recognised by their fellow they continue to show in order to trustee of several charities accepted his award via video link. determination and the Auckland On behalf of her seven siblings, our players.” constantly inspire and help other and is the co-founder A surprised Fa’amausili, who has been centurion has fostered an impressive mum and late father, we are all so Keven started working on building players is first-class.” and partner of Bailador involved in a time of significant change off-field career in the New Zealand incredibly proud of her and I know up a business towards the end of Investment Management. for the game and has represented the Police, whilst training, playing and this award has made Mum shed a few his playing days and now runs a The author of two books, David was inducted into the Black Ferns and Auckland Storm said, redefining what is possible at the more tears of pride.” World Rugby Hall of Fame in “This is a huge honour. highest level of the game. One of her long-standing Auckland 2011. Unbeknownst to many, “David Kirk was my first memory of New Zealand’s most internationally Storm team mates who also played David has served as the a rugby player holding a trophy, so to capped female, Fa’amausili was made alongside her in the Black Ferns, Chairman of the New Zealand win such a prestigious award with his an Officer of the New Zealand Order Karina Stowers said, “Fi is full of Rugby Players’ Association name on it is incredibly special, and to of Merit in the 2018 Queen’s Birthday adventure. She is highly motivated, since its establishment in 1999, and this award is win this award with such a legend of honours for services to rugby. She leads by example and just wants the named in recognition of the sport like Keven is very humbling. has attended five Rugby World Cups best out of everyone. his outstanding selfless “I would like to thank my family, and she has been part of four Rugby “She is a very giving person, with contribution and leadership friends and all the teams I have played World Cup winning teams, captaining both her time and knowledge, and in this regard. in. I would also like to thank Rob the side for two of those. She has also she never expects anything back in KEVEN MEALAMU